Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, but it has a toxic effect when it enters the body. The accumulation of high concentrations in the blood can be fatal.

Carbon dioxide quickly interacts with hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, a stable compound. If the CO dose is exceeded, oxygen starvation may occur, brain hypoxia against the background of the lack of oxygen transportation to the brain.

Despite living in a civilized world, there are still many provoking factors that can lead to poisoning.

Where can poisoning occur?

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur:

• in rooms with old stoves and a chimney that has not been cleaned for a long time;
• in places where gas burners with an open flame are used;
• in a confined space in case of non-observance of the rules for the operation of heating devices;
• in garages, in a car with the electric motor on;
• in places smoky with forest fires.

In particular, the risk group includes:

• people suffering from exhaustion, bronchitis, bronchial asthma;
• pregnant women and adolescents;
• alcohol abusers;
• living in premises using antique stoves and with a high probability of accidental inhalation of peat decay products.

Clinical manifestations of poisoning

When it enters the body, the brain first of all reacts to carbon dioxide. When exposed to CO, blood ceases to flow to the departments in full. Intoxication of the body occurs, and the signs directly depend on the degree of concentration of carbon monoxide that has entered the blood.

If you do not provide assistance in time to the victim, then mental disorders and from the central nervous system, confusion, increased heart rate, nausea, and pale skin are likely. Myocardial infarction, respiratory arrest, hypoxia may occur. Restoring breathing and heart muscle is required. With more serious symptoms of CO poisoning: a sharp drop in blood pressure, hallucinations, nervous paralysis, convulsions of the extremities, death can occur with lightning speed, no more than 90 seconds later. The danger is that neurological disorders can appear later, 2-3 weeks after poisoning.

How to understand that this is poisoning?

If a person has inhaled the gas, then symptoms such as:

• dry cough;
• hallucinations;
• high blood pressure;
• nausea and vomiting;
• decreased attention, performance;
• dizziness;
• drowsiness;
• headache;
• redness of the sclera of the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• confusion of consciousness;
• flickering before the eyes;
• loss of consciousness;
• convulsive state;
• violation of coordination of movements, functions of defecation and urination.

Carbon monoxide quickly affects the brain and hypoxia can quickly occur. The functions of all internal organs become practically uncontrollable. Poisoning can affect the cardiovascular and respiratory system, leading to:

• pressing pain in the chest;
• increased pulsation, heartbeat;
• myocardium in case of cessation of oxygen delivery to the heart;
• shortness of breath;
• dysfunction of the heart, psychomotor, the main center of the brain;
• loss of consciousness;
• a sharp drop in blood pressure against the background of the expansion of the vascular walls.

If the concentration of carbon dioxide exceeds 1.2%, death can occur in a matter of minutes.

Symptoms depending on the percentage of CO in the body

The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning directly depend on the concentration accumulated in the body. So:

• at 0.8-0.9%, the victim will not lose consciousness and can independently guess about poisoning in the event of nausea, dizziness, pain in the temples, tachycardia attacks, increased heart rate, tinnitus;
• with a content of 0.31-0 32%, in addition to the above symptoms, there will additionally appear: drowsiness, hallucinations, impaired coordination of movements, paralysis of the limbs, if you do not provide emergency assistance to the victim;
• with a gas accumulation of 0.81%, death can occur in 2-3 minutes. With such concentration, a person is not able to help himself. If you do not massage the heart and ventilate the lungs, then when the gas concentration in the blood reaches 0.1%, death may occur after 2 hours.

How to provide first aid?

First of all, you need to identify whether the victim is conscious. The order of actions will depend on what. However, regardless of the degree of penetration of the gas concentration and distribution through the blood, urgently in order to avoid negative impact of CO on the lungs, it is necessary:

• unfasten the buttons and lay the victim on his side;
• try to induce a gag reflex;
• do a chest massage;
• moisten a gauze bandage with water and apply to the nose, changing every 10 minutes, preventing the mucous membrane from drying out;
• bring artificial respiration, if possible - ventilation of the lungs;
• try to bring the victim to his senses by holding a cotton swab with ammonia to his nose;
• urgently deliver to the nearest hospital or call an ambulance.

The main thing is to prevent the development of respiratory paralysis due to the accumulated carbon dioxide concentrate in the body. Moreover, signs of poisoning may not appear immediately, but after 20-30 minutes if carbon monoxide is released from carboxyhemoglobin and becomes associated with hemoglobin. The appearance of a short-term fainting state is possible.

