How do you know if you have carbon monoxide poisoning? Carbon monoxide poisoning: life-threatening consequences

Outside the window it is cold and damp, stoves and fireplaces are heated in the dachas. From traditional wood heating many still do not refuse: not everyone has gas, and electric heaters are not very economical. Yes, and it is difficult, perhaps, to replace the living flame with something, which is so pleasant to bask in the autumn evenings.

But a stove or fireplace can pose a threat to the life and health of its owner. And it's not about the possibility of a fire. There is an invisible, imperceptible, insidious danger - carbon monoxide. Poisoning by this by-product of combustion often leads to death, so it will not be superfluous to know how to prevent the danger, and what to do if someone does get hurt.

A little bit of theory

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (CO), is often referred to as the "silent killer". The main problem is that he has no color, no taste, no smell, does not cause any sensations at all (until it's too late). It is impossible to detect "by eye", and for the victim, his presence remains unnoticed. At the same time, the gas spreads quickly, mixing with air without losing its toxic properties.

For humans, carbon monoxide is strongest poison. Entering the body during breathing, it penetrates from the lungs into the circulatory system, where it combines with hemoglobin. As a result, the blood loses its ability to carry and deliver oxygen to the tissues, and the body very quickly begins to experience a lack of it. First of all, the brain suffers, but other organs can also be affected, depending on the general state of health. According to an old proverb: "Where it is thin, it breaks there."

By the way, it would be a mistake to think that the threat of poisoning exists only in houses with stove heating. Carbon monoxide formed during incomplete combustion of any fuel. Gas, coal, firewood, gasoline and so on - it doesn't matter. Only the degree of risk is different.

The "leaders" in terms of the amount of carbon monoxide released during combustion are coal . For environment considered the main source of pollution cars. They are potentially dangerous for their owners - every year a lot of motorists die in their own garages. The habit of working with the car engine turned on (for heating), plus the lack of ventilation - and here is the sad result for you ...

Finally, according to scientists, cigarette smoke the concentration of CO exceeds the maximum allowable by 8 times, so indoor smokers and those who are with them are also at risk - especially if the ventilation is poor.

Natural gas in itself is safe - but only if it is of proper quality, there is good ventilation and the use of serviceable equipment installed in accordance with all the rules. Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in apartments where they stand geysers, alas, are fixed annually.

Let's finish this theory and move on to purely practical questions: how to avoid poisoning and how to help the victim if it was not possible to prevent the problem.

How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

In fact, most people already know about it. However, poisoning does happen. So, we will repeat what may seem to someone to be banal and well-known rules.

1. Use only serviceable equipment

Cracks in the stove masonry, a clogged chimney and similar “little things” can lead to serious consequences.

2. Take care of good ventilation

In city apartments, poisoning occurs just during the off-season: central heating not included, residents are saved from dampness and cold using gas stoves… With insufficient ventilation, even such “safe” devices sometimes cause tragedies.

In the country, hardly anyone is heated by a gas stove, but gas water heaters are country houses- Not unusual. In general, good ventilation is needed in any home.

3. Do not close the stove damper until the coals have burnt out

This is what everyone seems to know. Nevertheless ... I will give a case from real life.

My colleague got a house in the village from his mother, and she and her husband went there for the weekend until late autumn. They usually come on Friday - late in the evening, after work. In order not to enter cold house, asked the neighbor to heat the stove by this time. And then one day they arrived, as usual - it's warm in the house; had dinner, went to bed...

A colleague said that she woke up in the middle of the night because she felt bad. Lucky: many fail to wake up - a significant proportion of carbon monoxide poisoning occurs during sleep. She grew up in the village, so she quickly figured out what was happening - the first thing she did was wake up her husband and open the doors to air the house. She stepped out onto the porch for some fresh air.

In the morning we asked a neighbor. It turned out that she - although she herself was also a village woman, had lived all her life with stove heating - decided to close the damper early so that it would be warmer. From good intentions. As they say, even an old woman can be a wreck ... Another confirmation: you don’t have to “hopefully” in such matters - maybe you’ll be lucky, or maybe not ...

A colleague and her husband escaped with a headache for the whole day and increased pressure. It can be considered a rare success, especially when you consider that both are aged people, with a whole “collection” of diseases ... She says: “God saved,” but it’s not in vain that folk wisdom says: trust in God, but don’t make a mistake yourself ... Therefore I repeat: do not rush to close the oven damper. By the way, this also applies to the sauna stove in fully.

4. Car enthusiasts, do not run the engine in the garage for heating

The ventilation here is often “lame” (see point 2), and therefore there is no need to tempt fate. If you are working in a garage during the cold season, use a heater that is safer than a car engine.

That's all, in fact ... Is it true that following these rules is quite simple? ..

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning can vary markedly - depending on the degree of damage, the general condition of the body, existing diseases and other circumstances. However, you should certainly be alerted by such symptoms how:

dizziness, headache
nausea, vomiting
noise in ears
shortness of breath, cough
watery eyes.

The condition of the victim is often excited, but in some cases, on the contrary, lethargy and drowsiness are observed. There may be a violation of the vestibular apparatus (loss of balance, problems with coordination of movements), hearing and vision disorders. These symptoms may precede loss of consciousness.

In case of poisoning moderate and severe problems in the work of the cardiovascular system are very likely. Arrhythmias occur (you will notice that the pulse has become uneven, intermittent); blood pressure drops, body temperature drops. In such a situation, without timely medical care, the victim may die from cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

At mild poisoning(if the case was limited to dizziness and nausea) it is usually enough to take (or take out) a person to fresh air. But until his condition completely returns to normal, observe, fix any changes in order to come to the rescue in time, if necessary.

At severe poisoning and defeats moderate usually requires hospitalization. And, in any case, you should not try to do without medical help - call an ambulance without delay.

Why? Firstly, in such cases it is difficult to predict how the situation will develop: sometimes the victim dies instantly from cardiac arrest; convulsions or paralysis may occur; respiratory depression and other symptoms that require immediate qualified intervention are very likely.

Secondly, carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous and the possibility of severe complications, including from the brain, respiratory organs, and the cardiovascular system. Timely and properly provided medical care can prevent many of these complications.

The main task while waiting for the doctor is alleviate the condition of the victim to the best of your ability.

If chills begin, the temperature drops, wrap up warmer, drink sweet tea (if the person is conscious, of course).
Make yourself comfortable (and preferably - in the fresh air or, at least, at open window) to make breathing easier.
Calm down if scared or excited.
Lay the unconscious person on his side and make sure that his head does not throw back, especially if vomiting suddenly occurs.

When breathing stops, artificial respiration should be done, and when the heart stops, chest compressions should be performed. BUT! These manipulations make sense only if you know how to perform them - otherwise there is a risk of causing even more harm (although in general, it is reasonable to learn first aid skills for everyone who is often out of town - in the country, on a hike, fishing).

