The drop in temperatures has raised the number of carbon monoxide poisonings. In the past two weeks, three people have died.
Apart from the warmth of recent days, the winter of 2016-2017 has, for the moment, provided particularly intense cold spells. Frigid temperatures that precipitated seasonal epidemics, but not only. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also on the rise. Since September 1, 2,534 people have been affected, reports Public Health France.
This is a little more than last year for the same heating period, during which 2,509 French people were intoxicated. But it is much more for the last two weeks: 116 events were reported, exposing 487 people, of whom 284 had to be transported to an emergency department. At the same time last year, only 274 people were affected, and 180 were transferred to hospital.
14 deaths since September
Poisoning is not trivial. Since September, 14 people have died, including three in the past two weeks. The gas, colorless and odorless, passes through the lungs, attaches to red blood cells instead of oxygen, and slowly leads to asphyxiation. When it diffuses into a home, it can kill in less than an hour, without its presence being suspected.
Symptoms without apparent cause, and during heating, should alert. Headaches, nausea and vomiting… When they appear, especially in several people in a room or in the same accommodation, the reflexes are simple: ventilate, evacuate and call emergency services on 15 or 112.
In case of intoxication #carbon monoxide : ventilate immediately, evacuate the premises and call emergencies on 15, 18 or 112 pic.twitter.com/jS1EEeGcKA
– SantépubliqueFrance (@santeprevention) Jan. 27, 2017
Promote ventilation
Heaters, fireplaces, engines that run on wood, coal, oil or gas, or barbecues can produce carbon monoxide. The gas is formed when combustion is incomplete, that is to say when the oxygen supply is not sufficient. It is important to have the boilers serviced regularly, and to favor the supply of outside air, by not blocking the vents (on windows, for example) provided for this purpose.
Danger of #carbon monoxide : do not block the openings that allow air to circulate #prevention pic.twitter.com/UXQuQv6XeG
– SantépubliqueFrance (@santeprevention) January 30, 2017
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