How to treat carbon monoxide poisoning. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Intensive therapy for cerebral edema

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO), is an extremely poisonous, colorless gas. It is an obligatory product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances: it is detected in automobile exhaust gases, cigarette smoke, smoke from fires, etc. Carbon monoxide has no odor, so it is impossible to detect its presence and assess the concentration in the inhaled air without instruments.

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Once in the blood, carbon monoxide displaces oxygen from its connection with the respiratory protein hemoglobin and inhibits the functioning of active centers responsible for the formation of new hemoglobin, thereby causing acute oxygen starvation of tissues. In addition, carbon monoxide disrupts the flow of oxidative processes in the body.

Carbon monoxide, which has a high affinity for the respiratory protein, attaches to it much more actively than oxygen. For example, if the concentration of CO in the inhaled air is only 0.1% of the total volume (the ratio of carbon monoxide and oxygen is 1:200, respectively), hemoglobin will bind equal amounts of both gases, i.e. half of the respiratory protein circulating in the systemic bloodstream will be occupied by carbon dioxide gas.

The breakdown of the carboxyhemoglobin molecule (hemoglobin-carbon monoxide) occurs approximately 10,000 times slower than the oxyhemoglobin molecule (hemoglobin-oxygen), which determines the danger and severity of poisoning.

Car exhaust gases contain a maximum of 13.5% carbon monoxide, with an average of 6-6.5%. So, a low-power 20 hp engine. With. produces up to 28 liters of CO per minute, creating a lethal concentration of gas in the air within 5 minutes in a closed room (garage, repair box).

Characteristic symptoms of poisoning appear after 2–6 hours of inhalation of air containing 0.22–0.23 mg of carbon monoxide per liter; severe poisoning with loss of consciousness and death can develop after 20-30 minutes at a carbon monoxide concentration of 3.4–5.7 mg/l and after 1-3 minutes at a poison concentration of 14 mg/l.

Carbon monoxide poisoning most often occurs in the following cases:

• improper operation or malfunction of furnace equipment, gas heating appliances;
• staying in an unventilated enclosed area with the car engine running;
• fire;
• smoldering electrical wiring, household appliances, interior parts and furniture;
• violation of safety regulations when working in chemical production where carbon monoxide is used.

The likelihood of poisoning is directly proportional to the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air and the time of its exposure to the body.

Symptoms of poisoning

The nervous system is most sensitive to changes in oxygen levels in the blood. The degree of damage can vary from mild, reversible to generalized, leading to temporary or permanent disability, and in especially severe cases, death of the victim.

In addition to the nervous system, the respiratory (tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia) and cardiovascular (dystrophy and necrotization of the myocardium, degenerative changes in the walls of blood vessels) systems are most often involved in the pathological process.

Depending on the concentration of CO in the air and, accordingly, carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, several degrees of carbon monoxide poisoning are distinguished.

Symptoms of mild poisoning (carboxyhemoglobin content in the blood does not exceed 30%):

• consciousness is preserved;
• squeezing, pressing headache, reminiscent of being tied with a hoop;
• dizziness, noise, ringing in the ears;
• lacrimation, copious discharge from the nose;
• nausea, vomiting;
• mild transient visual impairment is possible;
• difficulty breathing;
• sore throat, dry cough.

Moderate poisoning (develops when the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is from 30 to 40%):

• short-term loss or other disturbances of consciousness (stunning, stuporous state or coma);
• difficulty breathing, intense shortness of breath;
• persistent dilation of the pupils, anisocoria (pupils of different sizes);
• hallucinations, delusions;
• tonic or clonic seizures;
• tachycardia, pressing pain in the chest;
• hyperemia of the skin and visible mucous membranes;
• incoordination;
• visual impairment (decreased visual acuity, flickering spots);
• decreased hearing acuity.

In case of severe poisoning (carboxyhemoglobin concentration 40-50%):

• coma of varying depth and duration (up to several days);
• tonic or clonic convulsions, paralysis, paresis;
• involuntary urination and/or defecation;
• weak thready pulse;
• shallow intermittent breathing;
• cyanosis of the skin and visible mucous membranes.

