Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning when taking a shower! Recently, it has become common and some people have died from it.

In this weather

Take a nice hot bath before going to bed

It is probably the first choice for many people to keep warm.

The editor would like to remind everyone!

Be careful when taking a bath

Suddenly fainted while taking a shower and rushed to the hospital

Two people were infected in Shenzhen within three days

Earlier, the reporter learned from the Shenzhen Emergency Center that there were two cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in late October. Fortunately, after being taken to the hospital by the 120 ambulance for timely rescue, both were out of danger.

What is going on?

Let’s learn more about it

Case 1>>>：

At 21:25 on October 25, in a village in Kengzi Street, Pingshan District, a 14-year-old girl was found lying unconscious on the bathroom floor by her family while taking a bath.

Case 2>>>：

At 23:11 on October 28, in an urban village in Henggang Street, Longgang District, a 24-year-old woman also fainted while taking a bath. Her family found her and called 120.

These two people were poisoned by carbon monoxide

After being taken to the hospital by the 120 ambulance for timely rescue

No life-threatening situation

Experts from the Shenzhen Emergency Center remind people to pay attention to safety as the weather turns cooler and be careful of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Every year when the weather turns cold

Carbon monoxide poisoning may occur

Many people have been poisoned by bathing

Carbon monoxide poisoning while bathing

Similar incidents have occurred in Shenzhen in recent years.

This is not the first time

1

Bought a water heater from a scrap yard

A woman suddenly fainted while taking a shower

On the afternoon of December 7, 2020, a woman in Guangming District, Shenzhen fell into a coma while taking a bath. The police and medical staff arrived in time and launched rescue, and the woman eventually recovered.

After investigation, it was found that his home was using a direct-discharge water heater, which caused carbon monoxide poisoning to people when the space was closed.

2

A young woman

Poisoned and died while taking a shower in a rental house

In the early morning of November 16, 2020, a gas poisoning incident occurred in Xiashuijing Community, Jihua Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen. A young woman collapsed while taking a shower. She was unconscious when her family found her. She died after failed rescue efforts.

It is reported that the deceased died of gas poisoning from using a direct-discharge water heater in the rental house.

winter

Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning

01

What is carbon monoxide poisoning?

Incomplete combustion of coal gas, natural gas or other carbon-containing substances will produce carbon monoxide, which is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is poorly soluble in water. It is difficult to detect and once leaked, it can easily cause poisoning.

In winter, in confined spaces such as bathrooms, insufficient oxygen and incomplete combustion can produce high concentrations of carbon monoxide, which can also cause human poisoning and lead to casualties.

Carbon monoxide poisoning has the following symptoms

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When carbon monoxide is inhaled into the body, it will compete with oxygen for hemoglobin in the blood, preventing oxygen from combining with hemoglobin, causing hypoxia in the human body.

In mild cases, symptoms include dizziness, headache, blurred vision, palpitations, and chest tightness.

If inhaled for a long time, the skin may become cherry-colored, cold, irritable, extremely excited or confused, have difficulty breathing, weakness, and have muscle spasms or convulsions.

In severe cases, the patient may experience coma, incontinence, pupil dilation, respiratory failure, and even death.

02

How to provide first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning?

Determine if the patient has carbon monoxide poisoning

Rescuers should take the following steps to provide first aid:

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① Before approaching, you should assess whether the on-site environment is safe. If the gas leak is uncontrollable, please move away from the scene to a safe area and call the police immediately.

②Call 120 and, if conditions permit, fetch an AED and first aid kit.

③ Take personal protection measures, wear a gas mask or cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel.

④ Open doors and windows immediately for ventilation and quickly turn off the gas switch.

⑤ Move the patient to a safe place with good ventilation and fresh air.

⑥ Loosen the patient’s clothes, keep the airway open, clear the oral and nasal secretions, and give artificial respiration if necessary.

⑦Keep warm.

⑧If the patient is unresponsive and not breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately.

Note: It is strictly forbidden to make phone calls, turn on lights or light fires at the scene of a gas leak.

If the patient is unconscious when poisoned, he or she should be taken to the hospital for further diagnosis and treatment even if he or she is conscious after being rescued.

03

How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?

Make sure to ventilate when taking a shower!

Direct-discharge water heaters cannot be used;

Pay attention to ventilation when taking a bath, turn on the exhaust fan or open a window;

Don’t take too long in the bath;

Before taking a bath at home, it is best to inform your family not to lock the bathroom door so that rescue personnel can enter smoothly after an accident.

also

It should be noted that

Poisoning caused by "direct-discharge water heater"

It has happened everywhere in the past

What is a "direct discharge water heater"?

There is no air intake and exhaust device in the water heater itself. Natural air intake, exhaust, oxygen extraction and exhaust are all done indoors, which can easily cause oxygen deficiency in the bathroom and excessive exhaust gas concentration.

The country has long banned the production and sale of direct-discharge water heaters, and what you buy on the market now are basically second-hand refurbished products and counterfeit products from small factories.

Why "direct discharge water heater"

Easy to cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

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☞ Combustion oxygen consumption

When boiling water, the water heater inhales indoor air to participate in the combustion of liquefied petroleum or natural gas, consuming oxygen in the indoor space.

☞ Direct exhaust

The combustion process produces waste gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, which are directly discharged into the indoor space.

☞ Enclosed space

Oxygen is exhausted and the concentration of toxic gases increases. If the bathroom happens to be closed and the air is not circulating, people will inhale carbon monoxide for too long, which will directly lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and in severe cases, death.

so

If your home is using a "direct-discharge water heater"

Please replace it immediately!

also

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Winter

You must know these things!

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Source: Shenzhen Major Events, Shenzhen Emergency, Shenzhen Longgang Public Security Bureau, CCTV News