News of severe cold due to La Nina's influence this year had been heard earlier. Accordingly, right from the beginning of the new year, bone-chilling cold was gripping various parts of the districts and Kolkata. The way to escape this is to light fires with wood and sticks in courtyards. But urban areas have no courtyards or wood and sticks, so many people are buying room heaters online at low prices to keep their bodies warm. However, these heaters are now becoming instruments of death. What do doctors say?
In January itself, Kolkata's temperature had dropped to 10 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature has increased in the past few days. On Monday, Kolkata's temperature was 12.4 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, the city's minimum temperature was 13.3 degrees Celsius. According to weather forecasts, although the temperature has risen slightly in the past two days, the cold will strike again during Makar Sankranti. And room heaters help provide some relief from this cold.
Every house and hotel in the hills has geysers and room heaters. However, the use of these heating devices has increased in the plains as well recently. And this is inviting danger. Actually, heaters require electricity to operate. Due to this, there is a possibility of problems like short circuits. Recently, an elderly woman died in Howrah. The cause of her death was a short circuit in a room heater.
On the evening of January 11, the elderly woman had turned on the heater at home. Later, it short-circuited and the entire house caught fire. The elderly woman died in the fire. Earlier, an incident of a room heater exploding in Nabadwip, Nadia, had also come to light. The room heater had been running all night. It exploded at dawn. However, no casualties were reported. Therefore, special rules must be followed when using room heaters.
Health risks of prolonged heater use
According to doctors, running heaters for extended periods can cause skin to become dry. Running heaters with doors and windows closed reduces humidity in the air. Oxygen deficiency occurs inside the room. As a result, burning sensations in the eyes and throat may occur.
Especially elderly people may face breathing problems. For those who have asthma or any allergy-related problems in their body, these room heaters are more harmful. Staying in dry weather for extended periods can cause sinus and cough problems. At the same time, headaches and nausea also occur.
Room heaters can further aggravate bronchitis, lung problems, and inflammation. How to use them? Keep doors and windows slightly open when using heaters. When outside air enters inside, oxygen levels do not decrease.
Household furniture and electronic items must be kept several feet away from heaters. A bowl of water can also be kept in the room. It helps restore the humidity level in the room. Drinking adequate water is also necessary in the winter. Not doing so causes problems like dehydration. And the body becomes even more ill in the hot air from heaters.
Heaters should definitely be turned off before going to sleep. Remember to also unplug the heater from the electric board. Heaters should not be run continuously. Turn it off for 1-2 hours and then run it again. Heaters must be cleaned thoroughly before use. Otherwise, black dust can accumulate and cause short-circuit problems.
