Tips Of Asthma

Asthma

Fora comprehensive report on asthma in Wisconsin, see the recently released:

• Asthmais an illness that causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness andcoughing. More than 3,000 young people are hospitalized every year in Wisconsinwith asthma. Pets, molds, pollen, and cockroaches can trigger asthma. Smoke,chemicals, ozone, and exhaust fumes can also trigger asthma.  Moreinformation on asthma in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Asthma Program at theDepartment of Health Services can be found at the “new” asthma website. 

Tipsfor People with Asthma:

• Ifa person with asthma is allergic to cats or dogs, the family pet may need to beremoved from the home. At least keep pets out of the person’s bedroom.

• Consideradding a high efficiency air filter to your heating system.

• Controlhumidity. Keep the humidity below 50% and fix moisture problems. This willreduce dust mites, molds and mildew.

• Reduceair pollutants like smoke, solvents, and pollen in your home.

• Getrid of cockroaches by carefully cleaning (especially in the kitchen) andremoving trash every day. Use pesticides as a last resort.

• Dampmop, damp dust, and vacuum often. Use mattress and pillow covers. Removecarpets, drapes, books, stuffed animals, and feather or down pillows and coversfrom the bedroom. Wash bedding once a week using hot water to kill dust mites.

Fire Protection Improve

Australia, -- Standards Australia has released an interim standard to assist fireauthorities in the selection and development of protective clothing forfirefighters. Fire agencies, the fabric technology industry, manufacturers andunion representatives contributed to the development of interim standard AS4967 -- 2001 -- Protective clothing for firefighters -- Requirements and testmethods for protective clothing used for structural firefighting. The recentlyselected New South Wales Fire Brigade uniforms have a garment shell andprotective liner for ease of cleaning and long-term maintenance. They conformto the standard. Two other fire clothing standards have also been released -- AS4824 (Int) -- 2001 -- Protective clothing for firefighters -- Requirements andtest methods for protective clothing used for wildland firefighting, and AS/NZS4821 (Int) -- 2000 -- Firefighters' protective footwear. 

A draft revision of the Standards Australiaportable fire extinguisher standard is expected later this year. Changes toAS/NZS: 1841 -- Portable fire extinguishers, may include the removal of the"E" fire classification when the extinguishing agent is a conductorof electricity, such as water or a conductive aqueous solution. There isconcern about the potential exposure of an operator to electrocution. 

Work continues on a revision of the StandardsAustralia fire maintenance standard. It is anticipated the revised AS 1851 --1995 -- Maintenance of fire protection systems, will be published in the secondhalf of 2002. The existing 16 parts of the standard will be consolidated. It isalso anticipated the standard will be referenced in the Building Code ofAustralia, making it mandatory.