[ RadSafe ] potentially combustible helium??????

[Glenn R. Marshall]

Possibly this was pressurized helium which, if exposed to fire, could cause the cylinders to explode due to pressure buildup.  Either that, or they have special, combustible helium.  The helium was probably made combustible by the addition of DU.  There might be a few on this list who can confirm that storing helium in close proximity to DU makes the helium hazardous.  It causes cancer, mutations, and herpes.  It turned me into a newt!  (But I got better....).     

Glenn Marshall

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of FISHER Spencer -NUCLEAR
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 2:42 PM
To: 'radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu'
Subject: [ RadSafe ] potentially combustible helium??????

MRI safety training pays off in Pa.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
January 3, 2012

Officials at St. Luke's Hospital - Anderson Campus in Easton, PA, are crediting MRI safety training as the reason injuries and extensive damage were avoided following a fire in an MRI suite at the facility.

A December 30 report<http://www.mcall.com/health/mc-bethlehem-mri-explosions-20111230,0,7840341.story> in the Morning Call newspaper noted that no one was injured at St. Luke's, and damage was limited to smoke in the hallways.
An MRI technologist activated a system that demagnetized the unit and allowed potentially combustible helium to exit the building through a vent, according to the report. At that point, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.




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