Please note: There is an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.. This drug is called acyzol, is available in the form of capsules and as a solution in ampoules (for intramuscular injection). It is highly desirable to keep it in a summer first-aid kit (although not cheap, but life and health are more expensive). It is recommended for use, including as a prophylactic- if there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. For medicinal purposes this antidote (i.e. antidote) should be taken as early as possible; it reduces the likelihood of complications and significantly reduces the degree of exposure to the poison on the body.

However, I hope you never have to use these recommendations. But it is better to meet the danger fully armed - prepared and aware. And even better - do everything to avoid such a meeting altogether.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a pathology that occurs when carbon monoxide enters the body. Most often, intoxication occurs due to domestic causes associated with a fire or improper use of various technical devices. In case of damage, there is a threat to life, so it is necessary to treat carbon monoxide poisoning as soon as possible.

Pathology can occur due to domestic or industrial reasons. A person can get carbon monoxide poisoning due to:

using a stove or gas equipment;
the occurrence of smoldering wiring in the room;
being near a freeway for an extended period of time;
smoking hookah;
staying in a poorly ventilated room with the car engine running (for example, in a garage).

People who work in the furnace maintenance industry can get poisoned if safety precautions are not followed. Many do not know that poisoning can go unnoticed by the person himself.

If the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is 3 mg/l, then severe poisoning will be obtained within 30 minutes. To prevent the occurrence of this pathology, it is necessary to follow the rules for the operation of products that can emit carbon monoxide. It is not allowed to repair a running car indoors. When working in hazardous industries, you must follow the rules and use protective equipment.

Symptoms of poisoning

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning depend on the severity of the injury. There are the following manifestations that occur with the lesion:

headache;
nausea;
tearing;
inflammation of the mucous membranes;
drowsiness;
increase blood pressure;
dryness in the throat.

If a person has noticed these manifestations, then it is advisable to call an ambulance team or provide first aid to yourself.

In more severe poisoning, paralysis, fainting, or coma occurs. If a person who has experienced severe carbon monoxide poisoning is not detected in time by specialists, then death will occur.

When Medical Assistance Is Needed

If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, it is advisable to visit a doctor in any case, since damage can cause hidden harm that will affect health in the future. Immediate qualified medical attention is required if the person is unconscious.

In case of mild poisoning, you will need to undergo an examination in stationary conditions. During the examination, it will be possible to understand what harm a person was caused by carbon monoxide damage. Also, the doctor will prescribe symptomatic treatment, which will be aimed at eliminating the manifestations of intoxication.

First aid

Everyone should know how to give first aid. It can be given to yourself or another person. When this pathology occurs, the following actions are required first of all:

Exit to fresh air. If a person is unconscious, he will need to be urgently pulled out of the room or any other place where he received carbon monoxide poisoning. Ventilation of the lungs with oxygen will stop the toxic effects of carbon monoxide.
If the poisoning is mild, you can try to self-treat using special sorbents (activated carbon, Polysorb), as well as oxygen therapy.
In case of moderate and severe damage, you need to call an ambulance.

Specialists often give an injection of Acizol, which is an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning. If the victim's respiratory activity is inhibited and cardiac arrest occurs, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration and chest compressions until the arrival of specialists.

When extracting a carbon monoxide victim from a room, safety precautions must be observed. In order not to become a victim of poisoning, it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs with a special respirator or, at a minimum, use a wet bandage. If it is a fire, then firefighters should be involved in the evacuation of people.

What is the danger of intoxication

Carbon monoxide is a poison to humans. Its impact on the body entails many consequences. First, carbon monoxide enters the lungs, after which it enters the blood, where it combines with hemoglobin. There is carboxyhemoglobin, which replaces oxyhemoglobin. Because of this, oxygen transportation is blocked and cellular respiration stops. Ultimately, this can lead to death.

Carboxyhemoglobin is formed very quickly, about 200 times faster than oxyhemoglobin. Because of this, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs at lightning speed. It is impossible to feel carbon monoxide, so being affected by this gas is extremely dangerous. Only symptoms of intoxication can signal a lesion. If headache, nausea, and watery eyes occur, the person should leave the room immediately.

How to recognize carbon monoxide poisoning

In order not to become a victim, you need to know how to recognize carbon monoxide poisoning. If a person works in a workplace where carbon monoxide intoxication is possible, then he must know safety precautions and use protective equipment. You can also use a specialized pocket sensor that signals the excess of the normal amount of carbon monoxide in the room.

If a person is in an apartment or a private house, then the following symptoms will help to recognize poisoning:

simultaneous, tearing and dry mouth in all people inside;
the disappearance of unpleasant manifestations when going outside;
aggravation of symptoms when using gas appliances or a stove.

It should be noted that acute intoxication does not always occur. With a slight excess of the normal level of carbon monoxide, a person can be in the room for a long period of time without losing consciousness. At the same time, harm is still done to the body.

If gas equipment or the stove is not functioning properly, you need to call specialists to fix the problem. Up to this point, it is required to carefully ventilate the room and minimize spending time in it.

How to act in case of fire

Most often, people encounter severe intoxication during a fire. Many people know that being in a smoky room is dangerous precisely because of carbon monoxide. First of all, in the event of a fire, a person should strive to leave the building in any safe way. You also need to report the problem immediately. fire service. If there is no way to get out, you will need to adhere to the following tips:

prepare a dampened rag (if there is no bathroom nearby, then you can wet the cloth with your own urine);
eliminate the draft if the fire is nearby (with the supply of oxygen, the fire will flare up much stronger);
if the room is heavily smoky, then you need to crawl (smoke always tends up).

If there is no way out, then it is required to maintain a stable state as long as possible, avoiding intoxication and waiting for help from firefighters. Proper behavior in case of fire significantly increases the chances of a successful rescue.

How is carbon monoxide poisoning treated at home?

Treatment of uncomplicated carbon monoxide poisoning at home is carried out after qualified assistance from specialists. If the doctor after the examination did not find serious deviations, then the person can recover at home. Outpatient treatment is prescribed for mild lesions. Severe poisoning requires inpatient therapy.

Home methods are aimed at the speedy restoration of working capacity and getting rid of unpleasant manifestations. For treatment, the following means are used:

Rhodiola rosea tincture. In the pharmacy, an alcohol tincture of radiola rosea is purchased. After that, it is consumed 7-12 drops, diluted in 150 ml of water, 1-2 times a day.
Cranberry-lingonberry infusion. 150 g of dried fruits of cranberries and lingonberries must be poured with 300 ml of boiling water. The liquid must be infused for 2-3 hours. The resulting infusion should be consumed 2 tablespoons 5-6 times a day.
Infusion of highlander bird. Brew 3 tablespoons of knotweed herb in 400 ml of boiling water. After that, let it brew for 3-5 hours. Ready infusion will need to be consumed 200 ml 3 times a day.

