Enforcement officer: Don't shelter in your septic tank!

To the Editor:

In the Nov. 2 issue of the Courier, you published information that should be retracted immediately as following it could jeopardize the lives of your readers.

On page 17, a sidebar headlined as "Tip: If Indian Point blows, find shelter in your septic tank," your survival expert recommends that in the event of an attack on a nuclear power plant, homeowners could survive the blast by climbing in their septic tank and closing the lid.

People should never enter a septic tank or other sewage tank without the necessary respiration equipment!

Aside from the methane noted in the sidebar, sewage tanks often contain high levels of deadly hydrogen sulfide and other poisonous gasses. Even if the person is not killed by the gasses, they run the risk of passing out and drowning in the sewage.

While many people would never think of entering a sewage tank, the sad fact is that people die in septic tanks each year. Any representation that a septic tank is a safe place to hide is incorrect and should not be repeated.

Chris Wood

Sewage Enforcement Officer

Dingman Township

Editor's note: The Courier thanks Chris Wood for this important warning. To clarify: Johnny O is not the Courier's survival expert, but the subject of a feature story about his appearance on National Geographic's "Doomsday Preppers" and the strategies he's adopted to survive the end of the world — none of which the Courier recommends. The septic tank tip came from Johnny O, but the Courier stands by Mr. Wood's sensible advice.