In addition to providing emergency care, the patient needs:

• stop the intake of carbon dioxide in the room;
• turn off the car engine or turn off the gas burner;
• take the victim to fresh air;
• open windows in the room;
• call 03.

What will doctors do first?

The resuscitation team in case of carbon monoxide poisoning has a universal algorithm:

• providing the body with oxygen;
• artificial ventilation of the lungs;
• correction of hemodynamics in the absence of consciousness in the victim;
• intravenous administration through a dropper of sodium bicarbonate 4%.

The scheme is developed taking into account the degree of poisoning and the patient's condition. In addition, the body needs to restore its energy reserve, therefore vitamins, glucose, ascorbic acid are introduced. Pressure is necessarily monitored. Medications are prescribed to relieve seizures.

What complications can there be?

If the degree of poisoning is mild, then the symptoms (dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, sore throat, feeling of tightness in the heart, dry cough) should eventually go away after first aid.

If the degree of poisoning is medium, then the signs (weakness in the legs, blurred vision, confusion, convulsions, pain in the sternum) disappear, but later complications from the central nervous system and cardiovascular system are quite possible.

Severe etching is fraught with:

• swelling of the brain;
• cessation of breathing;
• coma;
• the development of renal, heart failure;
• pulmonary edema.

The consequences can be serious and it all depends on the prompt actions of the doctors. Development of pneumonia, pulmonary edema, cardiac asthma, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, disorders of the motor nervous system, parkinsonism is possible.

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, which do not go away without leaving a trace, are dangerous to health. Carbon monoxide manifests itself immediately in the form of symptoms or can give distant foci, manifest itself over time, lead to damage to the nervous system, impairment of vision and hearing, cerebral edema, memory impairment and decreased mental abilities. Severe damage to vital organs can occur.

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous for pregnant women and children. The consequences of even a small concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood can become irreversible.

Prevention

In order to avoid intoxication at enterprises, the worker must be instructed. It is permissible to work only on serviceable equipment. For prevention purposes, it is worth advising:

• timely cleaning of furnace devices and chimneys;
• ventilation of premises when using gas burners, columns with an open flame;
• observance of precautions in the garage with the car engine running;
• checking the work of air exchange in your car.

Carbon monoxide poisoning and an increase in the concentration of CO2 in the blood is fraught with death, which must always be borne in mind. If the first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning appear, then you need to provide assistance in time and, if necessary, isolate close relatives, prevent possible inhalation.

In our article we will analyze the question of what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning? From how correctly and quickly the first aid is provided to the victim, not only his further health often depends, but also whether he will survive.

What is carbon monoxide?

"Silent killer" - as the people call carbon monoxide. This is one of the most powerful poisons that can kill a living creature in just a few minutes. The chemical formula of this gaseous compound is CO (one carbon atom and one oxygen atom). Another name for carbon monoxide is carbon monoxide. This air mixture is colorless and odorless.

CO is formed from any type of combustion: from burning fuel in heat and power plants, from burning a fire or gas stove, from the operation of an internal combustion engine, from a smoldering cigarette fire, etc.

The toxic properties of carbon monoxide have been known to mankind for a long time. Our distant ancestors were well aware of how dangerous it is to shut off the stove draft when the wood is not completely burnt out. Wanting to keep more heat, the unreasonable owner was in a hurry to close the damper, the whole family went to bed, and the next morning they did not wake up.

With the development of civilization, the danger associated with carbon monoxide has not diminished. After all, now, instead of stoves in the homes of modern people, gas boilers and stoves are actively working, cars are puffing with poisonous vapors on the streets and in garages, and reports of tragic accidents related to CO poisoning periodically appear in the news.

How does carbon monoxide affect the human body?

Carbon monoxide has the ability to bind hemoglobin molecules, thereby preventing the blood from carrying oxygen. The longer a person breathes poisonous air in which there is carbon monoxide, the faster the pathological process develops. A substance called carboxyhemoglobin is formed in the blood. The cells of the body do not receive life-giving oxygen, a headache appears, a person begins to experience suffocation, his consciousness gets confused. The victim is not aware of what is happening to him, in this case, independent provision of first aid in case of carbon monoxide poisoning becomes impossible. Help must come from other people.

