As the weather changes and we transition from wanting to be cool and cold to being warm, we do prepare for a lot of things. A lot of people make many preparations to get ready to welcome the winter with open arms. Heaters go on sale and a lot of people rely on paraffin heaters to get rid of the cold. Also known as kerosene heaters, there has lately been a lot of controversies regarding the use of this type of heater. A lot of questions about the safety of kerosene heaters use have been raised and kerosene heaters have also been banned from several regions because of the threats they pose.
In today’s article, we are going to understand the health hazards that a kerosene heater may pose. We are also going to find answers to some questions like are kerosene heaters safe to breathe, are kerosene heaters safe to use indoors, are kerosene heaters safe for babies, and kerosene heater health hazards, etc.
Read More – Can You Use a Kerosene Heater Indoors?
Kerosene Heater Health Hazards
Now, we are going to talk about the health hazards that can be posed by the use of a kerosene heater. I mean, you set up a kerosene heater inside a chilly room, you press the button and wait for it to warm up the room. But are you sure you want to leave this like this? No, you certainly should rethink the idea and take a step back.
The following are the kerosene heater health hazards:
- Firstly, inhaling the fumes released by kerosene heaters can cause a lot of difficulty in breathing. If you inhale the kerosene heater black smoke, it may harm your throat and the throat may start to swell and this may cause you a lot of breathing problems. Your blood pressure can also get affected and may cause a lot of medical and health problems. Pain in your eyes, or burning sensation in your eyes, or pain in the ears and nose is also a clear indication of the problem that a kerosene heater can cause you. You may also start noticing a loss of vision after engaging in the use of a kerosene heater.
- With the use of a kerosene heater, your digestive system may also start acting up. You may experience severe stomach aches and there may also be a lot of purging episodes due to the kerosene heater health hazards. Your bowel movements may also expel out blood with your stool. Skin irritation is also a big factor in telling you the health hazards of using a kerosene heater. Your nervous system may also get harmed with the inhalation of the kerosene heater black smoke. You may start feeling a little dizzy and tipsy, and you may begin to stagger around the room. You may also start having seizures and convulsions or episodes of unconsciousness.
- You may also get life-threatening medical conditions if your kerosene heater starts to malfunction. The emission of harmful gases like carbon monoxide will not even be noticed by you since its presence cannot be detected through breathing or its odor. This is one of the most dangerous and harmful gases that can cause a lot of damage to your body. It is not safe to use kerosene heaters indoors and kerosene heaters are not safe for anyone, especially babies. Your vital organs may start experiencing a lack of oxygen due to the control of carbon monoxide on your body.
Thus you should take safety precautions using kerosene heater otherwise it may effect your health badly.
Who Is At The Risky End Of The Use Of Kerosene Heaters?
There are certain groups that are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of kerosene heaters. If there are any unborn babies in the house, you should definitely have to maintain kerosene heater safety while using them indoors. The cells of an unborn baby inhale and react to carbon monoxide faster than an adult. This creates a greater potential of damage for unborn babies than adults. Conclusively, it is not safe for kerosene heaters to be used with unborn babies in the house.
People who already suffer from chronic medical conditions like heart problems, breathing problems are bound to face an increased risk of illness and bodily disorder due to carbon monoxide. Anemia patients are also likely to suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning because of a lack of red blood cells that help in the delivery of oxygen. Thus we can say that kerosene heaters are not safe for using in indoors.
Practicing Indoor Safety While Using Kerosene Heaters
You need to make sure that you do follow the kerosene heater safety protocols in order to make use of it. You need to take every precaution when you use a kerosene heater to heat your home in winters.
A kerosene heater should not be put on the top of a table or any other piece of furniture. The device should also be kept away from water. Make sure that the room that you put the kerosene heater in, is fully and properly ventilated If there are children in that room, adult supervision should be kept on these children. You should make sure that these children stay away from the device and do not touch it.
However, you need to accept the fact that with the usage of a kerosene heater comes to the possibility of an accident that is bound to happen. You must keep with yourself a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and other things that may come in handy in case of an accident.
The kerosene heater should be stored in a vented metal can with a lid that is well-secured. You should avoid the usage of a container that is red in color. After using the heater, make sure that the flame is out before you leave the room. Before going to sleep, you should ensure one last final check before sleeping to ensure that nothing is out of place and you can sleep safely.
Before refilling the heater, make sure that the kerosene heater has cooled down. Then, you must take the heater outdoors in order to refill it. You must ensure that the heater is away from any source of ignition.