Sorry to hear about your neighbors unfortunate tragedy Bill. Mobile Homes are noted for being match sticks. They can burn to the ground in no time at all much like a dry Christmas Tree does. Poof! and its gone. And because of that people don't have very much time to evacuate.

Scott is right on about smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Plus, if any residence has GAS or even a Fireplace you should seriously consider getting a (Carbon Monoxide) detector.

"What Is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide can be a deadly killer. This odorless, colorless gas, known by its chemical symbol CO, is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States each year. More than 1,500 people are killed annually and another 10,000 are injured.
Carbon monoxide is also the leading cause of death in fire-related accidents. Often, victims are overcome by CO before they can respond to warnings from a smoke alarm. Another 3,000 to 4,000 people die of CO poisoning in fire-related incidents each year.

What produces this dangerous gas? CO is the nation's leading indoor air pollution problem. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels containing carbon are burned in areas where there is too little oxygen or as a result of burning fuels at too high a temperature. Death and injury occur when CO escapes from sources such as furnaces, space heaters, stoves, ovens and automobiles where there is improper ventilation.

Why is CO so dangerous? When inhaled, CO combines with hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying substance in red blood cells. This reaction blocks the hemoglobin from taking up oxygen from the lungs. Lack of oxygen causes cells and tissues in the body to die. And CO is released from the blood at a slow rate.

How will you know if you have CO poisoning? The symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea, fatigue and dizziness -- all symptoms that often lead to a misdiagnosis of the flu. Recent medical journal reports found that nearly one in four people diagnosed with the flu were actually suffering from CO poisoning. Medical evidence has also shown that heart attacks and other thoracic complaints have been correlated with high background CO levels in the environment. Low level exposures are especially hazardous to sensitive populations including infants, children, unborn babies, elderly, and those with medical problems such as anemia and heart or lung disease.

What can you do to avoid exposure to CO?

Every owner of a home, recreational vehicle or boat should seriously consider a carbon monoxide detector as an important safeguard against the threats of CO. CO detectors will greatly reduce the number of deaths from CO accidents as well as improve the quality of life for all."

Best regards,
Mike




[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 02-16-2004).]