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Does anyone else get sick after burns or parties with lots of fire spinning. I love going to these things, but I am so tired of have a really bad cold. Anyone know how to prevent this or should I just deal with it.
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New Jersey
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Re: sick from poi
Fri, October 17, 2008 - 4:42 PMWhat kind of fuel are you using? Are you just spinning poi? Do you get the fuel on you? Do you breath or eat fire? How long are you around the fuel each time you spin? -
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Re: sick from poi
Fri, October 17, 2008 - 5:23 PMI only spin poi with coleman camp fuel. I don't get sick when I spin at home in my yard. I only get sick at major burns like PDF or at parties where there is alot of fire spinning in the warehouse. One of the worst times I got sick was in the warehouse sitting on the floor in front of the performance area taking pictures of everyone. -
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Re: sick from poi
Fri, October 17, 2008 - 9:44 PMIt is probably from the fumes. You are in an enclosed area and the fumes aren't exactly good for you. Out side the wind takes it away so its not that bad, but inside, with multiple people spinning pretty constantly then yeah the fumes will get you pretty bad I would expect. Just take a break and get some fresh air if you can, try a bandana like was mentioned. Best thing though is to go and get some fresh air. -
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Re: sick from poi
Mon, October 20, 2008 - 3:17 PMPlus, there's no telling what fuels other spinners are using in large spin jams.
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Re: sick from poi
Fri, October 17, 2008 - 5:21 PMI wear a bandanna if there are a lot of fumes.
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 18, 2008 - 11:09 AMThe fumes can get pretty nasty - I've had to leave parties where it got excessively toxic.
I have a number of friends who've "wised up" and started bringing painters' gas masks/air filters a couple of years ago. The filters are black by the end of the night! I have also started wearing filtration masks. Hurting yourself when you should be having fun is not good! -
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 18, 2008 - 12:09 PMI found these a while back. They are low profile and a bit more stylish than your average mask.
www.gotpollution.com/products.html -
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 18, 2008 - 12:45 PMwow those masks are pretty sharp!
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 18, 2008 - 3:05 PMno problem. Personally it reminds me of those old characters from the Mortal Kombat video game. Check the details on them though. For what we do, I think the Techno and City masks are the only ones that will affect the inhalation of fumes somewhat. -
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Re: sick from poi
Sun, October 19, 2008 - 12:24 PMI've found bandanna's to be helpful, but hardly ideal, and it has to be wet to remove even some of the more problematic pollutants. While adequate for the mildly sensitive in a well ventilated area, a real gas mask is necessary to protect health in the environments encountered in indoor fire spinning events and festivals with high quantities of fuel burning (especially in areas without much wind, or in valleys).
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Re: sick from poi
Sun, October 19, 2008 - 1:46 PMwould these block Playa dust do you think? I'd imagine so if they can filter fumes. -
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Re: sick from poi
Sun, October 19, 2008 - 1:49 PMnever mind, just read the descriptions. -
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Re: sick from poi
Mon, October 20, 2008 - 3:10 PMAnother thought to be wary of.. if you're around folks that are doing burnoffs (particularly staff burnoffs) or even fire breathing, it's going to send fuel particles airborn. It's these fine particles that allow the big flame to happen. However, since the flame goes up and fuel particles go down (if they are not burned up), you increase the possibility of breathing the particles in. This can lead to chemical pneumonia.
For those of you than do staff spinoffs.. I recommend doing a slow exhale when you start the staff rotating. This can help lessen the chance of that spray getting into your lungs.
Anyway, I don't see this effect mentioned much so I thought I'd chime in.
Peace,
- Sui
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Re: sick from poi
Mon, October 20, 2008 - 7:15 PMcould definitely incorporate those masks into a sweet fire performance costume!!
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 11:09 AMErin, darling, I think this has more to with the fact that you were outside raging for 4 COLD ass nights. Partying in the cold will definitely lower your immune system and make you more susceptible to catching a bug (a bunch of people are feeling sick after PDF, so something was probably being spread there). ESPECIALLY if you weren't sleeping enough, or drinking (or anything else that might lesson your judgement). You were using public bathrooms with no washrooms too.
You're sick. This isn't a reaction to fumes, you're just sick. Drink loads of fluids and take yer vitamins :)
Tedward - good point, but we had a system to separate different buckets with different fuel at PDF. And it's pretty obvious when you try to light up if you're using oil when you thought you were soaked in white gas.
Suibom - good point that I never really considered. There is a lot of fuel that doesn't get burned in staff spin-off, and NONE of us want chemical pneumonia (you also want to seriously avoid that white cloud you see when you extinguish a wick or when you dip in white gas and your poi are still a little too hot).