Folk remedies will allow you to get rid of intoxication as soon as possible. After that, the person will be able to return to their usual way of life. They should be used only after consulting a doctor. Self-medication should be avoided, as this can lead to problems in the future.

Therapy in stationary conditions

If the poisoning is severe, then hospital treatment is required. After first aid is provided, doctors try to provide the person with enough oxygen. For this, an oxygen mask is used. In addition, infusion therapy is started. Droppers with sodium bicarbonate and polyionic solutions are used.

A good remedy for dealing with manifestations is Acizol. It significantly accelerates the breakdown of carboxyhemoglobin. After that, the person's condition improves. Injections of this agent are used immediately after poisoning. They show high efficiency in initial stage treatment.

Vitamins are prescribed to improve the general condition. Their reception begins in stationary conditions and continues for some time after discharge. In order for the therapy to be successful, it is necessary to follow all the recommendations of the doctor.

Possible consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

With severe intoxication, irreversible consequences can occur. In the long term, the following problems may arise:

impaired memory and brain function;
heart diseases;
behavioral changes.

Everything . The longer a person breathed carbon monoxide, the more serious the consequences will be in the future. Timely and correct first aid can help avoid dangerous complications.

Within 1-2 days after intoxication, a person feels unwell, suffers from headaches and nausea. As soon as carboxyhemoglobin begins to be excreted from the body, the condition improves. Full recovery may take a week. If the lesion was mild, it will pass without any health consequences.

Prevention

Preventive measures allow timely detection of the lesion. For prevention, fire safety rules must be observed. If the house has gas appliances or stoves, they should be regularly serviced. Specialists must inspect each element. Also an excellent tool is a stationary sensor that will report the presence of carbon monoxide in the room.

The following rules are required:

not be in a poorly ventilated room with technological devices that emit carbon monoxide, without special protection;
do not work in the garage with the car engine running;
in private houses, install gas equipment and stoves only after the approval of the project by a specialist;
install warning systems, after which special services will be called.

Observing simple rules significantly reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide intoxication can cause serious harm to health. To avoid the occurrence of this pathology in Everyday life you need to follow some simple rules. Only a physician should treat carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if the injury is moderate or severe.

How to deal with carbon monoxide poisoning:

Carbon monoxide (CO) is Chemical substance which causes acute poisoning. It is dangerous to health and life. The negative effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is based on the transformation of the blood composition and damage to the respiratory system. The consequences of poisoning are very severe, often fatal.

Physical and chemical properties of CO (carbon monoxide)

Carbon monoxide is a colorless gaseous substance without a specific odor, lighter in density than air. Easily ignited.

The substance is very toxic. Because it has no smell. Fatal cases of poisoning are recorded frequently. CO is formed during the combustion of any material and is concentrated in the air. Once in the body, the substance enters into a relationship with hemoglobin and forms a strong complex - carboxyhemoglobin. Such a compound disrupts the physiological functions of the blood, blocks the transport of oxygen to the tissues. As a result of oxygen starvation, biochemical processes are disrupted.

When a person inhales polluted air, carbon monoxide reacts chemically with hemoglobin faster than oxygen. With each breath, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin increases.

Signs of poisoning appear when hemoglobin is replaced:

20% - mild degree of general intoxication;
30% - poisoning of moderate severity;
40-50% - loss of consciousness;
60-70% is a lethal dose.

The higher the CO content in the air, the faster it accumulates in the body. The lethal dose is 0.1% in the inhaled air (lethal outcome occurs within an hour). Carbon monoxide is a poisonous substance that belongs to the 2nd and 3rd hazard classes (medium and high). Indoors, signs of intoxication appear faster than in open areas. In a state of physical activity, the time of poisoning of a person is reduced, in a state of rest, the degree of poisoning increases slowly. This is due to the fact that the load on the body increases the respiratory rate and lung capacity.

Conditions under which a person can be poisoned by carbon monoxide

Most often, CO poisoning occurs indoors during household fires. The risk group includes residents of private houses with gas or stove heating. An improperly designed air exchange system (ventilation, draft in chimneys) contributes to the accumulation of substances in the room.

For industrial purposes, carbon monoxide is used for the synthesis of organic compounds. In case of non-compliance and gross violation of safety regulations, the risk of poisoning among employees increases.

Carbon monoxide is a component of car exhaust. Therefore, you can get poisoned by the substance in a garage with insufficient ventilation, poor ventilation, in long tunnels, when you stay near highways and overloaded roads for a long time.

At home, you can get poisoned with open stove dampers, with a leak of lighting gas, which is used in heating systems private buildings. There have been cases of intoxication in the abuse of hookah.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body depends on the level of its concentration in the air. A mild degree of damage to the body quickly turns into a medium one and is manifested by suffocation and headache. The nervous system is the first to react to the lack of oxygen. Signs of her defeat:

pain in the craniocerebral box of a pulsating nature, knocking in the temples, dizziness, nausea not associated with food intake, single vomiting;
visual disturbances, lacrimation;
mental instability irritability, emotional outbursts, impaired coordination of movements, especially fine motor skills, memory instability, auditory and visual hallucinations;
decreased mental and physical activity, shortness of breath, chest pain with any movement;
heart rate increases, blood pressure rises slightly;
skin and mucous membranes acquire a bright scarlet color.

Carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy, even at low concentrations, leads to the death of the embryo on early dates and fetus in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. A mild degree of intoxication is deadly for people with severe heart and vascular diseases.

In severe poisoning, the victim develops drowsiness, apathy, constant tinnitus, and headaches become more intense. Due to damage to the nasal mucosa, a runny nose appears. Nausea intensifies, vomiting becomes more frequent. The motor muscles are affected by paralysis against the background of ataxia - destabilization of the coordination of motor activity. Breathing becomes frequent and superficial. The person is conscious, but it is confused.

The impact of carbon monoxide on the human body at high concentrations is characterized by the following symptoms, which indicates an extremely severe poisoning:

fainting, unconsciousness;
breathing is periodic, cyclic, rare superficial breaths gradually become more frequent and become deep;
heart rhythms are depressed, the pulse is weak;
convulsions, convulsions;
pupils are weakly responsive to light;
sharp blueness of the skin;
involuntary urination and uncontrolled defecation;
lack of reflexes, a state of deep coma;
cessation of breathing and heartbeat, death.

First aid to the victim

Before the ambulance arrives, it is important to properly provide first aid to the person. When entering the room, open the door wide open, support it with any heavy object so that it does not close. Then you should stop the supply of carbon monoxide - close the damper on the stove, turn off the heating system. After that, open all the windows in the room. The air flow will immediately reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide.

The victim should be taken outside as soon as possible, freed from restrictive clothing, covered with a warm blanket or blanket. If the weather is clear outside, it is better to place a person in the sun, and not in the shade. Direct sunlight destroys carboxyhemoglobin.

