2.
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1974.
NEVER USE GAS HEATERS IN UNVENTILATED ROOMS
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A WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF USING LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) TO HEAT WATER IN UNVENTILATED ROOMS WAS GIVEN BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT, IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THERE HAD BEEN THREE DEATHS AND 10 INJURIES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF LPG TO HEAT WATER IN ROOMS WITHOUT PROPER VENTILATION.
THE LATEST FATALITY OCCURRED EARLIER THIS WEEK WHEN A 17- YEAR-OLD MONG KOK YOUTH WAS OVERCOME BY GAS, WHILE TAKING A BATH.
+IN ALL THESE CASES, THE SPOKESMAN STATED, THE ACCIDENTS AROSE WHILE THE VICTIM WAS BATHING. WHETHER THE CASUALTIES HAD BEEN OVERCOME BY LEAKAGE OF GAS FROM DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR BY THE LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE ROOM, ALMOST ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THERE HAD BEEN PROPER VENTILATION.+
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT LPG IS NOW WIDELY USED IN HONG KONG FOR COOKING AND HEATING AND, WHILE IT IS GENERALLY KNOWN TO BE HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE - AND, IN THIS RESPECT, USUALLY HANDLED WITH CARE - THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS USE IN ROOMS WHICH HAVE LITTLE OR NO VENTILATION IS EITHER NOT SO WELL KNOWN OR IS BEING IGNORED.
+THESE INCIDENTS OFTEN OCCUR IN SHOWER CUBICLES OR BATHROOMS WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD A COLD WATER FACILITY ONLY, BUT WHICH HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO HOT WATER USE BY INSTALLING CYLINDERS AND HEATERS.
+WITH THE CONVERSION, LITTLE OR NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN MANY INSTANCES TO PROVIDE VENTILATION, SUCH AS HIGH OR LOW LEVEL DOOR LOUVRES OR VENTILATION TO THE OPEN AIR.
+THESE PLACES CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND WE URGE THE PUBLIC TO AVOID USING THEM FOR BATHING UNTIL VENTILATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PEOPLE TAKING BATHS OBVIOUSLY HAD TO HAVE PRIVACY, BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT VENTILATION COULD BE PROVIDED RELATIVELY EASILY WITHOUT IN ANY WAY AFFECTING PRIVACY.
SUPPLIERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF LPG ARE BEING ASKED BY THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU TO ATTACH A LABEL TO EACH CYLINDER STATING THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN A CLOSED ROOM TO COOK OR HEAT WATER.
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