Everyone else - I've heard of feeling light-headed, nausea, irritated eyes & skin, and shit like that from getting too close to white gas or breathing the fumes from the burn, but I've never known anyone to catch the flu from breathing in a little bit of these fumes. Is this really something you've experienced? I've only heard of people getting chemical pneumonia in 2 circumstances... fire breather who inhales through the mouth with fuel in their mouth; and fire eaters who inhales through the mouth immediately after extinguishing a flame in their mouth (it's that same white cloud - avoid it like the plague).
Quit scaring the girl. lol -
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 11:33 AMIt was weird though cuz it's like a bad cold, but with no fever. So no sign of actually being sick. It's mostly just a lot of extremely bad coughing, a headache, a constant stuffy nose and some puking. It was pretty miserable and has happened a few times after being around a lot of spinning. Both in the cold and during the Summer. -
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 12:10 PMeep - are you throwing up days later after each event?
Is your couch productive at all or is it dry? What color is the mucus (if any)? -
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 3:50 PMI only threw up after this past event normally I just cough badly and get sniffley. I was coughing up greenish yellow phlegm. It was weird throwing up more like coughing so hard I would puke up a lot of nasty phelgm and then feel a lot better for a while until more built up. Drugs or alcohol are not the cause. I only got drunk Thurs night and I don't do any drugs anymore. I just did lots and lots of spinny spinny. -
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 9:27 PMpardon my intruding. i hope i'm not overstepping my bounds in expounding...
if it's taking a few days for the symptom onset, it sounds like probably exposure to something is resulting in sinusitis. the discolored sputum, is it consistent, and/or even have any "sick smell" (for lack of a better explanation) if it's up high, inside your head...despite inability to smell otherwise? you mentioned stuffiness, can you tell where the mucous is originating (head/lungs)? may it appear to possibly be discolored by foreign traces? and do you have any facial pain, especially the bridge of your nose over onto your cheekbones? for some, sinusitis seems to be a bit of a predisposition; anything will flare it. if the results are immediate, then an allergic reaction appears more likely to be the blame. also, as sui said, take (chemical) pneumonia into careful consideration...some are far more vulnerable than others. you may be the "canary" so to speak (coal miner reference).
i've had similar issues with basic exercise (in particular push-ups) over carpet. can't do them without a guaranteed situation of lungs and sinuses. guessing probably something used to clean them, or moldiness, or general carpet funk...in combination with exertion. your body is grabbing every little bit it can, and a person's susceptibility and resistance completely varies by each individual. a nurse that was instructing a class had mentioned on there having been situations where something (i.e. oils, and i've heard even gelatin) is accidentally inhaled and the resulting damage could result in fatality if enough is taken in. i'm not trying to frighten anyone, and it sounds like this won't apply to you based on your previous survival of the situation. but, inhalation issues are definitely a real thing.
the following actually relates to emphysema; but it was the best explanation for cilia, alveoli, etc...and some basic lung mechanics. plus, there's the handy little thing at the top to plug things in if it sparks curiosity. maybe a good refresher for others?
www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/emphysema
sorry to be so long-winded. i just wanted to put this out there (...and apologies for stating some of the obvious :)
zen*laurel -
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Re: sick from poi
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 9:28 PMoh jeez, that was way larger than i'd anticipated. oops. [shrinking away now] -
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 25, 2008 - 1:13 PMHah, no need to apologies for being long winded Zenhalcyon. You were imparting valuable information. If you practice and work hard at it, you may even aspire to truly prodigious posts taking up a screen or two, like my ramblings! Ask Baz, he loves em >_^
(veering back towards topic) If the phlegm appears green (deep green, not just hinting at green) doesn't that usually indicate bacterial infection? The condition may or may not have arisen from factors in the party environment. If you are readily getting a bacterial infection as a result of these factors, maybe another facet of treating it would be to review the state of your well being outside of the party:
Do you get bacterial infections easily? Perhaps reviewing your diet could help. If eat poorly / eat the wrong things, I've encountered allergic reactions to certain environments that I normally don't react to. Maybe cleans detrimental microbes, and eat probiotics to get more beneficial microbes in your system. How's your living environment? Have you become accustomed to living in a less than cleanly, place with a lot of stagnation? Clean and disinfect. get fresh air and sun light into your environment, plants too. I live on the road and couch surf a lot, so I have to adapt to whatever conditions I find myself in. I've noticed living environment plays a big part in my immune levels. Are you getting good sleep? Is your daily stress at healthy levels?
What I'm getting at is that by changing some things in your day to day life you maey get you immune system above a threshold where you don't have a reaction after the party.