In addition to the classic manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning, atypical symptoms may develop in one of the following forms:

• fainting – characterized by a sharp decrease in blood pressure (up to 70/50 mmHg and below) and loss of consciousness;
• euphoric – sharp psychomotor agitation, decreased criticism, disorientation in time and space, hallucinations and delusions are possible;
• fulminant - develops when the concentration of CO in the inhaled air is 1.2% or more, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the systemic circulation in this case exceeds 75%. The death of the victim occurs quickly, within 2-3 minutes.

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, has the chemical formula CO. It has no color, taste, or smell. The characteristic smell that non-specialists attribute to it is actually the smell of impurities, which, like CO, are released when organic matter burns.

Carbon monoxide is formed when substances and materials containing carbon burn. In addition to wood and coal, these include oil and its derivatives, including gasoline and diesel fuel. Accordingly, the cause of poisoning can be staying in the immediate vicinity of the combustion of carbon-containing substances, including next to running car engines.

The maximum permissible concentration of carbon monoxide in atmospheric air for humans is 33 mg/m³. According to hygienic standards, the concentration should not exceed 20 mg/m³. Death is caused by inhalation of air, 0.1% of which is carbon monoxide, within an hour. For comparison, exhaust from a car internal combustion engine contains 1.5–3% of this toxic substance, so CO belongs to hazard class 2.3 according to the international classification.

Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

The most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• long-term (over 5 hours) stay in close proximity to busy highways;
• being in an unventilated room in which there is a combustion source that is deprived of the removal of combustion products. This could be a fire, a running car, a stove with a closed chimney, etc.;
• neglect of safety rules and instructions for the devices used when using household and home-made devices that involve combustion (burners, potbelly stoves and other heating devices).

Cigarette smoke also contains CO, but its concentration is too low to cause serious poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is also formed during gas welding, which uses carbon dioxide. The latter, which is carbon dioxide (CO2), loses an oxygen atom when heated and turns into CO. But when natural gas burns in working stoves and appliances, no CO is formed. If they are faulty, carbon monoxide is released in concentrations that are hazardous to health.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

When carbon monoxide concentrations are less than 0.009%, poisoning occurs only in cases of being in a polluted place for more than 3.5 hours. Intoxication occurs in a mild form and often goes unnoticed, since its symptoms are mild: psychomotor reactions slow down, and a rush of blood to the organs is possible. People suffering from cardiovascular disease may experience shortness of breath and chest pain.

When the concentration of CO in the air increases to 0.052%, an hour of continuous exposure is required for the development of symptoms of intoxication. As a result, headache and visual disturbances are added to the above symptoms.

When the concentration rises to 0.069%, an hour is enough for the headache to become throbbing, dizziness, nausea, incoordination, irritability, short-term memory loss and visual hallucinations.

A CO concentration of 0.094% leads to hallucinations, severe ataxia and tachypnea within two hours.

Higher levels of CO in the air lead to rapid loss of consciousness, coma and death. These symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, with its concentration in the inhaled air of 1.2%, occur within a few minutes.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a volatile compound that quickly dissipates into the atmosphere. The victim must immediately leave the epicenter with the highest concentration of gas. Most often, to do this, it is enough to leave the room in which the source is located; if the victim cannot do this, he should be taken out (carried out).

It is impossible for a non-specialist to independently assess the severity of the victim’s condition; this can only be done based on the results of a blood test. Therefore, even with minor signs of poisoning, it is necessary to seek medical help. If the condition is moderate, even if the victim is able to move independently, you need to call an ambulance. When calling, the dispatcher must be informed of the exact symptoms, source of poisoning and duration of stay near it.

While waiting for the arrival of doctors, the victim should be kept at rest. Lay down with your head turned to one side, get rid of clothing that interferes with breathing (unfasten your collar, belt, bra), ensure a constant flow of oxygen.

In this condition, body hypothermia is dangerous and should be prevented by applying heating pads or mustard plasters to the legs.

