Police recover drugs in Elgin

Moray Police ‘SWAT’ team burst a door open

The law in action as Sergeant Menzies and his colleagues from the Elgin Community Policing team raided a house in Elgin after been tipped off. Drugs recovered and enquiries ongoing. The police released a statement saying they value all information received from the public and anyone with info should call the police on 101. #Help your community to be drug free!

Officers storm the crime scene

18-carat solid gold toilet stolen

Wonder why anyone would want to steal a toilet, the riddle is quickly resolved when you realise it’s an 18-carat solid gold toilet valued at £4.8m from Blenheim Palace. So much for the gap between the rich and the poor closing when the poor can’t even afford to wear gold and the rich have had so much of it that they now discharge their faeces in one.

Did you know indoor air can cause you health problems

 

If you have never been worried by the air you breathe, then you should. Don’t think you are safe even inside your own home, The Environmental Protection Agency says that the air in homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air. Indoor air pollution can cause big health problems. People who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods are often those most at risk to the effects of indoor air pollution. This includes children, older adults, and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses.

Most indoor air pollution comes from sources that release gases or particles into the air. Things such as building materials and air fresheners give off pollution constantly. Other sources such as tobacco smoke and wood-burning stoves also cause indoor pollution. Some indoor air pollutants have been around for years. But they often were weakened by outdoor air seeping into the home. Today’s more energy-efficient homes don’t let as much outdoor air get inside.

INDOOR AIR HAZARDS

Ozone generators are sold as air cleaners. They make ozone gas on purpose. But high concentrations of ozone react with organic material inside and outside the body. When ozone is breathed in, it can harm the lungs. This can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. It can make chronic lung diseases such as asthma worse. It can also increase the risk for lung infections.

The EPA says that research does not support claims that ozone from these devices removes dust, pollen, and chemicals from the air. No federal agency has approved these devices as air cleaners. The official number found on ozone generator packaging is only the identification of the facility that made the product. It is not an approval number.

Other common sources of indoor pollution include:

LIVE SOURCES

These include mould, mildew, cockroaches, and dust mites.

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide (CO) and other pollutants are released from fuel-burning stoves, heaters, and other appliances. CO is an odorless, colorless gas. It blocks the movement of oxygen in the body. Depending on how much is breathed in, CO can have many effects. It can affect coordination, make heart conditions worse, and cause extreme tiredness, headache, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Very high levels can cause death. Older adults, babies, pregnant women, and people with heart and lung diseases are even more sensitive to high CO levels.

NITROGEN DIOXIDE

This is a product of natural gas, it isn’t odourless and colourless. It irritates the eyes, nose, and throat and causes shortness of breath in high concentrations. Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can harm the lungs and may lead to chronic bronchitis. Exposure to low levels may worsen symptoms in people with asthma and increase other respiratory infections.

SULFUR DIOXIDE

This gas is a product of burning kerosene in a space heater. It is very irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

RADON

Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps from the soil and rocks under your home. Radon can enter a home through cracks in the foundation, walls, drains, and other openings. Exposure to radon in the home is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking is the first. Smokers and former smokers exposed to radon may have a much higher risk of death from lung cancer.

SECOND HAND SMOKE

Cigarette smoke contains trace amounts of about 4,000 chemicals. This includes 200 known poisons such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, and 43 carcinogens.

These are other common household air pollutants:

Other indoor pollutants

These are other common household air pollutants:

  • Particulates. These include dust and pollen.

  • Formaldehyde. his is a common preservative and adhesive in furniture, carpets, drapes, particleboard, and plywood paneling. Breathing formaldehyde fumes can cause coughing, rashes, headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

  • Household products. These include personal care products, pesticides, household cleaners, solvents, and chemicals used for hobbies. Exposure to these products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, cancer, and irritated eyes, skin, and lungs. Some cleaning products can produce poisonous fumes. Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia.

  • Remodeling hazards. These include new carpeting and paint. They can give off fumes that irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

  • Asbestos. This may be from insulation, floor tiles, spackling compounds, cement, and heating equipment. These products can be a problem indoors only if the material that contains the asbestos is disturbed and becomes airborne. This also happens when the product falls apart with age. Asbestos fibers are light, flexible, and small enough to stay in the air. So the fibers can be breathed in. This causes lung tissue scarring and lung cancer.

