That chemical spill in Kansas

[malaise]

Frightening

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/residents-shelter-place-chemical-spill-kansas/story?id=42968039
<snip>
"At 8:02 this morning two chemicals were inadvertently mixed together at MGP," said Trey Cocking, public information officer for the city of Atchinson. "That caused a gaseous plume to develop. That plume covered good portions of the city of Atchinson [and] we have 18 people being treated for respiratory discomfort."

MGP Ingredients is a supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches.

Of the 18 people who were treated in the hospital for respiratory issues, five are city employees.

"All injuries are minor, they are being kept for observation," Cocking told reporters at a press conference.

Chemicals were mixed together "inadvertently in the delivery process" when one chemical was put in the wrong holding tank, according to Cocker. It was not clear which two chemicals had been mixed. (one was sulfuric acid)

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. The pics I saw this morning on Breaking News site showed a dense fog in the area.

Staying indoors does not seen like a good way to avoid the density of that chemical cloud.

[malaise]

3. I did wonder about that but

inside must have been safer than outside

[suffragette]

2. In an instant, the world can turn sideways.

And that's very scary, indeed.

[malaise]

4. Yep

It's that simple although I'm way more acceptable when it's a natural disaster. ome of the man-made ones would be avoided with enforced regulations.

[suffragette]

5. Very true and why it is so important that safety regulations exist and must

be enforced.

When I was a teenager, I volunteered at a senior center. Part of that was assisting wit meals on wheels. I rode along and helped deliver them and chatted with the people.

I still remember when one of the men asked the driver, who was also elderly, what factory he had worked at. He knew he had worked at a a factory because the driver was missing a finger, as was the man who asked. Apparently it had been a common injury at these factories back when both were young men.

We can do better. We must.