If the victim is not breathing, start resuscitation - heart massage and artificial respiration.

Medical care for CO poisoning

Upon arrival of the ambulance, the patient is immediately connected to an oxygen bag. The supply of O 2 must be continuous and powerful for 3 hours. An ambulance doctor is obliged to introduce a person atsizol - an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Pharmacological action of the drug:

prevents the formation of a carboxyhemoglobin complex;
promotes the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin;
stabilizes the delivery of oxygen to tissues;
reduces intoxication of the body;
biotransforms carboxyhemoglobin and removes it from the bloodstream;
increases stability internal organs to oxygen starvation, reducing the need for tissues in O2;
replenishes zinc deficiency.

Acizol as an antidote for carbon monoxide is administered intramuscularly in 1 ml. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 4 ml. The course of treatment with the drug is from 7 to 10 days. side effects no antidote has been found. Sometimes there may be a painful infiltrate in the area of administration of the drug. In case of an overdose, the patient develops a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, and headaches.

To stimulate respiration, the nervous and vascular systems, caffeine is prescribed subcutaneously. The action of the drug:

enhances the work of the heart;
dilates blood vessels;
speeds up the pulse;
promotes the separation of urine;
relieves headache.

Partially remove carbon monoxide from the body helps carboxylase (enzyme). It contributes to the rupture of the carboxyhemoglobin complex, the cleavage of CO molecules from hemoglobin. The drug is administered intravenously.

Complications

Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance. Therefore, human poisoning rare cases passes without a trace. Intoxication of the body leads to consequences of varying severity.

Possible complications:

damage to the sense organs - hearing, vision;
trophic skin lesions - swelling, blisters, necrosis;
circulatory disorders in the brain;
hemorrhages in the space between the meninges and the web;
numerous toxic lesions of the nerves;
signs of cerebral edema;
myocardial infarction;
myoglobinuric nephrosis - acute kidney failure, which develops with toxic damage to the organ;
severe pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs that occurs in a patient with a long stay in a coma.

People who have suffered CO poisoning often develop late complications, months or even years later. The psyche and nervous system suffer the most.

Patients complain of memory loss, decreased concentration and intelligence. A person does not perceive new information well, loses the ability to learn. Psychoses gradually develop - the reaction and mental activity of a person contradicts reality. The perception of the surrounding world is disturbed, the behavior is disorganized.

Long-term effects of damage to the nervous system:

development of blindness;
paralysis;
violation of the functionality of the organs of the large and small pelvis;
parkinsonism.

From the side of the heart, such pathologies appear over time;

cardiac asthma;
inflammation of the membranes of the heart;
angina;
myocardial infarction.

On the part of the respiratory system - frequent outbreaks of pneumonia.

To reduce the likelihood of severe complications, it is important to provide emergency medical care in time and administer an antidote.

The impact of carbon monoxide on health always contributes to a serious malfunction of internal systems and organs. In most cases, it leads to the death of a person. Therefore, precaution in the operation of heating devices should be paramount. Do not neglect the rules of safety and labor protection. In rooms where there is a risk of increasing the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, you need to install a special sensor to monitor the situation. This device is battery operated or mains operated and requires no special maintenance. When a toxic substance rises in the air, it gives an audible signal.

Carbon monoxide is a strong toxic substance that, when it enters the body, leads to disruption of the functioning of its organs and systems.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in a variety of places. This substance is odorless, which undoubtedly increases its danger, since a person is not aware of its presence in the air.

The whole body is forced to work in conditions of severe oxygen deficiency. This leads to serious consequences: damage to the heart, brain, lungs, skeletal muscles.

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body

First of all, it is necessary to consider its effect on the composition and functioning of the blood. This dangerous substance enters the human body through the respiratory tract into the lungs, which are well supplied with blood. It is here that the poison is quickly absorbed into the blood.

In the bloodstream, carbon monoxide seeks out red blood cells and binds to them. These blood cells, in turn, perform an important function - the respiratory. That is, they bind oxygen and carry it to all organs and tissues.

In case of poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin is formed in the blood, which is no longer able to perform this function. That is, red blood cells lose their ability to capture oxygen. In this case, a severe pathological condition develops - hypoxia, that is, oxygen starvation.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur under the following conditions:

Household. Fires release large amounts of this dangerous gas. This happens when the interior is burning, in the decoration of which there is plastic, wiring and household appliances. When you stay for a long time in a closed garage where the car is running. In a traffic jam in calm weather. In case of leakage of domestic gas, as well as improper operation of furnace equipment;
Production. Poisoning can occur in the gas and automotive industries. Where carbon monoxide is used for the synthesis of organic compounds.

It should be noted that children, pregnant women, the elderly and debilitated people are most sensitive to carbon monoxide. Let us consider in more detail the consequences of both individual body systems.

Influence on the work of the heart

In conditions of hypoxia, the heart turns on compensatory devices. That is, under any conditions, it tries to fulfill its main function - to supply the body with oxygen-enriched blood.

With the penetration of carbon monoxide into the blood, the concentration of oxygen in it is significantly reduced. In this case, the heart begins to distill blood at a faster rate through the systemic and pulmonary circulation. This leads to tachycardia - an increase in the number of heartbeats per minute.

At first, the tachycardia is moderate, but with severe poisoning or prolonged exposure to gas on the body, the pulse becomes frequent, but poorly filled. The heart rate reaches 130 - 140 beats per minute.

Against the background of severe tachycardia and hypoxia, the likelihood of developing myocardial infarction is high.

Consequences for the central nervous system

With the blood flow, the toxin enters the brain, where it has a negative effect on its various departments. At first, a person feels a severe headache, “cerebral vomiting” may occur, which occurs when the center of the brain responsible for digestion is irritated.

Carbon monoxide leads to a violation of the nervous regulation, which is manifested by dysfunction of various sensory organs:

Hearing impairment (noise, ringing), decrease in its severity;
Violation of visual function. There may be fog, flies before the eyes, blurry pictures, decreased visual acuity (may be significant).

With damage to the cerebellum, the victim has such pathological signs as a wobbly gait and discoordination.

In severe cases, a large volume of the brain is affected, which is manifested by such consequences as convulsive syndrome and coma.

Carbon monoxide and the respiratory system

Hypoxia provokes a violation of the respiratory system. There is hyperventilation of the lungs, that is, shortness of breath, which progresses over time. This is a compensatory mechanism. Thus, the lungs try to eliminate the lack of oxygen in the body.

If a person with carbon monoxide poisoning is not immediately helped, then his breathing becomes superficial, that is, unproductive. In this case, respiratory arrest and death of the victim may occur.

The effect of gas on skeletal muscle

Muscles need a constant supply of oxygen. With its lack, they cease to function in full. The person experiences severe weakness. He cannot stand on his feet, they give way.