It takes a lot of time for hemoglobin to be completely cleansed of carbon monoxide. The hazard to life is directly related to the increase in the concentration of CO in the air and the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. If the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the air is only 0.02-0.03%, then after 5-6 hours the content of carboxyhemoglobin in human blood will be 25-30%.

Rescue actions in case of carbon monoxide poisoning should be very quick, because if the CO concentration reaches only 0.5%, carboxyhemoglobin will grow to fatal values ​​within 20-30 minutes.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The toxic effect of CO on the body can be manifested by the following symptoms:

1. When a person is poisoned with carbon monoxide in a mild degree, he may feel weakness, tinnitus, headache, nausea, and the urge to vomit. These signals are indicative of oxygen starvation that the brain is experiencing.
2. With moderate poisoning, the symptoms of intoxication increase. Tremors appear in the muscles, short-term memory loss, impaired coordination of movements. A person can stop distinguishing colors, objects begin to double in the eyes. Later, the respiratory function and the work of the circulatory system are disrupted. The victim develops tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia. If a person does not receive quick help at this stage, then loss of consciousness and subsequent death occurs.
3. Severe CO poisoning is accompanied by irreversible damage to brain cells. The victim may fall into a coma and stay in it for a week or more. At this time, the patient has severe seizures, uncontrolled urination and defecation. Breathing is usually shallow and intermittent, body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. Respiratory paralysis and death are possible. The prognosis of survival depends on the depth and duration of the coma.

When can CO poisoning occur?

With normal ventilation and a well-functioning exhaust hood, carbon monoxide is quickly removed from the room without causing any harm to the people there. Nevertheless, according to statistics, more than one and a half million people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning in the world. In some cases, this happens for reasons beyond human control, for example, in the event of a fire. Usually, people caught in a fire, lose consciousness, inhaling a deadly gas, and cannot get out of the fire trap on their own.

CO poisoning is also possible in the following cases and circumstances:

• In rooms with stove or fireplace heating (residential buildings, baths, etc.) with untimely closing of the exhaust dampers or with poor exhaust air.
• In rooms where gas appliances work (water flow heaters, stoves, gas boilers, heat generators with an open combustion chamber); if there is an insufficient flow of air necessary for gas combustion, as well as in case of a disturbed draft in the chimney.
• In production shops, where CO is used as a working substance for the synthesis of certain organic substances (phenol, methyl alcohol, acetone, etc.).
• With a prolonged stay next to a busy highway or directly on it (on most major highways, the CO content in the air can exceed the permissible limits by several times).
• In garages with a running car engine and no ventilation.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - first aid

It is important to act very quickly, remembering that the countdown is not just for minutes, but even for seconds. What should be done in the first place in case of carbon monoxide poisoning? The sequence of actions should be as follows:

1. Quickly open all windows and doors and take the person out of the room.
2. Call a specialized ambulance team. When making a call, you need to describe the problem as clearly as possible to the operator receiving the call, so that doctors with the necessary equipment are sent to the victim.
3. If a person has lost consciousness due to carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to put him on his side. Next, bring a cotton wool soaked in ammonia to his nose (at a distance of 2 cm from the nostrils) and gently wave it. Remember that if you bring the ammonia too close, then the powerful effect of the ammonia can lead to paralysis of the respiratory center.
4. If the person is not breathing, then artificial respiration should be started immediately. If the victim not only lost consciousness, but he also lacks signs of cardiac activity, then artificial respiration should be supplemented with indirect heart massage. Such first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning should be done until the arrival of the medical team or until the person begins to actively show signs of life.
5. In the event that the poisoned person is conscious, he must be laid down and try to ensure the maximum flow of fresh air. For this purpose, you can fan it with newspaper, turn on the air conditioner and the fan. You need to put a warm heating pad or mustard plasters at your feet. An alkaline drink can bring considerable benefit to the victim (for 1 liter of warm water - 1 tablespoon of soda).

What to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, how to provide first aid, we found out. Now let's talk about another very important point: it is important for people who provide assistance to protect themselves. When taking a person out of a poisoned room, you need to cover your airways with gauze or a handkerchief.

What kind of treatment is carried out in the hospital?

Victims who have received a moderate or severe degree of poisoning are subject to compulsory hospitalization. The main antidote is 100% oxygen. Its uninterrupted intake into the body in the amount of 9-16 l / min. occurs through a special mask applied to the patient's face.

