The Finnish website pelastustoimi advises to listen to the radio in the event of smelling gas.
If you are already indoors and smell gas
- put a wet cloth in front of your mouth and breathe through it
- go upstairs and stay there if possible
- stay calm, listen to the radio and wait until the danger is over
Given that certain gases can explode and that radios might give off a spark that ignites the gas, should you actually use any electric device (including the radio) when smelling gas?
The Finnish website pelastustoimi advises to listen to the radio in the event of smelling gas.
Yes, but that needs to be put into context. As stated, one might think this is what one should do if one happens to smell gas in one's home. But it isn't. (In that situation one should immediately leave the building and phone the appropriate authorities.)
This is the actual message:
In hazardous situations and emergencies, the authorities warn the public of a direct and imminent danger to the population with a general alarm signal and an emergency warning. …
An alarm signal is sounded in the event of a gas leak or radiation hazard
In the event of a gas leak, follow the instructions above, but also note the following:
If you are already indoors and smell gas
- put a wet cloth in front of your mouth and breathe through it
- go upstairs and stay there if possible
- stay calm, listen to the radio and wait until the danger is over
If you are outdoors and cannot go inside
- move in a crosswind direction to try and get away from the gas cloud
- go to a location that is as high as possible, such as a hilltop
- put wet clothing, grass, peat or moss in front of your mouth and breathe through it
This is in no way talking about if one happens to smell gas in one's home.
This is saying if there is a general emergency warning about a massive gas leak and you happen to be able to smell it yourself while indoors, then stay indoors, take appropriate precautions, and listen to the radio for further advice.
radios might give off a spark that ignites the gas
Not likely, but possibly true for old radios with mechanical switches directly on the incoming power supply.
But if the gas is originating from outdoors, the concentration that leaks into the building will be much lower that is needed for ignition. It's only if the leak occurs within one's own building that such concentrations could occur.
The answer to the literal question "Is it actually advisable to listen to the radio when smelling gas?" is "No".
Had the question been "Is it advisable to listen to the radio after hearing the public emergency sirens?", the answer would be "Yes".
There's nothing to be skeptical about here.
This advice is obviously for a chemical leak that occurred outside of the house (e.g., a leak at a chemical plant), as opposed to a natural gas leak that occurred inside the house (e.g., a break in a natural gas pipeline inside ones house, or a gas stove that is leaking). In the case of the latter you will smell a very strong rotten egg smell. The rotten egg smell comes from an additive that intentionally makes the normally odorless natural gas stink badly. Get outside and phone the appropriate authorities. Your house may quickly go up in flames.
In the case of the former, which is what the referenced advice is about, you will smell something foul, but not that rotten egg smell. Get inside, or stay inside. The hazardous gas is likely to be more concentrated outside the house compared to inside the house.