If you lose consciousness, you must carefully turn the victim onto his side. This position will keep the airways open and eliminate the possibility of choking on saliva, phlegm, or tongue stuck in the throat.

Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning

The general principle of medical care for poisoning with this product is to saturate the victim’s body with oxygen. For mild poisoning, oxygen masks are used; in most cases this is sufficient.

In more severe cases use:

• forced ventilation of the lungs (IVL);
• subcutaneous administration of caffeine or lobeline;
• intravenous administration of cocarboxylase;
• administration of Acizol intramuscularly.

In case of severe poisoning, the patient may be placed in a hyperbaric chamber.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in children

Most carbon monoxide poisoning in children occurs as a result of playing with fire. In second place is staying in rooms with faulty stoves.

At the first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to take the child out into fresh air and call an ambulance. The use of oxygen cushions in this case is not recommended. Hospitalization is necessary in all cases, even if the degree of poisoning is minor. Children are at high risk of serious complications, particularly pneumonia.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnant women

Pregnant women are much more sensitive to increased concentrations of carbon monoxide in the air than others. Studies conducted in 1993 by foreign scientists showed that symptoms of poisoning can be observed at the maximum permissible concentration or even less. Therefore, expectant mothers should avoid the potential risk areas listed above.

In addition to the usual complications, carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy poses another danger.

Even small doses of CO that enter the blood can lead to fetal death.

Complications and consequences

When you breathe, carbon dioxide moves from the lungs into the blood in the same way as oxygen does and enters into a chemical reaction with hemoglobin. As a result, instead of normal oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin is formed in the following proportion - with a ratio of CO and air of 1/1500, half of the hemoglobin will turn into carboxyhemoglobin. This compound is not only unable to carry oxygen, but also prevents the release of the latter from oxyhemoglobin. As a result, oxygen starvation of the hemic type occurs.

The processes described above cause hypoxia, which negatively affects the functioning of all internal organs. Asphyxia is especially dangerous for the brain. It can cause both minor memory and thinking disorders and serious neurological or even psychiatric diseases.

Recently, British scientists from the University of Leeds, together with French colleagues, found that even minor carbon dioxide poisoning disrupts the heart rhythm, which can lead to serious consequences, including death.

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

The density of atmospheric air at altitudes characteristic of most of Russia is such that it is heavier than carbon monoxide. From this fact it follows that the latter will always accumulate in the upper part of the room, and outside it will rise to the upper layers of the atmosphere. Therefore, if you find yourself in smoky rooms, you should leave them, keeping your head as low as possible.

You can protect your home from unintended CO emissions using a sensor that automatically detects the concentration of this substance in the air and sounds an alarm when it is exceeded.

Garages, homes with stove heating, and enclosed spaces containing appliances and devices that can serve as a source of carbon monoxide must be inspected at least once a year for compliance with safety regulations. Thus, in garages the ventilation system should be regularly checked, and in houses with stove heating - the serviceability of the heating system, especially the chimney and exhaust pipe.

When working with devices that involve combustion (for example, a gas torch or an electric welding machine), use ventilation in rooms without ventilation.

Spend as little time as possible near busy highways.

When spending the night in a garage or a separate car, make sure that the engine is turned off.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous harmful substances. Not only a person’s health, but also a person’s life depends on how quickly and skillfully first aid is provided for carbon monoxide poisoning.

With the onset of cold weather, this substance becomes one of the most dangerous killers

The decisive moment in case of carbon monoxide poisoning is timely provision of first aid. We must act quickly. Not just the health of the victim, but his life depends on this.

First of all, you need to move the poisoned person outside into fresh air. Next, ease your breathing in any way: unbutton your clothes, free the upper respiratory tract. If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to lay him on his side. In this position, the risk of tongue retraction is minimal.

It is these symptoms that are signals of CO poisoning.

At an average level of severity, all symptoms worsen. Possible short fainting, vomiting, clouding of consciousness, auditory and visual hallucinations, acute pain in the chest.

The severe form is accompanied by negative changes that affect all vital organs.

Skin and mucous membranes

A picture of a “thermal burn” is observed; trophic lesions of the skin and painful swelling of the extremities are possible.