In severe cases, the victim undergoes tracheal intubation and is connected to a ventilator. In a hospital setting, infusion therapy is also carried out using a course of droppers with sodium bicarbonate - this helps to correct hemodynamic disorders. For intravenous infusion, solutions "Chlosol" and "Quartasol" are also used.

Another drug used by doctors to help a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning is Acizol. This agent is injected into the body intramuscularly. Its action is based on accelerating the breakdown of carboxyhemoglobin with simultaneous oxygenation of the blood. "Atsizol" reduces the toxic effect of CO on muscle tissue and nerve cells.

Assisting with carbon monoxide poisoning with folk remedies

The following traditional medicine recipes can be used at home for mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are some easy-to-make home remedies that have very effective anti-toxic properties:

1. Dandelion Tincture (roots only used). To prepare the infusion, 10 g of finely ground dry raw materials must be poured with a glass of boiling water. Boil for about 20 minutes. and then leave for 40 minutes. Then strain and dilute with warm water (100 ml). Take the remedy 3 or 4 times a day for a tablespoon.
2. Lingonberry-cranberry tincture. What to do after carbon monoxide poisoning with it? First, for cooking, you need 200 g of lingonberries and 150 g of rose hips. The ingredients are ground as thoroughly as possible and 350 ml of boiling water are poured in. Infuse berries for 3 hours, then strain the product and consume it inside from 5 to 6 times a day, 2 tbsp. spoons.
3. Tincture of knotweed herb. 3 tbsp. tablespoons of chopped dry knotweed are poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Insist for at least 3 hours, then strain and drink 3 times a day in a glass.
4. Rhodiola rosea tincture on alcohol. This drug does not need to be prepared on your own, it is sold in any pharmacy. The method of administration is as follows: 7-12 drops are added to a glass of water. Drink half a glass twice a day.

Preventive measures to prevent CO poisoning

As already mentioned, carbon monoxide is often the culprit in the loss of life. To protect yourself and your loved ones, you need to not only know what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, but also try to comply with preventive measures, which are as follows:

• The condition of chimneys and ventilation shafts should be checked regularly. It is especially important to pay attention to this before the start of the heating season.
• Always check that they are working properly before using combustible appliances. A breakdown detected in time will help to avoid many problems.
• In the event that the room has poor ventilation, additional measures must be taken to ventilate it regularly.
• Do not start the car in a closed, unventilated garage or sleep in a car with the engine running.
• Purchase a special sensor that reacts to CO leakage and install it in a house or apartment.
• Try to avoid being near busy highways, especially during busy times.

Carbon monoxide sensor

As already mentioned, the presence of carbon monoxide in the air cannot be detected using our own senses. To protect yourself and your loved ones from harm, you can purchase a carbon monoxide sensor. This small device will perform vigilant control over the composition of the indoor air. After all, first aid for human poisoning with carbon monoxide should be almost instantaneous, otherwise you may not be in time.

In the event that CO indicators exceed the prescribed rate, the sensor will notify the owners with sound and light signals. Such devices can be used for household and industrial purposes. The latter have a more complex structure and are designed for large areas.

Risk group

To some extent, we are all at risk and, under certain circumstances, we can suffer from CO. Therefore, each of us should know well what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, there are a number of professions whose members are most at risk. These include:

• welders;
• taxi drivers;
• auto repair workers;
• diesel engine operators;
• firefighters;
• workers of breweries, boiler houses;
• personnel of steel, oil refining, pulp and paper industries, etc.

Conclusion

It is very important to know what to do with carbon monoxide poisoning. In difficult situations, people with the necessary knowledge and skills can bring the greatest assistance to those affected. The main thing is not to panic, but to act as quickly, clearly and consistently as possible.

As a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, the consequences can be the most deplorable, very often intoxication is fatal. This happens because carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is extremely toxic and causes serious harm to the body within a short period of time.

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

This article will focus on the characteristics of carbon dioxide, its dangers and 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 is odorless, colorless and much lighter than air. This gas is the strongest 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 the hemoglobin of the blood, a violation of the formation of oxyhemoglobin occurs, the function of which is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. If the content of carbon dioxide in the air reaches 0.1%, half of the oxygen is displaced from oxyhemoglobin.

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

Causes and prevention

Carbon monoxide has the ability to penetrate any type of partitions, walls 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. Usually, poisoning occurs if the instructions for safety precautions and handling of this substance have not been followed.

The causes of poisoning include:

• improper operation of ovens;
• neglecting the ventilation of 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 premises with conditions of insufficient air circulation.

