Burning coal for heating is extremely dangerous
This winter, although there have been no warnings about poisoning cases due to burning coal for heating, experts are still warning.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital) said that in previous winters, the center also received cases of poisoning due to burning coal for heating. When burning carbon-containing fuels such as firewood, charcoal, honeycomb coal, gasoline, etc. in an open space, the fuel burns completely and basically produces CO2 gas, which has little impact on health. However, if burned in a closed area, the unfinished fuel produces CO gas, which is very toxic. CO gas is colorless and odorless, so it is very difficult to detect, especially when sleeping, people will gradually pass out without knowing anything.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen added that the Center also received many cases of CO poisoning that were not caused by fire or explosion, such as riding a motorbike in a closed room, running a generator in a room connected to a room where people were living, sitting in a car and being poisoned by inhaling CO from the car's smoke, using a gas-powered water heater, or an oil fryer that uses both gas and electricity.
“CO is a colorless, odorless gas that does not irritate the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is very difficult to detect the presence of CO in the air. CO gas is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials such as gasoline, oil, natural gas, wood or charcoal, plastic, fabric, straw, stubble... or in some special cases, chemicals are absorbed through the skin into the body and then converted into CO gas and cause poisoning," Dr. Nguyen analyzed.
More or less brain damage from CO poisoning
Dr. Nguyen added that CO gas is quickly absorbed into the body and causes poisoning. In mild cases, it causes nausea, headaches, and can be mistaken for flu or food poisoning. In severe cases, it can cause people/animals to inhale it and become unconscious and die.
According to scientific research data, even in the mildest cases of CO poisoning, up to nearly 50% will experience complications in mental health, nerves, and brain damage later. The mildest can be memory loss of varying degrees, even coma, or complete amnesia.
Dr. Nguyen recommends to the people: Absolutely do not burn fuels such as honeycomb coal, firewood, charcoal, gas, etc. in closed spaces. If you have to use them, do not use them in closed rooms, but leave the door open to allow adequate air circulation. It is best to choose another method of heating.
When detecting a person suffering from suffocation, open the door to ventilate. In case the patient is breathing weakly, unconscious, or has no heart or lungs, perform artificial respiration or cardiac compression (cardiac arrest first aid) and then take the patient to the nearest medical facility. At the hospital, the patient will receive further emergency treatment.