Respiratory system

In moderate cases, pulmonary edema develops in the first day. Pneumonia may subsequently be diagnosed.

The cardiovascular system

An insufficient amount of oxygen provokes cardiovascular failure, toxic damage to the heart muscle. The clinical picture worsens after a few days, and signs of a heart attack appear. Myocardial damage manifests itself over the next month and a half, even in young people. Recovery is difficult, and repeated complications are possible.

Nervous system

After emerging from a coma, manifestations of parkinsonism are possible, and disorders of the peripheral nervous system are observed. In rare cases, psychosis develops.

There are several stages of severity of harm to health.

The acute or chronic form of poisoning depends on the concentration of the fumes and the time of its exposure to a person. This is decisive when providing first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Chronic poisoning

The reality is that all residents of modern megacities suffer from chronic CO exposure. The abundance of cars is accompanied by the release of exhaust gases and various impurities that accompany the process of formation of thermal energy. In hazardous industries (metallurgy, boiler houses, etc.), the concentration of CO is insignificant, but constant. Over time, the accumulation of harmful substances reaches a critical level. The danger of the chronic form of poisoning is that it goes almost unnoticed. And only after 10-15 years does its destructive impact begin to appear.

In the initial stages, constant headaches are observed and performance decreases. Subsequently, the person develops weakness during any physical activity, develops shortness of breath, begins to experience leg cramps at night, and periodically experiences pain in the back and joints. Then more serious changes occur in the body: various pathologies of the liver and cardiovascular system develop, and anemia may occur. In addition, endocrine disorders, disruptions in the menstrual cycle, complications during pregnancy, and the appearance of sexual dysfunction in men may occur. The last stage is characterized by weakening of the immune system and the appearance of cancer.

Acute poisoning

Both forms - chronic and acute - are equally dangerous. In the chronic case, you can miss the very fact of intoxication, while the acute form is determined immediately due to the visible deterioration of the condition. But in the latter case, you can immediately provide first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Based on the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin, there are 3 degrees of poisoning:

• Mild is accompanied by symptoms that disappear after the cessation of the harmful substance. The concentration of carboxyhemoglobin is up to 30%.
• The average degree develops when there is 30-40% carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Signs of intoxication are clearly expressed. After medical care is provided, residual effects are diagnosed for several more days.
• In severe forms of intoxication, the carboxyhemoglobin content reaches 50%. Serious damage to vital organs occurs, which can result in death. With timely help, this outcome can be avoided, but serious complications will arise. Residual manifestations of poisoning are observed for several weeks.

In some cases, atypical forms of gas damage are observed - euphoric and fainting.

The latter is characterized by various mental disorders: incoherent delirium, agitation, causeless laughter, hallucinations. Fainting is characterized by loss of consciousness, blood pressure drops sharply, and the skin becomes pale.

Treatment in a hospital setting

Even before arriving at the hospital, the ambulance team provides first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning. The patient is put on an oxygen mask, given intravenous injections to relieve intoxication, and other medications are administered depending on his condition. In severe cases, resuscitation measures are carried out.

Treatment in a hospital depends on the degree of poisoning. The patient may be admitted to the intensive care unit or, in severe cases, to the intensive care unit. In case of CO poisoning, the main treatment involves removing carboxymoglobin from the body. For this purpose, the patient is placed in an oxygen pressure chamber so that the body is freed from carboxymoglobin and saturated with oxygen. Additionally, the patient is given a course of intravenous medications for further detoxification. If symptoms of damage to other organs are observed, additional treatment is prescribed. The length of hospital stay depends entirely on the patient’s condition, as well as possible complications after poisoning.

Let us remind you once again that a person’s life depends on the timely provision of medical care!

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Carbon monoxide poisoning is a condition dangerous to human health and life. In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, first aid and qualified treatment are required as soon as possible. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Therefore, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to determine its presence in the atmosphere.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

If a person has been poisoned by carbon monoxide, it is necessary to immediately provide him with first aid.

It is imperative to call an ambulance team, even if the patient’s condition does not cause concern.