Symptoms of poisoning

Clinical picture poisoning in this case depends on the severity of the pathological process (the amount of carbon monoxide affecting the body and the time the person stays in adverse conditions).

There are 3 degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning:

The first or mild degree is manifested by headache, pressure in the temples and forehead, nausea, single vomiting. There is dizziness and slight weakness in the body. The person complains of rapid heartbeat and chest tightness. In rare cases, auditory hallucinations are recorded;
The second or moderate severity is characterized by neurological symptoms. The patient has complete or partial paresis and paralysis. The victim is drowsy, his hearing is reduced;
Third or severe degree. The patient is in critical condition and requires immediate medical attention. There are convulsions, loss of consciousness. Uncontrolled emptying of the bladder and bowels may occur. Breathing is shallow, pupils almost do not react to light. There is a high probability of death before arrival at the hospital.

First aid and subsequent recovery

A person who has received carbon monoxide poisoning needs first aid as soon as possible. The outcome of poisoning depends on this.

Algorithm for providing first aid to the victim:

Stop the flow of carbon monoxide into the body. For this, a person must be taken out or taken out of the gas contamination zone;
Provide access to oxygen. You should loosen tight clothes, remove the belt, tie, scarf, scarf, and so on. If a person is indoors, then you need to open the windows;
Call an ambulance. Before the arrival of medical workers, provide assistance on their own;
If a person is conscious, then you should give him a hot drink and strong coffee or tea;
If consciousness is absent, check for pulse and respiration. If these indicators are not determined, then you should immediately begin to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (indirect heart massage and artificial respiration);
To improve blood circulation, you need to rub the limbs, cheeks and chest the patient;
If a person is unconscious, pulse and breathing are determined, then it is necessary to give him a stable lateral position. That is, lay it on its side. This prevents the tongue from sinking and aspiration of the respiratory tract with vomit (in the presence of vomiting);
In the presence of ammonia, they need to lubricate the whiskey and give the victim a sniff of cotton wool moistened with ammonia.

The ambulance team continues to provide assistance to the victim:

Oxygen is supplied through an oxygen mask;
It is necessary to introduce an antidote - Acizol. The solution is administered intramuscularly in a volume of 1 milliliter. This drug eliminates negative impact carbon monoxide. It is able to destroy the carboxyhemoglobin formed in the blood;
To restore the functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the introduction of Caffeine subcutaneously is indicated;
Carboxylase is administered intravenously. This drug is an enzyme that breaks down carboxyhemoglobin;
Hospitalization of the victim in a hospital.

In the hospital, symptomatic therapy is carried out, and treatment with Acizol is also continued. The course of treatment with this drug is at least 7 days.

It should be remembered that carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance. Therefore, the consequences of poisoning are very diverse.

Doctors distinguish 2 types of consequences that arise due to the toxic effects of this substance:

Early occurs in the first few days after poisoning;
Late - develop after a few weeks or months.

Early complications include:

Prolonged headaches and impaired coordination;
Violation of the functioning of the senses. There is a sharp decrease or a short absence of vision and hearing;
ONMK (acute violation of cerebral circulation). This pathology develops due to ischemia of the meninges (oxygen starvation) or hemorrhage in violation of the integrity of the blood vessel. A stroke can be of varying severity. In severe cases, there is a coma and death of the patient;
Cerebral edema is a pathological condition, which consists in the impregnation of the brain tissue with fluid from the blood vessels. This condition is very life threatening. The consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning for the brain are extremely severe: disruption of the central nervous system, damage to brain tissue and death;
Pulmonary edema is an emergency condition that requires immediate resuscitation. characteristic feature is an coughing with discharge of pink foam from the mouth, the patient begins to choke;
Violation of the heart rhythm;
Sudden cardiac arrest and, as a result, the death of the victim.

Late consequences are due to the fact that many organs and systems were damaged under the influence of carbon monoxide.

Late Negative consequences most often observed from the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems:

Memory impairment. Amnesia develops, that is, memory loss;
Decreased intellectual abilities of a person;
Violation of the motor function of the upper and lower extremities up to paralysis;
Blindness;
Violation of the bladder and intestines. There is urinary incontinence, involuntary bowel movements;
Myocardial infarction is characterized by an area of necrosis in the heart muscle. This is an emergency condition that can be fatal (especially with a massive heart attack);
Angina pectoris is an ischemic lesion of the heart;
cardiac asthma. In this case, the patient is worried about shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the chest, an obsessive cough, and suffocation. An attack occurs during physical exertion and a horizontal position of a person;
Pneumonia. They occur frequently and have a long course with complications.

1travmpunkt.com

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning: symptoms and treatment, consequences

Carbon monoxide poisoning refers to acute pathological conditions that develop as a result of the ingestion of a certain concentration of carbon monoxide into the human body. This condition is life-threatening and without qualified medical assistance can be fatal.

Carbon monoxide (CO, carbon monoxide) is a product of combustion and enters the atmosphere in any of its forms. Having no smell and taste, the substance does not manifest its presence in the air in any way, it easily penetrates through walls, soil and filter materials.

Therefore, excess CO concentrations can only be detected with the help of special devices, and in the worst case, in a rapidly developing clinic. In urban air, the main contribution to the concentration of this hazardous substance is made by exhaust gases from automobile engines. internal combustion.

Action on the body

CO enters the bloodstream 200 times faster than O2 and enters into an active bond with blood hemoglobin. As a result, carboxyhemoglobin is formed - a substance that has a stronger bond with hemoglobin than oxyhemoglobin (oxygen combined with hemoglobin). This substance blocks the process of oxygen transfer to tissue cells, causing hemic type hypoxia.
CO binds to myoglobin (a protein in skeletal and cardiac muscle), reducing the pumping function of the heart and causing muscle weakness.
In addition, carbon monoxide enters into oxidative reactions and disrupts the biochemical balance in tissues.

Where are cases of CO poisoning possible?

On fires.
In production, where CO is used in the reactions of synthesis of substances (phenol, acetone).
In gasified premises operating gas equipment (gas stoves, water heaters, heat generators) with insufficient ventilation or insufficient supply air required for gas combustion.
Garages, tunnels and other poorly ventilated areas where vehicle exhaust fumes can accumulate.
When you stay near busy highways for a long time.
At the time of leakage of lighting gas at home.
When untimely (early) closed stove barriers of the home stove, stove in the bath, fireplace.
Prolonged use of a kerosene lamp in an unventilated area.
The use of low-quality air in breathing apparatus.

