The incident took place on Wednesday, February 7, in one of the houses in Kruszyn (Bolesławiec municipality). After 10 p.m., three people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning: an 18-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman. All three were taken to hospital for examinations. Fortunately, no one suffered any more serious harm.
This is another case of carbon monoxide poisoning in our county during the current heating season. A reminder! Carbon monoxide, commonly known as “the silent killer,” is an odorless gas with highly toxic properties and, at room temperature, is completely undetectable by human senses. Since the heating season is underway and many people heat their homes with gas heaters, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases.
Where does carbon monoxide come from and why is it so dangerous?
It is a highly poisonous, colorless and odorless gas, slightly lighter than air, which means that it easily mixes with and spreads through it. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of many fuels, including wood, oil, gas, gasoline, kerosene, propane, coal and crude oil, caused by a lack of the oxygen necessary for complete combustion. This may result from insufficient fresh (outside) air reaching the appliance in which combustion takes place, due to contamination, wear or incorrect adjustment of a gas burner, as well as premature closing of a furnace or stove firebox. This is particularly dangerous in homes where windows are tightly closed or sealed for winter. Carbon monoxide is also often produced during a fire.
The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning stems from the fact that the gas cannot be detected by humans. It enters the body through the respiratory system and is then absorbed into the bloodstream. In the respiratory system, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin 210 times faster than oxygen, blocking the supply of oxygen to the body. This poses a serious threat to human health and life. It prevents oxygen from being properly distributed through the blood and causes damage to the brain and other internal organs. Acute poisoning may result in irreversible damage to the central nervous system, coronary insufficiency and a heart attack, or even death.
How can poisoning be prevented?
The primary cause of poisoning is incomplete combustion, which can occur, for example, when windows are closed too tightly and there is no proper ventilation. This causes carbon monoxide to form and obstructs its removal. The amount of exhaust released outside depends on the amount of fresh air entering the room. Above all, it is therefore necessary to ensure a constant supply of fresh air to the firebox (gas heater, gas stove, coal-burning stove or furnace) and the unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes.
Remember to:
- open a window slightly in the home when using any source of fire (a gas heater with an open combustion chamber, a gas or coal-burning stove)
- do not cover ventilation grilles or air vents
- use a qualified professional when installing appliances and heating systems
- have ventilation systems and chimney flues inspected and cleaned periodically (when using coal and wood, this should be done at least once every three months; when using natural gas or heating oil, at least once every six months. The building manager or owner is obliged, among other things, to have the ventilation system inspected at least once a year)
- use technically sound appliances in which combustion takes place, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions; check the technical condition of heating appliances
- use appliances with the required approvals for placing them on the market; in cases of doubt, request the declaration of conformity issued by the appliance's manufacturer or importer, i.e. a document containing information about the technical specifications, intended use and scope of application of the appliance
- when replacing windows with new ones, check that the ventilation works properly, because new windows are usually much more airtight than those previously installed in the building and may worsen ventilation
- regularly check the airflow, for example by holding a sheet of paper against a ventilation opening or grille; if nothing is disrupting the ventilation, the sheet should adhere to the opening or grille
- frequently air the room in which combustion takes place (kitchens and bathrooms equipped with gas water heaters), and preferably ensure that the windows are slightly unsealed, even if only minimally
- place carbon monoxide detectors in the part of the home where your family sleeps. For greater safety, additional detectors should be placed in every room; do not burn charcoal indoors, in a garage, on an enclosed porch or in similar places if they do not have adequate ventilation
- do not leave a car with its engine running in the garage, even if the garage door is open
- do not disregard symptoms such as shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, weakness, an accelerated heartbeat or rapid breathing, as they may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning; in such a situation, immediately ventilate the room you are in and seek medical advice.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- headaches
- dizziness
- general fatigue
- shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- rapid, irregular breathing
- drowsiness
- nausea.
The weakness and exhaustion experienced by a person suffering carbon monoxide poisoning, along with impaired orientation and ability to assess danger, cause them to become completely passive (they do not escape the area where the poison has accumulated), lose consciousness and—if no one comes to their aid—die.
How to help someone suffering carbon monoxide poisoning
- immediately provide an inflow of fresh, clean air
- move the injured person to a safe place in the fresh air as quickly as possible
- loosen the injured person's clothing, but do not undress them, as they must not be allowed to become chilled
- call the emergency services (ambulance—tel. 999; fire service—tel. 998 or 112).
- if the poisoned person is not breathing after being taken outside into the fresh air, immediately begin artificial respiration and cardiac massage.
Safe use of gas instantaneous water heaters
Gas is a widely used energy source commonly used in households. The tightness of a gas installation is an obvious condition for safe gas use, as a gas-air mixture may explode. However, most gas users do not know when there may be a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. In Poland, approximately 100 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas instantaneous water heaters, while several times more suffer poisoning requiring hospitalization.
The vast majority of fatal accidents occur between November 1 and March 31, during the cold season. Closed, airtight windows are the cause. The formation of carbon monoxide and its penetration into homes can easily be prevented by meeting four basic conditions for the safe use of gas-burning appliances. They are:
- proper installation
- a constant supply of fresh air
- unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes
- proper operation ensuring that the gas appliance remains in good technical condition.
Proper installation
A gas heater may be installed or replaced only by an authorized specialist, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Installation and adjustment work performed by an unauthorized person may pose a threat to the health and life of residents. The same requirements for installation and adjustment work apply to gas stoves. The stove should be located as close as possible to the exhaust ventilation grille, and the workstations should be positioned between the window and the stove so that fresh air flows above them.
A constant supply of fresh air
A constant supply of fresh (outside) air to the appliance in which gas combustion occurs is essential. A lack of fresh air causes an oxygen deficiency. This deficiency results in incomplete combustion and the formation of carbon monoxide. This happens, for example, when the windows of the home are tightly closed. A constant supply of fresh air to the home is also essential for the unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes. Therefore, remember to ventilate the bathroom thoroughly before every bath, ensure that airtight windows are fitted with air vents, and keep a window or transom slightly open during bathing. Covering ventilation grilles—both the intake grille in the bathroom door and the exhaust grille at the entrance to the ventilation duct—risks fatal poisoning.
Unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes
The gas heater should be tightly connected to the exhaust flue, and the exhaust flue must be airtight and unobstructed. A leaky chimney weakens the draft or may cause exhaust fumes to enter adjacent rooms. Chimney flues (smoke, exhaust and ventilation flues) must be inspected in accordance with applicable regulations. The inspection should be carried out by authorized persons, and the owner or manager is responsible for having the building inspected. However, unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes requires not only a clear exhaust flue but also a constant supply of fresh air to the room where gas combustion takes place. Exhaust fumes will not be removed if a working gas heater is located in a closed, sealed home. A constant supply of air to the room in which the gas heater is operating is therefore essential to meet two basic safety requirements: complete combustion of gas and unobstructed removal of exhaust fumes. During bathing, do not turn on a fan in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home, as its operation weakens the natural exhaust draft in the gas heater's flue.
Good technical condition of the gas appliance
Gas appliances should be kept clean and in good technical condition, and inspected periodically in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
For their own safety and that of their family, every user of gas appliances should take this responsibility seriously. A gas heater that has been used for many years should be reported for inspection without delay. An old, worn, uncleaned and improperly adjusted gas heater poses a threat to life. Repair and maintenance of a gas appliance may be entrusted only to persons with the appropriate qualifications.
Following the above advice may affect the health and life of you and your loved ones. A little prudence is all it takes!