IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2019 | Page 11

are dumped on, or litter blown from down the street, any neighborhood can be lifted up by positive action. The 15th annual Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Great American Cleanup of PA can help get you started. Through May 31, thousands of Pennsylvania families and friends will partake in litter and illegal dump cleanups, beautification projects such as tree and flower plantings, recycling collections and education programs. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful partners with PennDOT, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Keep America Beautiful to provide free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests to registered participants, as supplies last. During Let’s Pick It Up PA—every day from April 13 through May 6—cleanups registered with the Great American Cleanup of PA are eligible to take their trash to participating landfills free of charge or for a reduced rate. Registration can be done online at www.gacofpa.org. Michelle Dunn, Great American Cleanup of PA Program Coordinator, can answer questions at 1.877.772.3673, ext. 113, or email [email protected]. Join thousands of Pennsylvanians and keep your neighborhood clean and beautiful! PEOPLES REMINDS CUSTOMERS ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 150 people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty, improperly used, or incorrectly vented appliances such as furnaces, stoves, generators, water heaters and fireplaces. As people have been spending more time indoors over the winter months, Peoples is issuing a reminder about maintaining natural gas appliances, the importance of carbon monoxide detectors and the potential dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and potentially dangerous gas produced when fuel is burned without enough air for complete combustion. The flame in gas appliances should be blue, possibly with flecks of orange. If the flame is mostly yellow, it indicates that the gas is not burning properly and could be giving off carbon monoxide. During cold-weather months, as buildings remain closed and fuel is burned for heating, inefficient combustion and poor ventilation can lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide indoors. In large amounts, the gas can cause headaches, unconsciousness, brain damage and even death. Carbon monoxide can be detected with a simple home monitor. The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can often mimic flu symptoms. It’s important for people to recognize the signs of potential carbon monoxide poisoning, to know what to do if they occur, and to learn how to prevent this dangerous hazard. The most important step you can take to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning is to install a battery-operated or plug-in carbon monoxide detector, positioned outside of bedrooms. Replace the battery when you change your clocks each spring and autumn. n BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL ❘ SPRING 2019 9