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, first aid must be provided:

• Stop the victim's contact with toxic air. To do this, it is necessary to immediately remove or remove the person from the area of ​​contamination with combustion products. However, the person providing assistance must also take care of himself. That is, protect your respiratory tract from the penetration of poison. To do this, put on a gas mask or cover your mouth and nose with a cloth moistened with water;
• When a person is outside the infection zone, assess his condition;
• If a person is conscious, then he must be wrapped, warmed and given hot sweet tea to drink. Wait with him for the ambulance to arrive, do not leave him alone;
• If the patient is unconscious or confused, place him on his side. This will prevent aspiration of vomit if it occurs. Monitor your pulse and breathing and let them sniff a cotton swab moistened with ammonia;
• If there is no pulse or breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is performed mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose, and for children under one year of age, mouth-to-nose. Resuscitation measures are carried out until the pulse and breathing resume or until doctors arrive.

For first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning, watch the video:

Emergency assistance to the victim

Upon arrival of the ambulance team, first aid is provided for carbon monoxide poisoning.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning:

Groups of patients who are subject to mandatory hospitalization:

• Patients who have lost consciousness, even for a short time;
• Hypothermia, that is, a person’s body temperature is below normal (36.6 degrees);
• The presence of alarming symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, loss of coordination and motor activity;
• Patients in whom clinical death was recorded (respiratory and cardiac arrest);
• Children and pregnant women in any condition;
• People suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Antidote for poisoning

An antidote is a remedy that significantly weakens or completely stops the toxic effect of a poison on the body.

The antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning is 6% Acizol. What is Acizol? This is a fast-acting drug that helps:

• Blocking the formation of carboxyhemoglobin. This is a substance that blocks the blood's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body;
• Cleansing the body of a toxic substance - carbon monoxide.

An antidote for poisoning by combustion products must be administered as early as possible, this will help avoid dangerous complications.

Algorithm for introducing Acizol into the victim’s body:

• Administration of the drug intramuscularly immediately or shortly after evacuation of the victim from the area contaminated with combustion products. 1 milliliter of Acizol solution is injected;
• Repeated administration of the antidote 1 hour after the first injection.

It is possible to use an antidote for prophylactic purposes. To do this, 1 milliliter of the drug is administered intramuscularly half an hour before entering a contaminated room.

How does carbon monoxide affect the body?

Carbon monoxide has a negative effect on the entire body. This substance quickly penetrates the victim’s blood, even after a couple of breaths.

The longer a person breathes poisoned air, the more severe his condition and the more likely it is to develop dangerous complications and death.

What happens in the body when carbon dioxide penetrates into it??

• Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. This creates carboxyhemoglobin. This compound prevents the binding and transfer of oxygen to the cells and tissues of the body. Which leads to hypoxia. First of all, the brain suffers, which is very sensitive to lack of oxygen;
• This toxic substance disrupts the biochemical balance and metabolic processes in tissues;
• It reacts with muscle protein– myoglobin. This leads to disruption of the heart muscle, as the muscle tissue weakens and cannot pump blood fully. Nutrition in tissues and organs is disrupted.

Signs and symptoms of intoxication

The clinical picture of poisoning depends on the severity of the patient's condition. Which in turn is closely related to the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air and the duration of its contact with humans. There are 3 degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning: mild, moderate, severe.

Signs of poisoning occur more quickly in weakened people, children and pregnant women.

Causes of poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur both at home and at work. In fact, danger can lurk anywhere at any moment. Intoxication can occur accidentally or intentionally (for the purpose of suicide).

Let us highlight several main causes of human poisoning with carbon monoxide:

• Inhalation of combustion products. Poisoning occurs during a fire, when a person is in a smoky room and inhales smoke;
• In production, where this gas is actively used and safety precautions are violated. That is, gas leaks occur due to faulty equipment, poor ventilation or its complete absence, and so on;

• In areas with a large concentration of cars. Exhaust gases accumulate there, and prolonged exposure to them leads to poisoning. Such places include: garages, busy highways, underground parking lots, tunnels;
• Leakage of domestic gas in apartments and houses;
• Long-term use of kerosene lamps in an unventilated area;
• In houses and premises with stove heating if it malfunctions or the damper is not closed in a timely manner.

