As winter approaches, we are faced with not only keeping warm, but also being wary of a potential safety hazard – carbon monoxide poisoning. Recently, carbon monoxide poisoning incidents have occurred in many places in China, and these accidents remind us that we must pay more attention to the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Case 1: In November in Yantai City, Ms. Zhao and her children were unfortunately poisoned at home. In addition, three young men also suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning while enjoying charcoal hot pot food.
Case 2: A tragic tragedy occurred in Hangzhou, where a family of four was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in the death of a mother and daughter, and the father and son survived.
Case 3: Two fatal carbon monoxide poisoning incidents occurred in Chengdu, resulting in a total of 5 deaths. Among them, the carbon monoxide poisoning incident in Qingdao is mainly due to the improper use of heating equipment.
Carbon monoxide, the colorless and odorless "killer", is mainly used in the incomplete combustion process of coal, charcoal, and gas. The principle of carbon monoxide poisoning is mainly related to the interference of carbon monoxide gas with the ability of the human blood to transport oxygen. This process involves a key component in the body's blood: hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells, which is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to various parts of the body. Under normal conditions, hemoglobin combines with oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin, which then transports oxygen throughout the body.
However, carbon monoxide has an affinity (the ability to bind to hemoglobin) about 250 times more than oxygen. When carbon monoxide is present, it binds to hemoglobin to form carboxylhemoglobin, which is much more stable than oxyhemoglobin. This results in a greatly reduced ability to transport oxygen in the blood, as many binding sites of hemoglobin are occupied by carbon monoxide and cannot effectively carry oxygen.
As the concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood increases, the oxygen received by the body's tissues and organs gradually decreases, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the tissues. This state of hypoxia affects the organs that are most sensitive to oxygen, such as the brain and heart, first. Mild carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, nausea, and fatigue, while severe carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to confusion, coma, and even death.
In family life, when using equipment such as coal stoves, charcoal fires, and gas water heaters, it is especially important to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. When these devices are used in a closed or poorly ventilated environment, they are very easy to produce carbon monoxide, which brings great hidden dangers to people's lives.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, here are a few tips:
1.Proper installation and use of water heaters and stoves ensures that the equipment is performing well.
2.Keep the room well ventilated and remove possible carbon monoxide gases in a timely manner.
3.Install carbon monoxide alarms where carbon monoxide may be produced to monitor air quality in real time.
Once the symptoms of poisoning, such as headache, nausea, coma, etc., the following measures should be taken immediately:
1.Open windows for ventilation to reduce indoor carbon monoxide concentrations.
2.Quickly move the patient to a well-ventilated area.
3.Call First Aid** for professional medical attention.
These tragedies teach us that while winter heating is important, life safety is even more critical. We should take proactive measures to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and protect ourselves and our families. Let's work together to make this winter both warm and safe. In this cold season, let's work together to get through the difficulties. May every family have a warm and safe winter.
In this season of extra vigilance for carbon monoxide poisoning, we have seen the potential dangers posed by carbon monoxide. For the safety of the home, in addition to taking the necessary precautions, there is a very important tool that can help us – carbon monoxide alarms.
LFANG(lfang) JM-PA-008 Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a professional CO detector that can effectively monitor carbon monoxide levels in your home. Not only does it have high-precision detection capabilities, but it also has a clear digital display and a loud alarm sound to alert us to action when carbon monoxide concentrations reach dangerous levels. Whether you're using a coal stove, charcoal fire, or household gas, this alarm provides an extra layer of protection for your home's safety.