MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report
-
MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Jul 2005
Carbon monoxide poisoning from hurricane-associated use of portable generators--Florida, 2004.
The four major hurricanes that struck Florida during August 13-September 25, 2004, produced electric power outages in several million homes. After the hurricanes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated six deaths in Florida attributed to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (CPSC, unpublished data, 2004). ⋯ This report describes the results of that analysis, which determined that misplacement of portable, gasoline-powered generators (e.g., indoors, in garages, or outdoors near windows) was responsible for nearly all of these CO exposures. Public health practitioners should recognize that post-hurricane environments present challenges to the safe operation of portable generators and should educate the public on the hazards of CO poisoning in these settings.
-
MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. · Jul 2005
Annual smoking-attributable mortality, years of potential life lost, and productivity losses--United States, 1997-2001.
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and reducing quality of life and life expectancy. This report assesses the health consequences and productivity losses attributable to smoking in the United States during 1997-2001. ⋯ The findings indicated that, during 1997-2001, cigarette smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke resulted in approximately 438,000 premature deaths in the United States, 5.5 million YPLL, and 92 billion dollars in productivity losses annually. Implementation of comprehensive tobacco-control programs as recommended by CDC can reduce smoking prevalence and related mortality and health-care costs.