Possible complications

Poisoning does not go away without leaving a trace, and even with mild intoxication, certain consequences are observed.

Complications that may occur with mild to moderate intoxication:

• Chronic headaches and weather sensitivity, that is, a person experiences a deterioration in health due to weather changes;
• Frequent dizziness;
• Decreased cognitive abilities. That is, memory, attention, and perception of new information deteriorate;
• Deterioration in vision;
• Emotional instability(frequent outbursts of anger, anger, which are replaced by apathy).

Complications that arise from severe intoxication:

• Hemorrhages in the brain;
• Swelling of brain tissue;
• Acute myocardial infarction due to hypoxia;
• Inflammation of the respiratory tract (severe bronchitis, pneumonia);
• Coma is the most severe consequence of poisoning, which can result in the death of the patient.

How to detect carbon monoxide indoors

It is impossible to detect carbon monoxide indoors without special equipment, since it has no taste, no smell, no color.

You should be wary if you smell smoke (even a subtle one) and feel worse for no apparent reason (nausea, vomiting, weakness).

Gas analyzers are used to determine carbon monoxide in the air. Which can be purchased in specialized stores. However, most often they are installed in production or in private homes with stove heating.

Due to the difficulty of detecting it, the Ministry of Emergency Situations recommends taking all precautions, namely:

• Maintain ventilation in proper condition and periodically check its functionality;
• Monitor the serviceability of stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and gas equipment;
• Ventilate the room;
• Observe safety precautions at work.

As a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, the consequences can be very dire; intoxication very often leads to death. This happens because carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is extremely toxic and causes serious harm to the body over a short period of time.

Carbon monoxide tends to bind to hemoglobin and block the transfer of oxygen to tissues. Because of this, carbon monoxide poisoning requires immediate medical attention.

This article will discuss the characteristics of carbon dioxide, its dangers and the symptoms that accompany poisoning. We will also familiarize ourselves with the rules for providing the necessary assistance to victims before the arrival of a specialized team.

Carbon monoxide has neither odor nor color, and is also much lighter than air. This gas is a strong poison, since in conjunction with biologically active molecules containing metal, strong complexes are formed that disrupt tissue respiration.

When carbon dioxide binds to iron atoms in blood hemoglobin, the formation of oxyhemoglobin is disrupted, the function of which is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. If the carbon dioxide content in the air reaches 0.1%, half of the oxygen from oxyhemoglobin is displaced.

This gas is found in the atmosphere, getting there thanks to volcanic and swamp gases, and is also released during forest fires and the smelting of large quantities of steel. The total permissible carbon monoxide content in industrial zones is no more than 0.02 mg/l, while a lethal dose for humans is a concentration greater than 0.2-1% vol.

Causes and prevention

Carbon monoxide has the ability to penetrate through any type of partition, wall or soil, and is also not absorbed by materials with a porous structure, which makes it dangerous even for a person wearing a gas mask. Typically, poisoning occurs if the instructions for safety precautions and handling of this substance have not been followed.

Causes of poisoning include:

• improper operation of stoves;
• neglect to ventilate the garage in which the car is located;
• poor quality air in the breathing apparatus;
• hookah smoking;
• fire;
• being in production using carbon monoxide for synthesis;
• gasified rooms with conditions of insufficient air circulation.

The above reasons can be a consequence of mild poisoning or lead to death, so it is extremely important to adhere to certain safety measures.

Eg:

• Do not repair gas appliances yourself;
• carry out regular checks of the serviceability of ventilation devices;
• Do not repair ventilation devices yourself;
• periodically check the serviceability of gas devices;
• regularly ventilate the apartment (or house);
• do not be in the same room with the gas water heater on;
• do not heat the room using an oven or gas stove;
• do not turn on all the burners on the gas stove at the same time;
• check the integrity of the stove before use;
• do not leave the stove uncontrolled overnight if the combustion process is not completed;
• Do not repair a car with the engine running in a closed garage.

