GREENBURGH TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FEINER HAS WRITTEN TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH ASKING THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO FOLLOW UP ON THE TODAY SHOW REPORT--RELATING TO SAFETY OF ICE SKATING RINKS. THE TODAY SHOW INVESTIGATION, WHICH WAS SEEN BY MANY WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, INDICATED THAT fuel powered resurfacers that spit out carbon monoxide and miniscule particles at ice skating rinks across the nation could be dangerous to the health of children and skaters. There are other methods of cleaning the ice that are safer.
A copy of the e mail Feiner sent to the Commissioner and County Executive follows:
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From: Paul Feiner
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 10:35 PM
To: caa9@westchestergov.com
Cc: ceo@westchestergov.com
Subject: REQUESTING COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH TO FOLLOW UP ON TODAY SHOW REPORT-SAFETY OF ICE SKATING RINKS
Commissioner of Board of Health
Cheryl Archbald
Westchester County
Dear Commissioner:
I would like to request that your department review the investigation conducted by the TODAY show which indicated that fuel powered resurfacers that spit out carbon monoxide and miniscule particles at ice skating rinks across the nation could be dangerous to the health of children and skaters. There are safer methods that are more costly.
If you believe that the findings of the TODAY show have merit - please reach out to all ice skating rinks in Westchester and ask them to address this problem. I received some complaints from parents of skaters who watched the TODAY show.
I am enclosing a copy of a summary from the show which aired on Thursday morning.
Sincerely,
PAUL FEINER
enc
Toxic carbon monoxide fumes looming at ice rinks may be putting the thousands of children who skate and play hockey at risk, according to a "Today" show investigation.
Former Ice Capades dancer Linda Davis was diagnosed with long-term carbon monoxide poisoning, which has left her with chronic lung and memory problems and requires her to use a respirator, she tells the show.
"It started small, and then it progressed into completely debilitating me," she said. "You just don't know what your child is exposed to."
Nancy Fischer recently learned what her 14-year-old son, who plays ice hockey three or four nights a week, has been exposed to after he fainted in the locker room and couldn't get up. He had to be rushed to the hospital, where doctors told his family he'd been stricken by carbon monoxide poisoning -- along with the rest of his team.
"It was very scary," Fischer tells "Today." "I didn't know the long-term effects. You think your kids are safe in a rink -- and he wasn't."
But how are the dangerous fumes getting trapped inside the rinks? Through the machines used to clean and resurface the ice, experts say.
Many rinks sweep the ice with fuel-powered resurfacers, which spit out both carbon monoxide and miniscule particles. The fumes and the particles linger inside the enclosed rinks and can wreak havoc on those who breathe them in.
"There's very little ventilation," certified industrial hygienist Joseph Cocciardi tells the show. "Whatever toxic materials are in the ice rink stay there."
Last week, at least 61 people taking part in an ice hockey tournament in Gunnison, Colorado, were sickened by fumes and had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The "Today" investigation found that at least 250 in all have been poisoned at ice rinks around the country.
Watch a video from the "Today" show detailing the issue.
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