  • Lead. This was common in paint made before 1978.

  • Pesticides. Exposure to these can occur through normal use of sprays, strips filled with pesticides, and foggers (also called bombs). Exposure can also occur after using contaminated dusts. This is especially true for children who may be in close contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, and nausea. Some pesticides may cause cancer.

Signs of air trouble

These symptoms may be a sign of indoor air hazards. They include:

  • Abnormal and noticeable odors, stale or stuffy air.

  • Clear lack of air movement.

  • Dirty or broken central heating or air conditioning.

  • Damaged flue pipes or chimneys.

  • Too much humidity. A relative humidity of 30% to 50% is generally advised for homes. Remove standing water, water-damaged materials, and wet surfaces. These can be a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria, and insects.

  • Molds and mildew.

  • Health reaction after remodeling, moving, weatherizing, buying new furniture, or using household or hobby products.

  • Feeling healthier outside the home.

How safe is your air?

In general:

  • Never buy more than you need of products that might add to indoor pollution. These include cleaning solvents or pesticides.

  • Follow makers’ directions for use, storage, and disposal.

  • Provide ventilation before and after putting in products such as pressed-wood furniture, and carpets or draperies that might give off chemicals.

  • Don’t allow smoking in your home.

Bathroom

  • Keep moisture under control. Moisture leads to growth of living pollutants and condensation. Exhaust fans can help.

  • Personal care products and air fresheners can give off gases. Find items with little or no aerosol. Open your windows and use fans.

  • Have a professional fix or remove damaged asbestos floor tiles.

Bedroom

  • A cold mist humidifier or vaporizer can promote the growth of living pollutants. Use and clean the device correctly. Change the water daily.

  • Bedding should use pillows and mattress covers that block allergens. Wash regularly in water above 130° F (54° C). Vacuum under beds regularly to control dust mites.

  • Dry cleaning can leave gases on clothes. Air them out before taking them indoors. Think about washing by hand instead.

  • Air conditioners can be a home for living allergens. Clean water trays often and change filters.

Living areas

  • Paneling or pressed-wood furniture may release formaldehyde gas. Look for brands (such as those with phenol resin) that give off less formaldehyde. Or brands that seal with polyurethane.

  • Carpets can give off gases when new. And they can host living pollutants when wet. Air out new carpets before installing. Ask for adhesives that give off low amounts of gases. Clean and dry water-damaged carpets or remove them. Vacuum to control dust mites. Dust mites are an asthma trigger.

  • New draperies may have a formaldehyde-based finish. Air out before hanging.

  • Fireplaces create CO and other combustion pollutants. Open the flue during use. Have the flue and chimney inspected each year.

  • Gas or kerosene space heaters create CO and combustion pollutants. Never use them unless they are vented correctly. Open doors to the rest of the house, use an exhaust fan, and open windows slightly.

Kitchen

  • Household cleaners may give off unsafe or irritating vapors. Use nonaerosol, nontoxic products.

  • Moisture from cooking and washing leads to living pollutants. Use exhaust fans.

  • Unvented gas stoves and ranges raise the risks of CO and combustion byproducts. Clean and adjust burners, and use exhaust fans. Never use a stove or range to heat a home.

Garage

  • Engines. Engine exhaust carries CO and combustion byproducts. Never run engines in a garage.

  • Paint and solvents. Air out when using. Reseal containers well. Clean brushes outside.

  • Pesticides and fertilizers. Think about using nonchemical methods instead. Air out if using indoors.

  • Fuels. Store labeled, sealed fuel containers outside in a well-ventilated area.

Laundry or utility areas

  • Clothes dryers. Unvented dryers promote moisture, living pollutants, and dust. Vent dryers to the outside. A gas-fired dryer creates CO and combustion byproducts. Clean lint filters often and provide air for gas combustion.

  • Water. Ground moisture promotes living allergens. Look for condensation on walls, water on floors, or sewage leaks. To keep water out, install gutters and downspouts. Don’t water near foundations and grade soil away from the house. Waterproof basement walls.

  • Asbestos. Asbestos pipe wrap and furnace insulation should be checked routinely for damage or wear. Have a professional make any repairs.