Risk groups (with hypersensitivity to CO)

Signs of poisoning depending on the concentration of CO

CO concentration, %	Time of onset of clinical manifestations	signs
Up to 0.009	3-5 h	Decreased speed of psychomotor reactions Compensatory increase in blood circulation in vital organs Chest pain and shortness of breath in people with severe heart failure
Up to 0.019	6 h	Decreased performance Minor headache Shortness of breath during moderate exercise Impaired vision (perception) May cause death in individuals with severe heart failure and in the fetus
0,019-0,052	2 h	Severe throbbing headache Dizziness Emotional instability, irritability Violation of attention and memory Nausea Fine motor disorder
Up to 0.069	2 h	Strong headache visual impairment Confused mind General weakness Runny nose Nausea and vomiting
0,069-0,094	2 h	hallucinations Severe motor disorder (ataxia) Shallow rapid breathing
0,1	2 h	Fainting Weak pulse Convulsions Tachycardia Rare shallow breathing
0,15	1.5 h
0,17	0.5 h
0,2-0,29	0.5 h	Convulsions Inhibition of cardiac and respiratory activity Possible death
0,49-0,99	2-5 min	Lack of reflexes Arrhythmia thready pulse deep coma Death
1,2	0.5-3 min	Convulsions Loss of consciousness Vomit Death


headache and dizziness; knocking in the temporal region; chest pain, dry cough; lacrimation; nausea and vomiting; redness of the scalp, face and mucous membranes; hallucinations (visual and auditory); tachycardia; hypertension.	weakness and drowsiness; paralysis of muscles against the background of preserved consciousness.	loss of consciousness; convulsions; respiratory failure; coma; uncontrolled urination and defecation; dilated pupils with a weak reaction to a light stimulus; significant bluing of the mucous membranes and skin.

The brain and nerve cells are most sensitive to hypoxia, so headache, nausea, dizziness, etc. are a signal that nerve cells suffer from oxygen starvation.
More severe neurological symptoms (convulsions, loss of consciousness) occur against the background of deep damage to the nervous structures up to irreversible.

The lack of oxygen begins to be compensated by more intense cardiac activity (tachycardia), however, the occurrence of pain in the heart suggests that the heart muscle is also experiencing hypoxia. Acute pain indicates a complete cessation of oxygen supply to the myocardium.

Respiratory symptoms

Increased respiration also refers to compensatory mechanisms, but damage to the respiratory center in severe poisoning leads to superficial, ineffective respiratory movements.

Skin symptoms

The red-blue shade of the scalp and mucous membranes indicates an increased, compensatory blood flow to the head.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

With mild and moderate degrees of severity of poisoning, the patient may be disturbed for a long time by headaches, dizziness, memory and intelligence loss, emotional instability, which is associated with damage to the gray and white matter of the brain.

Severe complications are most often irreversible and often lead to death:

skin-trophic disorders (edema followed by tissue necrosis);
subarachnoid hemorrhages;
violation of cerebral hemodynamics;
swelling of the brain;
polyneuritis;
impaired vision and hearing to complete loss;
myocardial infarction;
severe pneumonia complicating coma.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

Pre-hospital care implies stopping the contact of the victim with poison gas and restoring vital functions. First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning should exclude the poisoning of someone who is trying to provide this very help. Ideally, you should put on a gas mask and only then go into the room where the victim is located.

Remove or remove the injured person from the room where there is an increased concentration of CO. This is the measure that must be performed first of all, since pathological changes in the body intensify with each breath.
Call an ambulance for any condition of the patient, even if he jokes and laughs. Perhaps this is a consequence of the action of CO on the vital centers of the central nervous system, and not a sign of health.
With a mild degree of poisoning, give a person a strong sweet tea to drink, warm and ensure peace.
In the absence or confusion of consciousness - lay on a flat surface on its side, unfasten the collar, belt, provide fresh air. Give a sniff of cotton wool with ammonia at a distance of 1 cm.
In the absence of cardiac or respiratory activity, perform artificial respiration and massage the sternum in the projection of the heart.

What to do in case of fire poisoning?

If it so happened that people were left in the burning room, you should not try to save them on your own - this will lead to an increase in the number of victims of the emergency and nothing more! You should immediately call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Even 2-3 breaths of CO poisoned air can be lethal, so no wet rags and filtration masks can protect a person who comes to the rescue. Only a gas mask can protect against the deadly action of CO!

Therefore, the rescue of people in such a situation should be trusted to professionals - the EMERCOM team.

Treatment

If a person is in a critical condition, the ambulance team carries out a set of resuscitation measures. In the first minutes, the antidote Acizol 6% is administered by intramuscular injection in a volume of 1 ml. The patient is taken to the hospital (intensive care unit).

In a hospital, the patient is provided with complete rest. They organize breathing with pure oxygen with a partial pressure of 1.5-2 atm or carbogen (95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide) for 3-6 hours.

Further therapy is aimed at restoring the functioning of the central nervous system and other organs and depends on the severity of the condition and the reversibility of the pathological reactions that have occurred.

Prevention of CO poisoning

All work associated with the risk of CO poisoning should be carried out only in well-ventilated areas.
Check dampers for stoves and fireplaces. Never close them when the firewood is not completely burned.
Install autonomous gas detectors in rooms with a potential risk of CO poisoning.
In case of possible contact with CO, take 1 capsule of Acizol half an hour before the likely contact with gas. Protection lasts 2-2.5 hours after taking the capsule.

Azizol is a domestic drug, a quick and effective antidote against acute carbon monoxide poisoning in lethal doses. It prevents the formation of carboxyhemoglobin substance and accelerates the excretion of CO from the body. As soon as possible, intramuscular administration of Acizol to victims significantly increases their chances of survival and increases the effectiveness of subsequent resuscitation and medical measures.

zdravotvet.ru

Carbon monoxide poisoning. First aid for poisoning.

The site provides background information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible under the supervision of a conscientious physician. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a common and severe form of intoxication that can cause serious damage to human organs and systems, even death. The consequences of the transferred poisoning often lead to loss of working capacity and disability of the victims. In Russia, carbon monoxide poisoning ranks first among the causes of death from acute poisoning. Deaths occur predominantly at the scene. Timely assistance to the victim, carried out at the scene, during transportation and in hospital conditions, can significantly reduce the risk of severe complications and the number of deaths. Carbon monoxide, also known as carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide (CO), is formed during the incomplete combustion of substances containing carbon. Has no color or smell. It is able to penetrate through partitions, walls, soil layers. It is not absorbed by porous materials, therefore filtering gas masks will not protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a poison of rapid general toxic action, with its concentration in the air of 1.28% or more, death occurs in less than 3 minutes. Carbon monoxide is considered a blood poison, as it primarily affects blood cells (erythrocytes). Normally, red blood cells carry oxygen to organs and tissues with the help of a special protein - hemoglobin. Once in the blood, carbon monoxide binds tightly with hemoglobin, forming a destructive compound - carboxyhemoglobin. In this case, red blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen and deliver it to vital organs. The whole body begins to experience oxygen starvation (hypoxia). Nerve cells are most sensitive to lack of oxygen. And therefore, the first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are associated with disruption of the nervous system (headache, dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination, etc.). Carbon monoxide binds to a protein in skeletal muscle and heart muscle (myoglobin), which is manifested by general muscle weakness and a decrease in the pumping function of the heart (shortness of breath, palpitations, weak pulse).