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

For example:

• do not repair gas appliances on their own;
• regularly check the health of ventilation devices;
• do not repair ventilation devices with your own hands;
• periodically check the serviceability of gas devices;
• regularly ventilate the apartment (or house);
• not be in the same room with the included gas water heater;
• do not heat the room with 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 oven unchecked overnight if the combustion process is not complete;
• do not repair the car with the engine running in a closed garage.

Important! Children should always be told about the precautions when using the stove on their own, since lack of awareness 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 girdle headache, tinnitus, attacks of dizziness, "flies" before the eyes, decreased visual acuity and hearing, changes in the size of the pupils, confusion. In addition, coordination of movements is impaired and a short loss of consciousness occurs. Severe loss of consciousness, seizures, delirium or hallucinations, uncontrolled urination or defecation, and coma after carbon monoxide poisoning develop.

Poisoning by combustion products - the main reason (80% of all cases) of deaths in fires. Over 60% of them are accounted for by carbon monoxide poisoning. Let's try to understand and remember knowledge from physics and chemistry.

What is carbon monoxide and how is it dangerous

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, chemical formula CO) is a gaseous compound formed during combustion of any kind. What happens when this substance enters the body?

After entering the respiratory tract, carbon monoxide molecules immediately appear in the blood and bind to hemoglobin molecules. A completely new substance is formed - carboxyhemoglobin, which interferes with the transport of oxygen. For this reason, oxygen deficiency develops very quickly.

The most important danger- carbon monoxide is invisible and in no way perceptible, it has no smell or color, that is, the cause of the ailment is not obvious, it is not always possible to detect it immediately. Carbon monoxide cannot be sensed in any way, which is why its second name is the silent killer. Feeling fatigue, loss of strength and dizziness, a person makes a fatal mistake - he decides to lie down. And, even if he then understands the reason and the need to go out into the air, as a rule, he is not able to do anything. Knowledge could save many symptoms of CO poisoning- knowing them, it is possible in time to suspect the cause of the ailment and take the necessary measures to rescue.

Symptoms and Signs

The severity of the lesion depends on several factors:

• health status and physiological characteristics of a person. Weakened, with chronic diseases, especially those accompanied by anemia, the elderly, pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the effects of CO;
• the duration of the impact of the CO compound on the body;
• the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air;
• physical activity during poisoning. The higher the activity, the faster the poisoning occurs.

Severity

(Infographics are available by clicking the download button after the article)

Mild degree severity is characterized by the following symptoms:

• general weakness;
• headaches, mainly in the frontal and temporal regions;
• knocking at the temples;
• noise in ears;
• dizziness;

• visual impairment - flickering, points in front of the eyes;
• unproductive, i.e. dry cough;
• rapid breathing;
• shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
• lacrimation;
• nausea;
• hyperemia (redness) of the skin and mucous membranes;
• tachycardia;
• increased blood pressure.

Symptoms medium severity is the preservation of all the symptoms of the previous stage and their more severe form:

• clouding of consciousness, loss of consciousness is possible for a short time;
• vomit;
• hallucinations, both visual and auditory;
• violation of the vestibular apparatus, uncoordinated movements;
• chest pains of a pressing character.

Severe degree poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

• paralysis;
• long-term loss of consciousness, coma;
• convulsions;
• dilated pupils;
• involuntary emptying of the bladder and intestines;
• an increase in the pulse rate up to 130 beats per minute, but at the same time it is weakly felt;
• cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the skin and mucous membranes;
• breathing disorders - it becomes superficial and intermittent.

Atypical forms

There are two of them - fainting and euphoric.

Symptoms of the fainting form:

• pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
• lowering blood pressure;
• loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of the euphoric form:

• psychomotor agitation;
• violation of mental functions: delirium, hallucinations, laughter, strange behavior;
• loss of consciousness;
• respiratory and heart failure.

First aid to victims

It is very important to provide it promptly, since irreversible consequences occur very quickly.

First, it is necessary to take the victim out to fresh air as soon as possible. In cases where this is difficult, then the victim should be put on a gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge as soon as possible and given an oxygen cushion.

Secondly, it is necessary to make breathing easier - to clear the airways, if necessary, unfasten clothes, lay the victim on his side in order to prevent possible retraction of the tongue.

Thirdly, to stimulate breathing. Bring ammonia, rub the chest, warm the limbs.

