In the Pink City, seven children from a daycare were transported and admitted to hospital after carbon monoxide poisoning.
- In Toulouse, 12 children and 7 adults were “potentially poisoned” by carbon monoxide.
- Among them, seven children and three adults went to the hospital, on the advice of the Samu, for a check-up.
- They were later able to leave the center and two other children returned home.
“With the drop in temperatures and the restart of the heating season, the risks of carbon monoxide (Co) poisoning, a gas which can be fatal, increase.” As a reminder, “carbon monoxide essentially comes from the malfunction of a device or a combustion engine, that is to say one running on wood, coal, gas, gasoline, fuel oil or even ethanol. It diffuses very quickly in the environment. This is what the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Occitanie indicated, where 48 cases were reported in 2023, in a press release published this Tuesday, December 3.
Carbon monoxide: 19 people “potentially poisoned”
This warning follows several poisonings in a daycare center in Toulouse, more precisely located on route d’Albi. In fact, this Monday, December 2, 12 children and 7 adults were “potentially intoxicated” to this odorless and colorless gas, according to the Sdis (Organization of firefighters in France). The latter developed a system near the school to provide assistance to patients after seven children and three adults went to the hospital, on the advice of the Samu, for a check-up. Later, the victims were able to leave the center. Two other children were able to return home, according to France 3 Occitanie.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
According to ARS Grand-Estso-called “chronic” intoxication slowly manifests itself with headaches, nausea, mental confusion, fatigue, vomiting. Since the symptoms are not very specific and not very suggestive, it can be confused with other pathologies. When acute poisoning occurs, it causes dizziness, loss of consciousness, muscle paralysis, behavioral disorders, even coma or death. “In the event of serious poisoning (chronic or acute), people sometimes have after-effects: chronic migraines or disabling neurological dependencies (motor coordination disorders, paralysis of all forms).”
Carbon monoxide poisoning: what to do?
If symptoms are present, the premises should be ventilated immediately by opening doors and windows, combustion appliances should be turned off if possible and the premises and buildings should be evacuated as quickly as possible. Health Insurance advises calling emergency help (15, 112 or 18), even if the victims complain of simple headaches. “Oxygen inhalation treatment must be carried out very quickly.” No person should re-enter the premises before having received advice from a heating professional or the fire brigade.
