Here are 6 tips to avoid dying from carbon monoxide poisoning this winter.
- Each year in France, around 1,300 episodes of carbon monoxide poisoning occur by accident involving nearly 3,000 people.
- Invisible, odorless and non-irritating, carbon monoxide is undetectable.
- Here are 6 tips to avoid dying from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal and affects all of us. Here are the right actions to reduce the risks.
1,300 episodes of carbon monoxide poisoning per year
“With falling temperatures, the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increase, linked to the use of heating appliances. These poisonings can also be linked to the use of generators used to produce electricity. ‘electricity”explain in a joint press release the Ministry of Health, ANSES and the poison control centers.
“Every year in France, around 1,300 episodes of carbon monoxide poisoning occur by accident involving nearly 3,000 people,” continue the three institutions. “Invisible, odorless and non-irritating, carbon monoxide is undetectable”, they warn.
6 Tips to Avoid Dying from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
For your accommodation, it is therefore recommended to:
– at least once a year, before winter and absolutely before any restart, systematically check and maintain the heating and hot water production installations (such as boilers), as well as the chimney flues or stoves (mechanical chimney sweeping) by a qualified professional, in your main and secondary residence if applicable;
– ventilate your home for at least 10 minutes a day, even if it is cold;
– keep your ventilation systems in good working order and never obstruct the air inlets and outlets.
For mobile devices, it is also recommended to:
– systematically follow the instructions for using combustion appliances indicated by the manufacturer: only use the recommended fuel and never operate the auxiliary heaters continuously;
– never use generators and braziers inside your home, garage, attic, cellar, etc.;
– never use barbecues or any other cooking appliance to heat yourself inside a home.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
In the event of poisoning, headaches, fatigue, nausea and dizziness appear more or less quickly and can affect several people within the same household in the presence of combustion appliances.
Significant poisoning can lead to coma and death, sometimes within minutes. We must therefore act very quickly:
– ventilate immediately;
– stop combustion appliances if possible;
– evacuate the premises;
– call for help by dialing 15, 18, 112 and 114 for hearing impaired people or a poison control center.
