Beware of Summer Hazards! 

The Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB) issued a consumer safety alert after analyzing injury data related to summer accidents collected for the past three years through its Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS). 

The top five recurring accidents are ▲ asphyxiation from electric fans and air conditioners ▲ children’s asphyxiation inside cars ▲ explosions inside cars ▲ air conditioner explosions and ▲ sanitary accidents at home. 

■ Doors should be left open when sleeping with the electric fan or air conditioner turned on 

If bodies are exposed to electric fans or air conditioners for too long, it causes bodies to lose water and hypothermia. If directly in contact with a fan, this could lead to death from increase of carbon dioxide saturation concentration and decrease of oxygen concentration. The risks are higher for the elderly and patients with respiratory problems. 

From 2003~2005, a total of 20 cases were reported through the CISS involving asphyxiations caused by leaving electric fans and air conditioners on while sleeping. To prevent asphyxiation, timers should be set, wind direction should be rotated and doors should be left open. 

■ Children should not be left alone in the car 

The temperature inside a car reaches 70℃ in the summer season. This can be very dangerous for children who have sensitive skin. People can suffer burns if our average body temperature is higher by 6℃. If the surface body temperature is over 60℃, cells die and blood cots are formed. 

CISS collected 9 relevant cases during the same three-year period. Even if it’s for a very short period, children must not be left alone inside a car. 

■ Disposable lighters and opened juice bottles should not be left inside the car

Disposable lighters, sprays and butane gas are all highly flammable. KCPB conducted a simulation test of disposable lighters and found that disposable lighters tend to explode if the indoor temperature is over 55℃. There were 12 cases reported to the CISS during the past three years caused by explosion of disposable lighters. 

In addition, it is dangerous to leave opened orange juice or tomato juice bottles in the car as it ferments and explodes. This can be especially dangerous while driving. Ten cases have been reported through the CISS. 

Disposable lighters, butane gas, sprays and juice bottles should not be left inside cars in order to prevent explosions. 

■ Recharging air conditioners should be done by professionals 

A total of 12 cases were reported through the CISS involving gas leaks in air conditioners leading to explosions. If you discover certain problems in air conditioners, don’t break apart the air conditioner yourself and request professional service. 

■ Refrigerators should be filled 60% and air conditioner filters should be cleaned before it is turned on 

Food poisoning occurs frequently when the weather is hot and humid. Refrigerators and kitchens are not safe from food poisoning. 

KCPB conducted a consumer survey in which 4.6% of respondents said they suffered diarrhea and stomachaches after eating refrigerated food. In 6 out of 10 households, Staphillococcus aureus which is known to cause food poisoning was detected in refrigerators and dish towels. 

Food poisoning bacteria easily grow at room temperatures of 10~40℃ and it also increases in the process of defrosting food. In order to prevent food poisoning, refrigerators should be filled only 60%, dish towels and sponges should be thoroughly boiled, and frozen foods should be defrosted in refrigerators or microwaves. 

Opportunistic pathogens that are known to cause lung diseases can be found inside household and vehicle air conditioners. Therefore, it is important to clean the filters before turning it on. 

KCPB will keep consumers informed through its homepage (www.cpb.or.kr) or Safety Net (safe.cpb.or.kr) and continue its safety campaign activities to prevent summer accidents. 

July 14, 2005 [Office of Public Relations]