2023-09-09 19:07:50
The IRM warns against carbon monoxide poisoning this Saturday. Every year, the silent killer claims more than a thousand victims in Belgium, 2 to 3% of whom die.
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Under what circumstances is there a danger of CO poisoning?
“Carbon monoxide accidents mainly occur during the heating season, between the months of October and March. Most poisonings occur at home and are caused by a heating or hot water device. Individual stoves are more often involved than central heating installations. Poisoning in bathrooms is generally caused by a gas bath heater. », Explains the IRM on its site.
“CO poisoning can happen in any weather”
However, “CO poisoning can happen in any weather. Ventilation of a room in which a water heater is located is always important. Good ventilation is therefore essential. » “The risk of CO poisoning is higher during temperature inversions. It is an atmospheric situation in which a layer of warm air moves over a layer of cold air at the earth’s surface. In this way, the temperature increases with altitude when normally it should decrease. Under this layer of warmer air, gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) accumulate. In some cases, there is not enough wind to disperse these gases. »
“CO is a toxic gas. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating, which explains its name “ silent killer “. CO is released during the incomplete combustion (due to lack of oxygen) of gas, fuel oil, gasoline, wood or coal. We can sometimes suspect its presence by smelling other combustion products. »
The first signs of CO poisoning are headaches, dizziness and nausea, in children often stomach aches. “Think especially of CO when you feel unwell in a bathroom equipped with a gas water heater or when several people present these symptoms at the same time. Without intervention, these symptoms can progress to loss of consciousness and even death,” the IRM writes on its site.
First aid for CO poisoning
> Ventilate the room: open doors and windows if you can do so without putting yourself in danger.
> Call the emergency services on 100 or 112 reporting that you suspect CO poisoning. If the person is unconscious, report it.
> Switch off the appliance, if possible (a charcoal appliance cannot be switched off!)
> Remove the victim(s) from the room.
> Start resuscitation if the victim is no longer breathing or…
> Place the victim in a lateral safety position, that is to say lying on their side to prevent them from choking on their vomit.
When the risk of CO poisoning increases as a result of weather conditions, the IRM issues a public warning via its website, as this Saturday, and via its television weather bulletins.
So be vigilant.
>> Find all the necessary information on the IRM website.
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