Risk of CO poisoning when burning charcoal in a closed room

Coal smoke contains many toxic ingredients such as carbon monoxide (CO), CO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and some other substances such as sulfur oxides (SOx), soot, unburned hydrocarbons (CnHm), formaldehyde (HCHO). … These substances, when emitted into the air, will directly affect human health.

Doctor Nguyen Huy Hoang, Vietnam – Russia Hyperbaric Oxygen Center, Vietnam – Russia Tropical Center, Ministry of National Defense, said CO is a silent killer, colorless, odorless, tasteless and difficult to detect. At a mild level, patients have headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. CO asphyxiation leaves sequelae such as memory loss, decreased concentration, paralysis of facial muscles, abnormal movements, difficulty walking, stiff and shaky limbs, hemiplegia…

CO poisoning is one of the causes of death in people with smoke inhalation. In the cold season, the need to burn coal for heating increases, and the number of hospitalizations for CO poisoning also increases. CO diffuses quickly through the alveoli, through the capillary membrane of the lungs into the blood, competing with oxygen, leading to the Heme nucleus in red blood cells no longer attaching to oxygen. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea, dizziness, altered mental status, convulsions, and coma. If not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to death.

People who inhale large amounts of CO can lose consciousness and die very quickly, especially pregnant women, young children, and the elderly with chronic heart and lung disease. 40% of people asphyxiated with CO gas experience sequelae such as memory loss, facial paralysis, hemiplegia, abnormal movements…

Like the case of a 53-year-old man who suffocated and died, while his 50-year-old wife was in critical condition and was in emergency at Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital. Family members said that when they opened the door, they discovered both were unconscious, and next to them was a pot of burned charcoal. Authorities determined that the cause could be due to gas suffocation while burning coal for heating.

Doctors recommend absolutely not burning wood for heating or cooking in closed spaces because the combustion reaction in low oxygen conditions will form more and more CO gas. CO gas entering the body will steal oxygen from the blood, causing the victim headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea and gradually fainting over time.

Heating with coal is more dangerous for the elderly and young children, people with weak respiratory systems and poor resistance. Placing coal in the house or room for heating can also cause fires and burns due to burning clothes and blankets.

When you suspect the victim has been exposed to CO gas such as a fireplace or charcoal stove, it is necessary to ventilate the air before entering the poisoned area. Quickly remove the victim from the dangerous place, guarding against the possibility of explosion from CO-rich air.