What to do with carbon monoxide poisoning, how to provide first aid?

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

What is carbon monoxide?

"Quiet killer" - so 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 has neither color nor smell.

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

The toxic properties of carbon monoxide have been known to mankind since ancient times. Our distant ancestors were well aware of how dangerous it is to block the stove draft with incompletely burned wood. Wanting to keep more warmth, the unreasonable owner was in a hurry to close the shutter, the whole family went to bed, and the next morning she no longer woke up.

With the development of civilization, the danger associated with carbon monoxide has not diminished. Indeed, now instead of stoves, gas boilers and stoves are actively working in the dwellings of modern people, cars are puffing poisonous fumes on the streets and garages, and news 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 transporting oxygen. The longer a person breathes poisonous air, in which there is carbon monoxide, the faster the pathological process develops. The substance 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, consciousness becomes confused. The victim does not realize what is happening to him, in this case, the independent provision of first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning becomes impossible. Help must come from other people.

It takes quite a lot of time for hemoglobin to completely clear of carbon monoxide. The danger to life is directly related to an 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 equal to 25-30%.

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

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

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

1. When a person is poisoned with carbon monoxide, he can feel mild weakness, tinnitus, headache, nausea, and vomiting. These signals are evidence of oxygen starvation that the brain is experiencing.
2. With moderate poisoning, symptoms of intoxication increase. Muscle tremors, short-term memory loss, impaired coordination of movements. A person can stop distinguishing colors, objects begin to split in the eyes. Later, respiratory function and the circulatory system are disturbed. The victim develops tachycardia and cardiac arrhythmia. If a person does not receive quick help at this stage, then loss of consciousness and subsequent fatal outcome occurs.
3. A severe degree of 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 convulsive seizures, uncontrolled urination and defecation. Breathing is usually superficial and intermittent, body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. Possible onset of respiratory paralysis and death. 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 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 independent of the person, for example, in a fire. Usually, people caught in a fire will lose consciousness by inhaling the deadly gas, and cannot get out of the fire trap themselves.

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

• In rooms with stove or fireplace heating (residential buildings, baths, etc.) if the exhaust dampers are not closed properly or if the hood is poorly exhausted.
• In rooms where gas appliances work (water-flow heaters, stoves, gas boilers, heat generators with an open combustion chamber); if there is insufficient air supply necessary for burning gas, as well as with impaired 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.).
• When staying close to a busy highway or directly on it for a long time (on most major highways, the levels of CO in the air can exceed permissible norms by several times).
• In garages, with the car engine running and lack of 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 case of carbon monoxide poisoning in the first place? The sequence of actions should be as follows:

1. Quickly open all the windows and doors and take the person out of the room.
2. Call a specialized ambulance team. Making a call, it is necessary 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 faints due to carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to put him on his side. Then bring a cotton wool soaked with ammonia (2 cm from the nostrils) to his nose and slowly wave it. Remember that if you bring ammonia too close, the powerful effect of ammonia can lead to paralysis of the respiratory center.
4. If a person does not breathe, then artificial respiration should immediately begin. If the victim not only lost consciousness, but also has no 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 him with a newspaper, turn on the air conditioner and fan. At the feet you need to put a warm heating pad or mustard plasters. Considerable benefit to the victim can bring alkaline drink (1 liter of warm water - 1 tbsp.spoon of soda).

What to do with 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 involved in providing 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 treatment is carried out in a hospital?

Victims who have received moderate or severe poisoning are subject to mandatory hospitalization. The main antidote is one hundred percent oxygen. Its uninterrupted intake of 9-16 l / min. occurs through a special mask applied to the patient's face.

In severe cases, the patient is intubated with a trachea and is connected to a ventilator. In a hospital, infusion therapy is also carried out using a course of droppers with sodium bicarbonate - this helps to correct hemodynamic disorders. For intravenous infusion, Khlosol and Kvartasol solutions are also used.

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

Assistance in carbon monoxide poisoning using folk remedies

The following traditional medicine recipes can be used at home with mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are simple home-made remedies with very effective antitoxic properties:

1. Dandelion tincture (only roots are used). To prepare the infusion, 10 g of finely divided dry raw materials should be poured with a glass of boiling water. Boil for about 20 minutes. and then insist 40 minutes. Then strain and dilute with warm water (100 ml). Take the drug 3 or 4 times a day in a tablespoon.
2. Cranberry-cranberry tincture. What to do after carbon monoxide poisoning with its help? First, you need 200 g of lingonberry berries and 150 g of rose hips for cooking. The ingredients are ground as thoroughly as possible and poured 350 ml of boiling water. Insist the berries for 3 hours, then strain the product and consume inside 5 to 6 times a day for 2 tbsp. spoons.
3. Tincture of knotweed herb. 3 tbsp. tablespoons of crushed dry knotweed pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Insist for at least 3 hours, then strain and drink 3 times a day in a glass.
4. Tincture of Rhodiola rosea in alcohol. This drug does not need to be prepared on its 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 cause of death. 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:

• It is necessary to regularly check the condition of chimneys and ventilation shafts. It is especially important to pay attention to this before the start of the heating season.
• Before proceeding with the use of devices that run on combustible fuel, you must always check their serviceability. A timely failure can help to avoid many problems.
• In the event that the room has poor ventilation, additional measures must be taken to regularly air it.
• Do not start the car in a closed, unventilated garage or sleep in a car with the engine running.
• Purchase a special sensor that responds to a CO leak and install it in a house or apartment.
• Try to avoid being close to busy motorways, especially during busy hours.

Carbon monoxide sensor

As already mentioned, the presence of carbon monoxide in the air cannot be detected using one's own senses. To protect yourself and your loved ones from harm, you can purchase a carbon monoxide detector. This small device will carry out vigilant monitoring of indoor air composition. After all, first aid for poisoning a person with carbon monoxide should be almost instantaneous, otherwise you may not have time.

In the event that the CO indicators exceed the norm, the sensor will notify the owners with sound and light signals. Similar devices are domestic and industrial. The latter have a more complex device and are designed for large areas.

Risk group

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

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

Conclusion

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