The ubiquitous gas geysers can prove dangerous if kept in an unventilated place. Better safe than sorry - read on.
Urban families are always on the lookout for a great bargain. Power bills account for a considerable percentage of the monthly household budget, and one such gadget that can cut down the same is the gas geyser. The gas geyser has a simple mechanism to heat water for bathing purposes - the LPG gas outlet is connected to an enclosed burner which heats the inlet water, giving hot water in few seconds.
Gas Geyser, Chinese make (Pic: Divya Sharma)
It takes just 3-5 minutes to fill a big bucket with hot water. However, this simple tool can turn a killer too, as a few incidents in recent times have proved.1. About 30 high-school students and a few teachers were participating in a four-day nature camp at Mytri, a gated community near Kengeri, during October 2008. A lady teacher, who went to take a bath in the morning, felt giddy after the bath. She vomited and rested. The same was repeated with another teacher; she experienced breathlessness and almost fainted, but came out and nearly collapsed. Everybody suspected the previous night's food and assumed it was the culprit. At the same camp, a girl went to bathe and didn't come out even after 45 minutes. Alarmed, some men were called in to break open the sealed ventilator and the door. They found the girl lying unconscious. Her pulse had stopped, too. A doctor at hand gave her artificial respiration until she was admitted into the ICU of a hospital on Mysore Road. The girl recovered after she was put on a ventilator.
2. About two years ago, a healthy person, aged about 65, was found dead in the bathroom where he went to take bath.
Similar episodes have been reported since the past 4-5 years, where people have experienced breathlessness and fainted in the bathroom.
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Do these geysers carry a warning about the possible ill-effects? That should be made essential; after that, it's "caveat emptor" (buyer beware).
It's a well writen, informative and interesting article. Thanks for writing on this topic.
Thank you Anand. Deepa, these geysers do not have any warning printed on the unit. The dealer would reply "It is as safe as using gas in the kitchen, madam"
Very nice article. A costlier preposition, but I would suggest a solar water heater to a gas geyser. My personal experience is that it seems to be expensive but it is a one time investment without having a running cost. It suits a city like ours the best and over the years it is very cost effective. The best part is that it helps save our environment.
IT was really a well educative piece for the commonman about the illeffects of the GAS GEYSERS.
But one should know that ventilation is a PRIMARY CRITERIA, whether you use some appliance OR not. A well ventilated house does not pose any danger to any such gadgets. In everyday life we come across so many hazards, even such as electrical short circuits leading to fires, but continue using it. Gas cylinders bursting at different places and killing innocent people, but the usage is not withdrawn. So many vehicles burnt, having gas kits, but govt. is encouraging them, especially the auto's, where innocent passengers travel.
Instead of discouraging something, educative measures have to be taken by the literate / experienced group for the benefit of commonman by taking up such issues with the manufacturers / dealers / installers, who will explain and avoid such locations.
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I am the one who is suffering, because I lost someone of mine who became a victim of this device as she was taking a bath in the bathroom in which a gas geyser was installed. She slept so silently that the only thing we were left with was frustration and dry eyes,the only individual who cried for her was her 3 months old son. Yes she was my sister, who was a doctor.
The time she went in the bathroom she closed all the windows and started taking the bath, being unaware of everything she was doing and did not even realize that the killer(CO) will not even allow her open the door.
ADVICE:
1.Please use some safer and eco friendly substitutes like (Solar Geyser)
2.VENTILATION
3.If you think you are smart enough to use a gas geyser then please do not restrict your smartness to your self as sharing it can be a life safer.(BUT TRUST ME A PERSON CAN RARELY BE SMARTER THAN A DOCTOR.)
4. Please do not try treat the patient or a case of Carbon Monoxide poisoning at home as the only thing that will work is a hospital.
Please do not ignore anything like this or you will join the same race in which I am running, the race of pain.
Its better to be safe than sorry.Moreover, I do not have any more energy for crying for someone of mine dying of such silly thing so please, TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
This is Terrible! Has the government thought of any safety measures or announcements to create awareness aong users? Does anyone sell Carbon Monoxide Detectors? I think this danger should be broadly advertised, especially on TV.
I will make sure that something is seriously done about it, as I have already mentioned in my previous post that "I do not have any more energy for crying for someone of mine dying of such silly thing so please, TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY". And I am working on it. God bless all....
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have personally experienced the ill effects of gas geysers. my mom was admitted to hospital twice due to gas poisoning and was rendered out from serious conditions, as we were using gas water heaters.It was lately we recognized the reason behind her sudden collapse in the bath room.
We also came to know one of my friends family too suffered thrice seriously this kind of poisoning effect arising due to igrnorant use of gas water heaters.
Kindly i request the readers to pass on this message among their friends circle and relatives.
Thank you.
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My cousin was a victim of these geysers.
But there is a solution - keep th geyser outside. If you follow proper plumnbing, geyser can be switched on/off by turning the tap inside the bathroom.
If you are keeping the geyser inside, don't enter the bathroom till the entire bucket(s) are filled up. Keep the bathroom well ventilated.