1. Inhalation of vehicle exhaust gases, prolonged stay in closed garages in a car with a running engine;

2. Carbon monoxide poisoning in everyday life: malfunction of heating devices (fireplaces, stoves, etc.), leakage of household propane gas (propane contains 4-11% CO), prolonged burning of kerosene lamps, etc.

3. Poisoning during fires (buildings, transport cars, elevators, aircraft, etc.)

The manifestation of symptoms in case of carbon monoxide poisoning directly depends on its concentration in the inhaled air and on the duration of its exposure to the human body. So, with a concentration of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of 0.02-0.03% and an exposure time of 4-6 hours, the following symptoms will appear: headache, dizziness, nausea, and impaired coordination of movements. And at a concentration of 0.1-0.2% and a duration of exposure of 1-2 hours, coma occurs, respiratory arrest and death is possible.

What is affected?	Light and medium degree	Severe degree	Origin mechanism
CNS (central nervous system)	Headache, in the temples and in the forehead, girdle character Dizziness Noise in ears Flickering before the eyes Nausea, vomiting Cloudy mind Movement coordination disorder Decreased visual acuity and hearing Brief loss of consciousness	Loss of consciousness Possible convulsions Possible involuntary urination or defecation	The most sensitive organ to a lack of oxygen is the brain and all adjacent nerve structures. Thus, all primary symptoms like headache, dizziness, tinnitus, nausea are the result of suffering. nerve cells from oxygen starvation. All subsequent symptoms such as impaired coordination, loss of consciousness, convulsions are the consequences of a deeper damage to the nervous structures from a lack of oxygen.
The cardiovascular system	heartbeat, Rapid pulse (more than 90 beats per minute), There may be pressing pains in the region of the heart.	The pulse is quickened (130 beats per minute or more), but weakly palpable, High risk of myocardial infarction	The body tries to compensate for the lack of oxygen by working the heart more intensively, pumping as much blood as possible (heartbeat, rapid pulse). Pain is a signal of a lack of nutrition of the heart muscle. Complete disruption of oxygen delivery to the heart muscle leads to a heart attack.
Respiratory system	rapid breathing, Shortness of breath (shortness of breath)	Breathing shallow, intermittent	Rapid breathing is a compensatory mechanism in response to a lack of oxygen. In the severe stage, the center of regulation of respiration is damaged, which is accompanied by superficial and irregular respiratory movements.
Skin and mucous	Facial skin and mucous membranes are bright red or Pink colour	Skin and mucous membranes are pale, with a slightly pinkish tint	The result of increased blood flow to the head area. In the severe stage, the body becomes exhausted and loses the ability to pump blood efficiently. In places of insufficient blood circulation, the skin turns pale.
The content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood

The form	Symptoms	Origin mechanism
swoon form	Paleness of the skin and mucous membranes Marked decrease in blood pressure (70/50 mm Hg or less) Loss of consciousness	The exact mechanism is unknown. It is assumed that under the influence of a lack of oxygen and the toxic effect of CO, the center of regulation of vascular tone is affected. This leads to a sharp drop in pressure and loss of consciousness.
Euphoric form	Physical and mental arousal Mental disorders: delusions, hallucinations, unmotivated actions, etc. Loss of consciousness Violation of respiratory and cardiac activity	The toxic effect of carbon monoxide on the centers of higher nervous activity.
The lightning-fast form of carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air exceeds 1.2% per 1 m³. In a matter of minutes, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood of the victim reaches 75% or more percent. Which in turn is accompanied by loss of consciousness, convulsions, respiratory paralysis and the development of death in less than 3 minutes.

Carbon monoxide poisoning entails a number of complications from the organs and systems of the body. Allocate early and late complications.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning
What is affected?	Early complications of acute poisoning (first 2 days after poisoning)	Late complications of acute poisoning (2-40 days)	Origin mechanism
Nervous system	Prolonged headaches and dizziness Damage to the peripheral nerves, which is accompanied by impaired motor activity and loss of sensation in the limb Bowel and bladder disorders Hearing and vision disorders Cerebral edema, the first symptoms of fever Exacerbation and development of mental illness	Memory loss Decreased intelligence Psychoses Apathy parkinsonism Movement disorders (chorea) paralysis Blindness Dysfunction of the pelvic organs	Damage to the white and gray matter of the brain under conditions of oxygen starvation Direct toxic effect of carbon monoxide on nerve cells. CO binds to a protein in the membranes of nerve cells (myelin), disrupting the conduction of an impulse along the nerve endings.
The cardiovascular system	Sudden death Rhythm disturbance Violation of the coronary circulation	myocardial infarction angina pectoris Myocarditis cardiac asthma	lack of oxygen Direct damaging effect of CO on heart cells CO binding to a protein in cardiac muscle cells (myoglobin)
Respiratory system			Toxic effect of CO on lung tissue Weakening of the defense mechanisms of the lungs Joining the infection

From the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air
From the duration of exposure to carbon monoxide on the human body
From degree physical activity the victim at the time of the action of the poison (the higher the load, the more severe the consequences of poisoning)
Women are more resistant to carbon monoxide than men
Poisoning is difficult to tolerate: malnourished people suffering from anemia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, alcoholics, heavy smokers.
Children, adolescents and pregnant women are especially sensitive to the action of the poison.

Not really

Why?

Yes need!

And this must be done as soon as they saw the victim.

Only a doctor is able to objectively assess the condition of the victim.

Symptoms and signs of poisoning do not always indicate the true severity of poisoning. Perhaps the development of long-term complications, after 2 days or several weeks.

Timely drug treatment can reduce the percentage of death and disability as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Indications for hospitalization for carbon monoxide poisoning:

All patients with moderate and severe poisoning (with a concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood of more than 25%)
Pregnant women (with a concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood of more than 10%)
Victims with cardiovascular diseases (with a concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood of more than 15%)
Victims who lost consciousness, as well as those with neurological disorders (impaired coordination, delirium, hallucinations, etc.)
Victims with low body temperature (below 36.6 °C)