Important! You should always tell children about precautions when using a stove on their own, since ignorance and negligence in handling are often the cause of death.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide tends to block the transport of oxygen to tissues; in addition, it has a negative effect on the functioning of the central nervous system, heart and skeletal muscles.

Depending on the affected system, the following symptoms are distinguished:

1. With damage to the central nervous system

   Mild to moderate symptoms include girdling headache, tinnitus, attacks of dizziness, spots before the eyes, decreased visual acuity and hearing, changes in pupil size, and confusion. In addition, coordination of movements is impaired and a short loss of consciousness occurs. Severe cases include loss of consciousness, seizures, delusions or hallucinations, uncontrolled urination or bowel movements, and coma after carbon monoxide poisoning.

2. In case of dysfunction of the cardiovascular system

   in mild to moderate degrees of intoxication, an increase in heart rate and heart rate occurs, as well as a feeling of pressing pain in the heart area.
   In severe intoxication, the heart rate increases to 130 beats per minute or higher, but it is practically impossible to palpate. There is also a high probability of a sudden myocardial infarction.

3. Impaired functioning of the respiratory system

   occurs due to acute oxygen deficiency. When intoxication is mild or moderate, rapid breathing and shortness of breath occur. In severe cases, you can observe how breathing becomes intermittent and shallow.

4. From the skin and mucous membranes

   there are no specific specific manifestations. With mild and moderate degrees of poisoning, you can notice a pink or reddish tint to the mucous membranes, and severe degrees are accompanied by cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes.

It is also worth knowing that in addition to the main symptoms, poisoning can occur in various forms that have their own characteristic manifestations.

There are the following:

1. Fainting – there is a sharp decrease in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.
2. Euphoric - rapid psychomotor agitation occurs, criticism decreases, orientation in space and time is disrupted, hallucinations and delusions occur.
3. Fulminant - observed if the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air exceeds 1.2%, leading to death after a few minutes.

Despite the presence of symptoms, after intoxication with carbon monoxide, consequences often develop, which are divided into early and late.

Early consequences are observed in the first 2 days after poisoning and are accompanied by:

• attacks of headaches and dizziness;
• motor activity disorders;
• loss of sensation in the arms or legs;
• disruptions in the functionality of the bladder and gastrointestinal tract;
• decreased hearing and vision;
• cerebral edema;
• toxic pulmonary edema;
• heart rhythm disturbances;
• cardiac arrest and death.

Late consequences develop after 2-40 days and include the following manifestations:

• memory loss;
• development of psychoses;
• decreased mental abilities;
• blindness;
• motor activity disorder;
• paralysis;
• parkinsonism;
• malfunctions of the pelvic organs;
• angina pectoris;
• cardiac asthma;
• myocardial infarction;
• rapid pneumonia.

In order to minimize the intensity of the consequences and protect a person from severe poisoning, it is necessary to have an idea not only of the prevention of intoxication, but also to be able to provide the necessary assistance.

Giving help

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, only a doctor can adequately assess the severity of a person’s condition. In addition, the available signs do not always coincide with the actual degree of poisoning. When providing timely medical care, the risk of death is as low as possible (see).

Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to stop the person's exposure to carbon monoxide. To do this, transport the victim to fresh air and, if possible, shut off the gas source. To ensure access to air - to do this, turn the person on his side and free him from tight clothing (remove the tie, unbutton the buttons on the shirt, unfasten the belt, remove outerwear).

If the victim is unconscious, bring a cotton swab with a drop of ammonia to the nose, at a distance of at least 10 mm. When the person regains consciousness, give him hot tea or coffee, ensure peace, wrap him in warm blankets.

In a situation where breathing or heartbeat stops, cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures must be started immediately. The cost of every second in such a situation is too high, and therefore you need to act quickly. Resuscitation is carried out by alternating inhalation with 30 compressions on the chest.

From the photos and videos in this article, we learned about the dangers of carbon monoxide, the symptoms of poisoning and the consequences that intoxication can lead to.