And most importantly, you need to call an ambulance. Even if a person at first glance is in a satisfactory condition, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor, since it is not always possible to determine the true degree of poisoning only by symptoms. In addition, timely initiated therapeutic measures will reduce the risk of complications and mortality from carbon monoxide poisoning.

In the serious condition of the victim, it is necessary to carry out resuscitation measures before the arrival of doctors.

Sources of danger

In our time, cases of poisoning happen a little less often than in those days when heating of living quarters was predominantly stove, but there are enough sources of increased risk even now.

Potential Sources of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazards:

• houses with stove heating, fireplaces. Improper operation increases the risk of carbon monoxide entering the room, thus, whole families get burned in their homes;
• baths, saunas, especially those that heat "on black";
• garages;
• in industries using carbon monoxide;
• long stay near major highways;
• fire in a closed room (elevator, mine, etc. premises, which cannot be left without assistance).

Only numbers

• A mild degree of poisoning occurs already at a carbon monoxide concentration of 0.08% - there is a headache, dizziness, suffocation, general weakness.
• An increase in CO concentration up to 0.32% causes motor paralysis and fainting. Death occurs in about half an hour.
• At a CO concentration of 1.2% and above, a lightning-fast form of poisoning develops - in a couple of sighs a person receives a lethal dose, a fatal outcome occurs in a maximum of 3 minutes.
• The exhaust gases of a passenger car contain from 1.5 to 3% carbon monoxide. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get poisoned with the engine running not only indoors, but also outdoors.
• About two and a half thousand people in Russia are hospitalized annually with varying degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) // Harmful substances in industry. Handbook for chemists, engineers and doctors / Ed. N. V. Lazarev and I. D. Gadaskina. - 7th ed. - L .: Chemistry, 1977 .-- T. 3. - S. 240-253. - 608 p.

Carbon monoxide concentration and symptoms of poisoning

Prevention measures

In order to minimize the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is enough to observe the following rules:

• operate stoves and fireplaces in accordance with the rules, regularly check the operation of the ventilation system and in a timely manner, and trust the laying of stoves and fireplaces only to professionals;
• do not stay near busy highways for a long time;
• always turn off the engine of the car in a closed garage. In order for the concentration of carbon monoxide to become lethal, only five minutes of engine operation is enough - remember this;
• when you are in the car for a long time, and even more so when you sleep in the car, always turn off the engine;
• make it a rule - if you experience symptoms that can lead to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, provide fresh air as soon as possible by opening the windows, or rather leave the room. Do not lie down feeling dizzy, nauseous, weak.

Remember - carbon monoxide is insidious, it acts quickly and imperceptibly, therefore life and health depend on the speed of the measures taken. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!

Everyone has heard the phrase “died due to carbon monoxide poisoning”. But not everyone knows what it is about. And even more so, few people think that carbon monoxide, which is most often associated with smoke, can somehow affect it personally. What to do in case of poisoning? It is unlikely that many of us will be able to answer this question.

A few days ago, my grandmother and I nearly died. We got to know carbon monoxide better ...

A case from my life

On Saturdays in our village they wash themselves in the baths. This tradition developed long before I was born, and my grandmother, probably, too.

My grandmother has a small bathhouse in the village, which our huge family once built together with neighbors. Together we still use it.

The bathhouse is heated every Saturday if it does not fall on a religious holiday. There is no sewerage system, don't even stutter about a bath and a shower, and hot water is available only in a few houses, where a water heating tank was hung. So the bath is sacred.

It was Saturday that day. Bath day! Dimka, the son of a neighbor, brought water in buckets. Grandma fired up the stove and lathered the floors. At that time, I was cleaning the house, because you can't mess around on Saturday in the village.

Having wrapped clean linen in towels, my grandmother and I went to wash.

It’s somehow cool here, ”I blurted out to my grandmother between the conversation.

Who knew that this particular phrase would entail a chain of the following terrible events ...

The stove in our bathhouse

“Hmm, for the first time in my life I got sick from the heat,” I thought, and went into the dressing room to breathe cold fresh air. My head was spinning, my ears were hooting, and there was a black veil in front of my eyes. Having cooled down, I went back. Having washed off the soap from myself, I felt that I was fainting.

No, I can’t take it anymore, ”I told my grandmother, poured the water out of the basin and went into the dressing room to get ready. I forgot my clothes in the bathhouse. In winter we undress inside, as it is warmer there.