But really we should get the doctors in here to assess the situation. Where are Grisha and/or Silence?? -
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Re: sick from poi
Sat, October 25, 2008 - 1:53 PMBefore PDF and other events I am at home a lot, which is clean. So I think my immune system gets lazy. I used to couch surf and be at ther people's houses alot, but now I am always at my house. At home I get enough sleep but at events I get kind of excited and stay up late and get up early and forget to eat. hehe. I also had the spider bites from thurs night and then more fri and a few more sat and I am allergic so that didn't help my immune system. I am getting an RV by Spring. One of those tiny tent size ones on a small truck. That way no more spider bites or being super cold at night. And a friend of mine suggested a netipot in a pm after I posted this. www.sinucleanse.com/ You shove this thing up your nose and wash your sinuses. It is great!
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Re: sick from poi
Wed, October 22, 2008 - 8:20 AMIt seemed to come from y lungs and my head and was greenish like being sick. Didn't look like anything foeign was in it. Just lots of thick mucus. I go sick Monday and was at PDF Thurs to Sun so probably not allergic reaction. I used to work at a bar in San Antonio and was in a very smoking environment for 8 hours a few nights a week. When I cut back to weekends only I got withdrawal during the week as a non smoker from not being at work. I don't know if it smelled cuz I couldn't smell but I don't think it did. I still have lots of spinning to do with Halloween coming up. I will take a break fro fire after that. I am going to a warehouse party this weekend and there are no ins and out. uh oh I was hoping to get fresh air. Maybe I should have bought the gas mask and made it into a costume. Maybe I can get out a back door for fresh air so I don't get sick again or have to leave early. Thanks for all your advise =)
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Yo Rushty...
Tue, October 21, 2008 - 10:16 PMIt's not "scaring the girl" - after going to a certain location south of Boston for warehouse parties, most (if not all) of the Boston fire spinning scene that attended feels sick, with both pneumatic and flu-like symptoms for over a week afterward. Likewise, after going to a fantastic outdoor event on the west coast, there were tons of fires around the spinning area that were poorly constructed and as a result had people pouring white gas on them constantly to maintain their flame - in addition, the space was in a small valley that contained the resulting smoke, and there were very few moments when there were fewer than 12 people spinning at the same time. I felt ill both at the event and afterwards.
White gas fumes are definitely bad for ya, given sufficient concentration. -
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Re: Yo Rushty...
Wed, October 22, 2008 - 7:53 AMI don't doubt that breathing in all that crap has an effect. I know when I spin my hula hoop, I often feel light headed from the fumes. Also, every time I spin fire, I wake up with very puffy eyes the next day. A friend of mine suggested doing heavy metal detox regularly. -
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Re: Yo Rushty...
Mon, February 16, 2009 - 3:53 PMI haven't hit this tribe up in some time, so please excuse my delayed response...
Erin, if you ever feel unwell at the warehouse spins please speak up. We have a professional first aid kit on site, and often have actual paramedics who attend the events. One of our regulars is a doctor and runs the first aid booths at many local festivals. These people could determine if you need medical attention. As you know, the main focus of Philadelphia Fire arts is safety, more so than any other fire community that I know of. Since safety is our number one concern, and since we can't read minds or see everything at once, we rely on the participation of the attendees to speak up if they ever see (or experience in your case) anything that may be, or lead to, an unsafe condition. My job as head of PFA, in reference to safety in the warehouse, is to work with my team to minimize risk factors, create a clean and tight fuel area, supply the tools necessary to deal with the worst of emergencies if they were to occur, and educate others about how to deal with them so that we're all on the same page. But like I said, we need the help of all of the attendees to bring up issues if and when they arise.
I look at fire safety similar to the way I view sex... One can not have "safe" sex. Even with a condom on, you can still contract herpes and other skin STD's. Similarly with fire, even in the safest conditions, fire spinning is still a risk. For example, with the quickest safeties, you could still wrap those poi around your wrists, and get burned, or in your case, have a sensitive respiratory system and get nasty lung issues when you spin a lot. Maybe keeping the fire to a minimum would be best for you. I've personally never before heard of people getting really sick from inhaling white gas fumes but you may just have a sensitive system or other issues that you're not aware of (asthma or allergies?). Perhaps a visit to the doc would be a good idea?
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Re: Yo Rushty...
Tue, February 17, 2009 - 12:26 PMI went to the doctor after PDF cuz I got pretty sick but he didn't take me seriously at all. Last year I got pretty sick after heartburn. I wasn't spinning fire yet but I was being a groupy and sat on the floor right in front of the chain for a while taking pics and video. It's not so much about speaking up during the event because it doesn't really hit me until the next day. For the Halloween ball, I used a netipot to rinse my sinuses as soon as I got home and I didn't get sick. I think that solved my problem cuz I was in the warehouse from 10 until just after 6 am.
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