Carbon monoxide poisoning season is here! Are you still making these mistakes?

Winter is the peak season for carbon monoxide poisoning

Which scenarios are likely to cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

How to identify and prevent it?

What should I do if I am poisoned?

Please keep this safety tip!

01

Which scenarios are likely to cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

1. Use coal stoves or charcoal for heating in an unventilated or poorly ventilated environment.

2. Gas, water heaters, and stoves are improperly used and installed, and ventilation is not effective.

3. Keep the air conditioner on for a long time in a parked, enclosed car.

4. Use unqualified or aging gas equipment.

02

How to identify carbon monoxide poisoning?

1. Mild poisoning: Symptoms such as headache, dizziness, panic, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations and weakness in the limbs may occur.

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2. Moderate poisoning: In addition to the symptoms of mild poisoning, the skin and mucous membranes appear cherry red, and symptoms such as sweating, arrhythmia, irritability, slow movement, drowsiness, and coma continue to worsen.

3. Severe poisoning: The patient will enter a coma, experience paroxysmal or forced convulsions, pale or cyanotic complexion, decreased blood pressure, and dilated pupils. The mortality rate of patients with severe poisoning is high, and even those who survive may have serious sequelae.

03

What to do after carbon monoxide poisoning?

l Open windows for ventilation immediately and quickly turn off gas stoves, water heater valves and other equipment.

l Quickly transfer the patient to a place with fresh air and good ventilation. The patient should rest quietly and keep warm.

l Ensure that the patient's airway is open and keep him/her lying on his/her side to prevent suffocation due to inhalation of vomitus.

l For those with coma or convulsion symptoms, ice packs can be placed on the head to reduce cerebral edema.

l While providing first aid on site, call 120 emergency number as soon as possible.

04

Key points for preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

1. Pay attention to ventilation. Ventilate frequently to keep the indoor air fresh; when using coal, charcoal fire and other heating equipment indoors, the coal should be burned out and not covered.

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2. Choose a good stove. The coal stove used for heating should be equipped with a chimney, and the chimney structure should be kept tight and well ventilated to prevent smoke leakage and backflow; regularly check the stove, maintain and clean the chimney and air scoop, and seal the chimney interface with tape.

3. Correct installation. When using a gas water heater, it is forbidden to install it in the room. It should be installed outside the bathroom near the window or outdoors.

4. Open windows regularly for ventilation. Do not sleep in a car with doors and windows closed and air conditioning on; open windows regularly for ventilation when driving long distances.

5. Install an alarm. Families or restaurants that use gas stoves or coal stoves should install an alarm to promptly sound the alarm if the concentration exceeds the standard. Regular inspections and maintenance should be carried out to ensure that the alarm is in normal use.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Don't be careless

Beware of these common misunderstandings and potential risks

Myth 1: Only burning coal can cause poisoning

Incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon can produce carbon monoxide.

Myth 2: No smoke or odor will not cause poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, non-irritating gas that cannot be directly perceived by the human body.

Myth 3: There are gaps in doors and windows, so there will be no poisoning

The specific gravity of air is 1, and the specific gravity of carbon monoxide is 0.967. If the gaps between doors and windows are at low positions, carbon monoxide will not be easily discharged.

Myth 4: Installing a pipe or wind pipe will not cause poisoning

In fact, if there is a strong wind and smoke is blown back, the chimney is blocked, etc., carbon monoxide cannot be discharged, and poisoning will also occur. If the family uses an old wind scoop, or the wind scoop is too small, or the installation height is not high enough, carbon monoxide cannot be discharged smoothly, which can also cause poisoning.

Myth 5: If you leave the scene after being poisoned, you will be fine

After carbon monoxide poisoning, even if you are out of the environment, you still need professional treatment, otherwise there may be a risk of delayed encephalopathy.

Myth 6: Placing a basin of water next to the stove can prevent poisoning

Science has proven that carbon monoxide is extremely insoluble in water and has no preventive effect.

Source: Chongqing Banan District Second People's Hospital

Audit experts: Du Guo, Bao Zhonghui

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