Bill requires safety inspections for public utility vehicles

MANILA, Philippines — Safety inspections for all public utility vehicles will soon become a requirement once a bill in the House of Representatives is passed into law. House Bill 6066 seeks to ensure that the carbon monoxide level in the vehicles will not reach unsafe levels in excess of 70 ppm (parts per million). "Carbon monoxide has been called the 'silent killer' because it is odorless, colorless, tasteless and non-irritating where victims are not aware of the danger surrounding them," author Rep. Narciso Santiago III (ARC) said in an article on the House of Representatives website (www.congress.gov.ph). He stressed the need to address both the mechanical and educational components of carbon monoxide poisoning to protect and educate consumers on the matter. The bill mandates the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), to prepare and distribute pamphlets attached to the operators’ licenses, whether issued or renewed, on the warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and the appropriate actions to be taken to prevent accidental poisoning. Santiago said carbon monoxide is a significantly toxic gas and the most common type of fatal poisoning in many countries. "Exposures can lead to significant toxicity of the central nervous system and heart," he said. He cited the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning as drowsiness and headache followed by unconsciousness, respiratory failure and death. "First aid for victims of carbon monoxide poisoning requires access to fresh air, administration of artificial respiration and oxygen, if available. But most important of all, medical attention," he said. - GMANews.TV