Show protection AGAINST SMOKE AND FIRE GASES CASES by J R nelson fort lewis college continued from last week I 1 many fire casualties are caused by flames heat falls and falling objects but according to fire pro lection engineers a much greater i number are due to smoke and fire gases in maj r fire catastrophes I 1 it is seldom that any large number of deaths are due to bains smoke and halted gases commonly prove fatal even before the 1 1 flames reach the victims and there are many cases of death by fire where there is no evidence of any actual contact with flame or even 1 any great degree of heat A very good way for pers persons ons to protect themselves against sn ke ka is to cover the nose and mouth with a wet cloth or some article of clothing anything will do to safeguard against internal injuries iriel from the action of the irritants which are for the most part soluble in water and we overlook the fast fact that co col coa A gases contain over avi 2 times as much toxic mixtures as compared to hot gases we must avoid very hot smoke although the smoke may contain its full quota of irritants in in a case 0 of f this kind it is not the irritants but the hot s smoke moke that destroys tissues by virtue of its temperature alone to say nothing of its chemical composition in fighting fires in poorly ventilated spaces such as cellars closets basements etc serious hazards are always present due to the highly concentrated products of combustion so if we know what ic expect and what to do to protect ourselves we will be cureto sure to f come out on top take for instance fires in upholstery hols tery and mattresses such su ch fires may produce deadly quantities of carbon monoxide hydrogen sulphide acid and other products so much for fire gases lets be careful and not become victims f such gases know them and avoid them when possible |