The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Fire Hazard â€" Carbon Tetrachloride tion in homes is dealt with elsewhere in this issue. Here our attention is directed to a special hazard in the chemical, carbon tetrachloride, sometimes used to put out fin-s. The following letter came to the Dirr-cior of Home Economics Service from Mrs, F. Stephens, secretary of Harwood In- SlJlUtL-Z “This letter is written as the result of a serious chimney fire locally. Unless anyone has been exposed to the fumes from a fire extinguisher using carbon tetrachloride, she has no idea of just how ill they can make one ti-i-l. Wu.- had an experience about four years ago, and although the doors were opened in wmter Weather, and we directed the ex- ilngtllfilltl‘ into the lower opening of the pipe at the stovu top, the fumes were apparently so heavy that they did not blow out of the kiti'hi-n as we had thought they would. There can: not a strong odor, yct after a while I began in rm-l ill, and was sore for nearly a week afterwards. Just as though I had inhaled acid [mm-s, I had thought at the time that it was fright that made me feel so ill, for I was just about pririticd. A while later I heard a lady mi the radio warning about using the carbon ii-irachlnridi- [or cleaning in the house, unless THE GENERAL question of fire preven- illi‘l'l‘ was good circulation of air. and in any t'llst'. she advised, it was much wiser to use it outdoors. "This morning. there was a serious chimney ill't‘ in the village, nearly fatal to the house, and i heard lati-r that a neighbor who had rushed in to help bccausc the man was away, was I'm-ling very ill as a result of the fumes from lllL' extinguisher. and also from sulphur, Wltlt‘h hurl l'lt't‘n thrown into the stove, I think. in the hope of smothvring the fire. Before we how some really St't‘lOLlS alter effects from lllt's‘l' {unit-s. would it be possible for your skill in plan some way to counteract the ap- Ditl't'lll. ignorance about them? I had heard uf si-vi'ral cases since my own experience “'lll‘l'l' Dt'Dpll‘ Were nizidc ill, but this morning ltl'llllLIlll it to my attention again. “i don't propose a short course in fire-fight- 111:1, but perhaps by lllt' use of bulletins, in your Homi- Nut'smg Hints. on Country Calenâ€" dar, or by the use of radio, warnings of the dancer and (‘th‘L‘is of these fumes could be giwn. i am not too bright at solving problems of this kind. but, perhaps it will help if I can just bring them to your attention." The letter was turned over to Miss Grace E. Hamilton, R,N,, in charge of Health Eduâ€" cation in the extension service. This is Miss Hamilton's comment: 20 “After reading Mrs. Stephens’ lethr l a, cided to get first hand information rt; 1 . the fire extinguisher mentioned, so Ii _ a nearâ€"by fire hall. Captain Corcoran v. r in charge, kept shaking his head as i; the letter and even before finishing , “Yes, that’s the way it acts, but why \I, A not follow the directions!" I am now Lt. tell you some of the things he told “Carbon tetrachloride should never 1 in a c105ed area to extinguish a fire. w: acid comes in contact with hot metal of any kind there is a chemical reaction. fumes which will cause not only the mentioned but severe after effects tlm: even be fatal. "Captain Corcoran said that if a fir..- red in the motor of a car or on a mo one might use the extinguisher witho because it was in the open air and tlii would be carried away, but one shot direct it into the cab of a trailer, ti front seat of a car, nor should it be ci from either of those places. Why? 1’ there would be enough fumes even partially enclosed space to cause trou “Brooder houses were mentioned, people are in the habit of setting ur- brooder places in a corner of the barn house. And, if a fire should occur, they : use the type of extinguisher that we {w cussingâ€"an unwise thing to do becausr concentration of fumes. It would be fir the chicks and when the owner loves the damage he would lose CDHSClOUSlli suffer grave injury. “By now you must be fully awarc ~ dangers involved in using something tlw are not familiar with. But you probal saying. ‘What do we use, then?’ The sucu: is that you visit the fire hall in the thi. town nearest to you and ask advice. Th» several excellent extinguishers on the i: that may be used inside without dam the manipulator. When purchasing thouz. must keep in mind the need for an immi replacement after using. Your fire chr know the type best suited to your nu- where it may be purchased. Do call 1 fire station soon. “Then, may I make a suggestion r how to give artificial respiration. It 1: for people who have been overcome l" fumes as well as those who have been ' from the water in an unconscious cond “Be wise, read instructions before usin: unknown product, and be familiar with ‘ you have in the home or barn." HOME AND COUNTRY