I had to go back. Grandma was still washing herself, noting that I had something to do with it quickly. Feeling that I was losing consciousness, holding a pile of clothes in an armful, I rolled into the dressing room, where I sank exhausted onto the frozen bench.

And the grandmother kept washing, then she became quiet. She seemed to go to get ready ... I realized that something was wrong with her, but I didn't have the strength to go to the bathhouse. When she came out, there was literally glass next to her. With willpower, I dispersed the fog in front of my eyes, forced the body to gather. And he, the traitor, really wanted to disconnect ... But I had a goal - to bring my grandmother home. Pulling our clothes with one hand, and supporting my grandmother with the other, I somehow limped home.

The rumble in my head did not pass, the merry-go-rounds were still spinning, the darkness covered me, and then I wanted to faint, then I let go a little, and at least I saw something. Before reaching the room, I crawled against the wall in the corridor, my grandmother sat down on the bedside table. I didn’t say that I was very bad: my grandmother didn’t need to know this yet.

Apparently, at the moment when the blackness let go of the grandmother a little, she noticed the Dutch woman right in front of her:

We need to collect coals in the middle, take a poker and pick it up there, '' she gave the Central Office.

The moment I climbed into the stove with the poker, darkness enveloped me again. The hiss brought me out of the stupor. The skin melted on my hand, which I used to touch the Dutch woman's sash.

My scalded foot ...

We walked away for a long time, sniffing ammonia. I sat on the bed, making sure that my grandmother did not close her eyes. I was very afraid that she would turn off. I measured the pressure for both her and myself, as I was sure that the reason was in it. The pressure was great ...

After about half an hour, we began to come to our senses. It was then that everything was revealed.

You and I are crazy. They breathed in carbon monoxide, - said the grandmother. - Well, you said you were cold, so I opened the stove, and forgot to open the damper in the chimney so that the air would go there, and not into the bathhouse.

I've always thought carbon monoxide is inextricably linked to smoke. As black and clubbing as in a fire. And in our bathhouse everything was as usual: there was steam from the hot water and it was hot. Carbon monoxide turned out to be invisible, much more insidious and dangerous than the image that existed in my mind.

A bath that nearly proved fatal

Carbon monoxide poisoning can even be from a hookah

If you think that in domestic conditions it is possible to poison yourself with carbon monoxide only after inhaling smoke during a fire, then you are deeply mistaken. There are many situations in which poisoning is possible!

More often people die during sleep if the stove is used incorrectly. If you close the chimney damper when the coals have not yet completely burned out, the coal will react with carbon dioxide generated during its combustion, forming carbon monoxide. The wider the oven door is opened, the faster carbon monoxide will escape from there, and oxygen will enter. In a dream, a person does not notice the symptoms of poisoning, on the contrary, he sleeps more and more soundly ... If a person does not sleep, he has a chance to avoid death, this is just our case with my grandmother.

It is also necessary to use the stove correctly!

Also, quite often people get carbon monoxide poisoning if they are in the garage for a long time with a running car. Friends who work in the organs often talk about corpses found in their own garages, caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sleeping in a car with the engine running, even if the car is parked in the open air, is also a dangerous activity.

And another unexpected cause of poisoning is hookah smoking. Many people experience headaches, dizziness, nausea and drowsiness after smoking a hookah: it is caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, formed when there is a lack of oxygen in the hookah.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Below is a sign with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. I think my grandmother's degree was defined as mild or moderate.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

What we observed with her: dizziness, knocking in the temporal region, a rumble in the head, a black veil in the eyes, due to which sometimes vision was lost, lack of strength, periodic light-headedness. At the same time, the consciousness was clear, well, at least in those moments when the fainting state passed.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

I think that my grandmother and I were saved by the fact that I left the bathhouse three times, opening the door and letting in oxygen. Then my grandmother and I sat for half an hour like two real drug addicts inhaled vapors of ammonia. It's good that my grandmother has his supplies. I highly recommend everyone to have a bubble at home. Fresh air and ammonia helped us recover quickly enough and without consequences.

If you feel that you are unwell, you need to immediately go out into the fresh air or take the victim out.

It is also advised, with a mild degree of poisoning, to drink a person with strong sweet tea, to warm and ensure peace. In the absence or confusion of consciousness - lay on a flat surface on its side, unfasten the collar, belt, provide an influx of fresh air.

In addition, it may not be superfluous to call an ambulance, even if it seems that everything is in order with the victim.