Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas without aroma and color, better known by the people under the name "carbon monoxide", is formed during the combustion of coal and organic substances in the absence of a sufficient flow of air.
Carbon monoxide is released into the air in blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, foundries, and many other industries, during transport, etc. The maximum permissible concentration is 20 mg of CO per 1 m 3 of air.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning that can occur:
• headache;
• violation of color perception;
• nausea, vomiting;
• CNS disorders are manifested by trembling, loss of consciousness, convulsions, coma;
• cyanosis of the face and mucous membrane;
• disturbances in the work of the heart;
• impaired renal and endocrine glands;
• respiratory distress;
• as a rule, hyperthermia (38-40 °).
With long and frequent exposure to carbon monoxide factors, there is a chance of developing chronic poisoning, which is characterized by:
• dizziness;
• headaches;
• mental and autonomic disorders;
• arrhythmia, tachycardia, hypotension.
There are also possible consequences, which are often associated with a violation of mental and nervous activity. If a person inhales carbon monoxide in high consistencies for a long time, he exerts a toxic effect on his body, which contributes to a fairly rapid development of oxygen starvation.
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning:
• the victim must be taken out to fresh air. At the same time, do not forget about your safety. In the absence of a gas mask or respirator, use a moist, dense cloth that you put on your face - this will reduce the access of toxic gases to the respiratory tract;
• lay the person horizontally, free him from tight clothing;
• in case of loss of consciousness, attach a cotton swab with ammonia to the nose;
• Call an ambulance immediately.
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning to a mild degree:
- rub the chest, if possible, put warmers at the feet, on the back and chest - mustard plasters. Wrap in a blanket or blanket;
- recommended hot drink (coffee, tea).
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning should be provided immediately, even before the arrival of physicians, including resuscitation should be carried out in the absence of signs of life in the victim.
Artificial respiration
• release the oral cavity from mucus, saliva, vomit;
• try to achieve maximum airway obstruction (throw back the victim’s head and try to extend his lower jaw so that his chin is in a higher position);
• if the jaw is clenched very tightly, then open the mouth by pushing the lower jaw forward by pressing on its corners with index fingers;
• close the victim’s nose, covering his mouth with gauze or a handkerchief, exhale. Then open the victim’s mouth and nose (passive exhalation). At this time, take your head back and take 1-2 breaths;
• 12-18 breaths are taken in 1 minute.
First aid for gas poisoning in the form of an indirect heart massage, provided in the first minutes after stopping its activity (albeit not a very experienced person), often brings much greater success than all the manipulations of a professional resuscitator, done later for 5-6 minutes:
• put your hands (palm on palm) on the lower third of the sternum;
• Quickly push the sternum, after each take his hands. Displacement should be up to 4-5 cm;
• Up to 60 compressions should be made in 1 minute. When providing indirect heart massage in parallel with artificial respiration, 2 persons make 4–5 tremors in one breath.
When performing the same actions, 1 person after 8-10 massage shocks takes 2 breaths. Control of the independent activity of the heart is performed every minute.
Timely first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning can save the life of the victim.