Recently, there has been news about a group of friends who were found unconscious in their car after being suspected of being poisoned by carbon monoxide because of exhaust leakage. There have been a number of cases regarding carbon monoxide poison with so little awareness.
There has also been an incident involving a child who died after being poisoned from the smoke of charcoal which also produces carbon monoxide.
With rising case regarding carbon monoxide, the public should be more aware of this poisonous gas.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas that can lead to serious tissue damage or even death.
It is usually produced by the fumes from burning materials such as fuels in cars, small engines and stoves.
Someone can be poisoned because of the condition of the room or car that is not well ventilated.
The cause of carbon monoxide poisoning is by inhaling combustion fumes.
When there is too much carbon monoxide in the air that you are breathing, your body replaces the oxygen in your red blood cells with carbon monoxide. Therefore, this prevents oxygen from reaching your tissues and organs.
Symptoms of Someone that Has Been Poisoned
The gas is actually hard to detect and cannot be easily sensed by our senses which makes it even more dangerous. The symptoms of someone that has been poisoned are similar like when you have flu which makes people ignore it.
However, if carbon monoxide poisoning is happening in your house or workplace, the people that spend the most time there would have more severe symptoms.
These symptoms include:
- Dull headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
Ways to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Happening
- Check your exhaust system annually. Exhaust leaks can release unfiltered Carbon Monoxide through an open window, door, trunk, or hole in the floor.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors. If the alarm ticks off, leave the house and call 999 for help.
- Make sure your fuel-burning appliances and engines are properly vented and serviced. For example, pay close attention to your charcoal grills, water heater, refrigerator and car engines.
The Long-term Complications
Carbon monoxide can also cause the victim to have a long term complication such as:
- Breathlessness
- Chest pains
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Brain damage like memory problems and difficulty in concentrating.
- Coronary heart disease
- Bring harm to unborn babies like stillbirth, low birth weight, and behavioural problems.
As parents, we should be more aware and vigilant of our surroundings to keep our kids healthy and safe. Taking carbon monoxide poisoning lightly would not only cause death but a terrible long term complication.