Smoking ban raises problems for nursing homes

Ft Wayne.com ^ | Sep. 24, 2006

[elkfersupper]

The subject of this article involves smoking bans by nursing homes

No, the article is about a county government's smoking ban causing trouble in nursing homes.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Yet the federal government is protecting the "right" you claim.

[elkfersupper]

Yet the federal government is protecting the "right" you claim.

Correct. Too bad you have to be in a nursing home to enjoy that right and that protection.

[justshutupandtakeit]

This "right" will stop soon at any rate because of the liability concerns.

Heavy smoking is one of the best ways to make sure you never have to enter a nursing home. Probably the best.

[elkfersupper]

This "right" will stop soon at any rate because of the liability concerns.

So will the right to enjoy a Big Mac. I'm sure that will make you very happy.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Paranoia knows no bounds. Watching it on display does not make me happy.

You can have the last word on this irrelevancy.

[redgolum]

There was a similar rule about alcohol in my great aunts nursing home. She started each day with a shot of blackberry brandy for years.

My Dad and uncle would take turns smuggling it in.

[redgolum]

You know that they are trying to ban trans fat in NYC don't you? After all it is for the children.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Yeah, so what? In Chicago they have banned foie gras (?). The right of state and local governments to do stupid things is guaranteed by the Tenth amendment.

[doublecansiter]

I hate to rain on your prediction of death and disaster but,
oxygen in and of itself does not burn, is not a flammable
gas, and does not explode on contact with heat spark or
open flame. It will however intensify a already burning
fire. Such as the accident early in the space program. But
that fire is not a good example because the fire occurred in
a 100% oxygen environment. In medical use the gas from the
bottle is 100% oxygen, but the flow rate is low, around
2 liters per minute by nasal cannula or 6 liters per min by
mask. The "NO SMOKING OXYGEN IN USE" signs come from the
doctors, not the fire department.

[muir_redwoods]

I hate to rain on your parade but I am well aware that O2 doesn't burn. I too took Chemistry 101. My point was that some geezer on oxygen will set the place on fire because the o2 will act to enflame his smoldering cigarette.

I work in an insurance company and the collection of claim photos where just such a scenario has played out too many times to count depicts some of the worst ways to die one can imagine.

[doublecansiter]

I am with you on one point. I was a Firefighter for a very
long time and cannot imagine a more terrible way to die
than from burning. Even the most minor burn hurts like
hell. But that does not change the fact that it would take
a concentration of oxygen far beyond what would be possible
in a patients room to cause a lit cigarette to burst into
flame. In fact, you can direct the oxygen stream directly
onto the lit cigarette and all that happens is the the coal
on the end glows a little brighter. No flame. Although I
never tried putting a lit cigarette in to a filled waste
paper basket and then filling it with oxygen.

[IIntense]

Wait until some geezer on oxygen set (sic) the place on fire...

First off, describing elderly people as "geezers" shows disrespect IMO. If you happen to survive into your 60s and beyond, just wait and see if you appreciate being denigrated as a "geezer".

Most of the elderly in our midst deserve praise for living unspoiled lifestyles...living according to their means without credit cards, school buses, big-screen TVs, and on and on.

There's no reason on earth why nursing home residents who enjoy a smoke should not be provided an area in which to enjoy one of their few relaxing pleasures. Those among them who have maintained their mental faculties realize that this is their last stop before their death.

Your "warning" of a patient on oxygen setting "the place on fire" just shows more of your ignorance on the subject.

In any setting, smoking, fire from any source is banned around oxygen. If such a tragedy occurred, the blame lies squarely on the facility, not the patient.

All I'm asking is for you to take a look at the bigger picture and muster up a little more respect and compassion for the elderly.

[muir_redwoods]

"Your "warning" of a patient on oxygen setting "the place on fire" just shows more of your ignorance on the subject. In any setting, smoking, fire from any source is banned around oxygen. If such a tragedy occurred, the blame lies squarely on the facility, not the patient."

Thanks for your speedy reply. You should know that the first sign of geezerhood is the loss of a sense of humor. The second and undeniable sign is an unwillingness to assign personal responsibility to other geezers who break the rules and smoke around oxygen. Full-fledged geezers always blame the facility in such cases. Way back in the '60's I worked in a hospital where people of all ages routinely ignored such warnings. A couple of them found out that the reason for the warning is well-founded.

BTW at the age of 57, I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.

[muir_redwoods]

"Your "warning" of a patient on oxygen setting "the place on fire" just shows more of your ignorance on the subject. In any setting, smoking, fire from any source is banned around oxygen. If such a tragedy occurred, the blame lies squarely on the facility, not the patient."

Thanks for your speedy reply. You should know that the first sign of geezerhood is the loss of a sense of humor. The second and undeniable sign is an unwillingness to assign personal responsibility to other geezers who break the rules and smoke around oxygen. Full-fledged geezers always blame the facility in such cases. Way back in the '60's I worked in a hospital where people of all ages routinely ignored such warnings. A couple of them found out that the reason for the warning is well-founded.

BTW at the age of 57, I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.

[patton]

So...you are in favor of pushing granny down the stairs?

For heaven's sake, this is elder abuse.

[IIntense]

...the first sign of geezerhood is the loss of a sense of humor.

First, let me say I'm sorry for calling you ignorant.

You have a right to your opinion although I don't completely agree with you. For instance, I don't know how you define "geezer". If you take it to mean people who have reached a certain age, many will vouch for older people with a great sense of humor! Some get more fun out of life than many who are years younger.

You saw people of all ages ignore warnings, including not smoking around oxygen.

ALL ages! Yet you put the blame on "geezers", saying they blame the facility rather than demand personal responsibility from other "geezers".

I can only think that anyone who is "uncomfortable" with taking personal responsibility...those who HAVE to find someone else to blame...probably did that all their lives. They just didn't adopt this mindset when they got older.

What about common sense? Common sense says ANY kind of fire where oxygen is in use is deadly.

Sadly, many people in nursing homes are no longer "with it". The facility IS responsible for them, and every other person in that home. That's what they are paid to do.

...I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.

An interesting comment! If you will, I'd like to know why you say this. Really!