  • Furnaces and water heaters. Fossil-fuel furnaces and water heaters pose risks of CO and combustion pollutants. Have them inspected yearly, clean around them often, and change filters regularly. Call your fuel supplier or fire department at once if you think there is a CO or fuel leak.

  • Radon. Test for radon. Have an experienced certified contractor from your state or the EPA correct radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter or higher.

Your central heating may make you and your family ill, here’s why.

According to Dr Maurice Pye, consultant cardiologist at York Hospital, ‘Temperature changes can affect the circulation quite dramatically,’if you go from hot to cold, that can increase your blood pressure in a way that can affect blood supply to the heart. It causes a reflex that narrows the arteries, which reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle. This can cause angina, heart attacks or changes in heart rhythm.

‘We have angina patients who say they’re fine in most rooms, but as soon as they go upstairs to the bedroom, where it’s perhaps cooler, they get chest pain.’

Aim for a ‘reasonable temperature’ – above 18c – in all rooms you use regularly, he says.

Whether it’s fiddling with the central heating, plugging in an air freshener or using a dehumidifier, we’re forever tinkering with the air in our homes. But are you aware that you could also be playing with your health? As winter approaches and the cold, icy and snowy weather returns, be weary of how you you use heating in your homes especially if you’ve got children and elderly ones, a dramatic change in temperature from hot to cold or too hot heating can affect sore throat, breathing and the lungs.

82 year old woman raped by her carer

A repulsive crime was committed on a 82 year old woman when her personal carer raped her after wheeling her 86 year old husband to the next room.

59 years old Simon Prodanovich,  told his victim “ladies like that” before pouncing on his victim in her suburban Melbourne home. The court heard that the woman demanded Prodanovich to “stop, that’s enough of it”, before he fled the house. Judge Susan Pullen described his actions as nothing short of “appalling, reprehensible and repulsive”. The rape had “brutalised” the woman and left her feeling angry and fearful at men. According to the woman’s daughter, her mother is now weary of where men might be and fearing what they might do to her. Prodanovich was jailed for a maximum of eight years and must serve five-and-a-half years before becoming eligible for release on parole.

Two men seriously assaulted in Inverness and Tain

Two men attacked in a separate incidence in both Inverness and Tain

A 36-year-old man was treated in hospital after an incident in Inverness’ Academy Street at about 03:00. Police want to trace a man who spoke with a Liverpool accent and may have links to the Elgin area.

A 27-year-old man was assaulted by two men in a car park in Tain’s Argyle Court at about 04:30. He suffered a number of injuries to his face and was treated by paramedics. One of his attackers was described as being white, in his mid to late 20s, about 6ft tall, of a slim build with short dark hair. He was wearing a blue jacket and blue jeans.

The other man was described as white, in his mid to late 20s, about 5ft 10in tall, of a slim build with short dark hair and was wearing a black jacket with black tracksuit bottoms. The man police want to trace following the Inverness assault was described as being white, about 5ft 9ins tall, in his early 20s, of slim build, with short brown hair. He was wearing black Vans trainers, light coloured trousers and a dark long sleeved jumper with a zip half way down the front. He was believed to have been accompanied by a second man. Culled from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Spynie Care Home faces deregistration

Pic credit: Evening Express

Spynie care home in Elgin has run into crisis again with the Care Inspectorate after being told to make improvements, the care homehave been given an ultimatum to turn around six care delivery failings at the home by 10th January or have its registration withdrawn.

Click or paste following link in browser to see the letter from the Care Inspectorate.

https://www.careinspectorate.com/berengCareservices/html/enforcements/uploadedEnforcements/Spynie%20-%20(Care%20Home)_2019378008_08112019_IN1_Redacted.pdf

Concerns have been raised in six areas, including the health, safety and well-being of residents. The notice said residents must receive “high quality care”

The formal improvement notice served by The Care Inspectorate on the Spynie Care Home became imperative following an inspection which raised serious concerns.

Surfer dies in Isle of Lewis Beach

A man who was surfing in the Isle of Lewis Beach has met his untimely death after getting into difficulty. Coast guard pulled him from the sea at Barvas and emergency services were alerted at about 11:44. Police said the man was flown to Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway where he was pronounced dead. investigations are still ongoing to determine the circumstances of the ill fated surfing.