Help Steps	How?	What for?
Stop exposure to CO		Remove to fresh air, or Shut off the CO source, or Put on an oxygen mask or gas mask (with a hopcalite cartridge)	With every minute of carbon monoxide exposure to the body, the possibility of survival is reduced.
Ensure airway patency and adequate oxygen delivery		Take the victim to open air, or put on an oxygen mask (if any), or open windows and doors in the room. Examine and clear the airways, Loosen from tight clothing, tie, shirt Lay victim on side	For half an hour in the fresh air, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood decreases by 50%. The position on the side prevents the tongue from sinking
Stimulate breathing and provide blood flow to the head, bring to consciousness		Give a sniff of ammonia (no closer than 1 cm from the nose) Rub the chest, put mustard plasters on the chest and back (if any) Give hot tea, coffee	Ammonia stimulates the respiratory center and brings out of unconsciousness. Rubbing the chest and mustard plasters improve blood circulation in the upper parts of the body, which increases cerebral circulation. Tea and coffee contain caffeine, which has a tonic effect on the nervous system and also stimulates respiration.
If necessary, perform chest compressions and artificial respiration		One cycle: 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions. See Chest Compression and CPR	Provides blood circulation and oxygen delivery to organs and tissues. Supports the vital functions of the body until the arrival of medical help.
Provide peace, protect from unnecessary waste of energy		Lay on side Warm, protect from hypothermia, wrap up. But do not overheat the victim.	Lay down to reduce oxygen consumption. When hypothermia or overheating, the body spends a lot of energy to maintain the necessary balance.
		Oxygen 12-15 liters per minute, for 6 hours (delivered with: oxygen mask, oxygen tent, or mechanical ventilation). Acizol, ampoules 6% -1.0 ml, Capsules 120 mg. Treatment: 1 ml intramuscularly, as soon as possible after poisoning. Re-introduction after 1 hour. For prevention: 1 ml intramuscularly, 20-30 minutes before entering the danger zone.	Oxygen competes with CO for a place "on hemoglobin", thus, the more oxygen there is, the more chances it has to displace CO and take its natural place. Azizol is an antidote of carbon monoxide, accelerates the breakdown of the pathological compound - carboxyhemoglobin and promotes the addition of oxygen to hemoglobin. Reduces the toxic effect of CO on cells. It is also used as a prophylactic, several times reduces the harmful effects of carbon monoxide on the body.

www.polismed.com

Carbon monoxide poisoning - symptoms, first aid, treatment, consequences

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is an extremely toxic, colorless gas. It is an obligatory product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances: it is determined in car exhaust gases, cigarette smoke, in smoke from fires, etc. Carbon monoxide has no smell, therefore it is impossible to detect its presence and evaluate the concentration in the inhaled air without instruments.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning (carbon monoxide) is a dangerous condition for human health and life. In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, first aid is required. first aid in the shortest possible time and qualified treatment. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Therefore, it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to determine its presence in the atmosphere.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

If a person has been poisoned with carbon monoxide, it is necessary to immediately provide him with first aid.

It is mandatory to call an ambulance team, even if the patient's condition does not cause concern.

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to provide first aid:

Stop contact of the victim with toxic air. To do this, it is necessary to immediately withdraw or remove a person from the zone of pollution by combustion products. However, the person who provides assistance must take care of himself. That is, to protect your respiratory tract from the penetration of poison. To do this, put on a gas mask or cover your mouth and nose with a cloth moistened with water;
When a person is outside the infection zone, assess his condition;
If a person is conscious, then it is necessary to wrap him up, warm him up and give him hot sweet tea to drink. Wait with him for the arrival of the Ambulance, do not leave him alone;
If the patient is unconscious or confused, then lay him on his side. This will prevent aspiration of vomit, if any. Control the pulse and breathing and give a sniff of a cotton swab moistened with ammonia;
If there is no pulse or breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose is carried out, and mouth-to-nose for children under one year old. Resuscitation measures are carried out until the pulse and breathing resume, or until the arrival of doctors.

For first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning, see the video:

Emergency assistance to the victim

Upon arrival of the ambulance team, first aid is provided in case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning:

Groups of patients who are subject to mandatory hospitalization in a hospital:

Patients who have had loss of consciousness, even for a short time;
Hypothermia, that is, a person's body temperature is below normal (36.6 degrees);
The presence of such alarming symptoms as hallucinations, delirium, impaired coordination and motor activity;
Patients who have registered clinical death (respiratory and cardiac arrest);
Children and pregnant women in any condition;
People suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Antidote for poisoning

An antidote is a remedy that significantly weakens or completely stops the toxic effect of a poison on the body.

Antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning is 6% Acizol. What is Azizol? It is a fast-acting drug that promotes:

blocking the formation of carboxyhemoglobin. This is a substance that blocks the ability of the blood to carry oxygen throughout the body;
Cleansing the body of a poisonous substance - carbon monoxide.

This
healthy
know!

The antidote for poisoning with combustion products must be administered as early as possible, this will help to avoid dangerous complications.

Algorithm for the introduction of Acizol into the body of the victim:

The introduction of the drug intramuscularly immediately or soon after the evacuation of the victim from the area of contamination with combustion products. 1 milliliter of Acizol solution is introduced;
Re-introduction of the antidote 1 hour after the first injection.

It is possible to use an antidote for prophylactic purposes. For this 1 milliliter medicinal product administered intramuscularly half an hour before entering a contaminated room.

How does carbon monoxide affect the body?

Carbon monoxide negatively affects the entire body. This substance quickly penetrates the blood of the victim, even after a couple of breaths.

The longer a person breathes poisoned air, the more severe his condition and the more likely the development of dangerous complications and death.

What happens in the body when carbon dioxide enters it?

Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood. This creates carboxyhemoglobin. This compound prevents the binding and transfer of oxygen to the cells and tissues of the body. Which leads to hypoxia. First of all, the brain suffers, which is very sensitive to lack of oxygen;
This toxic substance disrupts the biochemical balance and metabolic processes in tissues;
It reacts with muscle protein- myoglobin. This leads to disruption of the heart muscle, since muscle weakens and cannot fully pump blood. Nutrition is disrupted in tissues and organs.

Signs and symptoms of intoxication

The clinical picture of poisoning depends on the severity of the patient's condition. Which, in turn, is closely related to the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air and the duration of its contact with a person. There are 3 degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning: mild, moderate, severe.

Severity of poisoning	Pathological symptoms of poisoning
mild poisoning	Headache, cough, dizziness, palpitations, increased blood pressure, reddening of the skin, lacrimation, nausea, single vomiting
Moderate poisoning	Vomiting, severe weakness, lethargy, strong desire to sleep, lethargy, visual and auditory hallucinations, muscle paralysis, shortness of breath, confusion
severe poisoning	Violation of breathing and heart rhythm, the skin becomes cyanotic, consciousness is absent, convulsions, spontaneous emptying of the bladder and intestines, coma and death of the patient in the absence of assistance.

Faster signs of poisoning occur in weakened people, children and pregnant women.

Causes of poisoning

You can get poisoned by carbon monoxide both at home and at work. In fact, danger can lie in wait anywhere at any moment. Intoxication can occur accidentally or intentionally (for the purpose of suicide).

Let's highlight some of the main causes of human poisoning with carbon monoxide:

Inhalation of combustion products. Poisoning occurs during a fire, when a person is in a smoky room and inhales smoke;
In production where this gas is actively used and safety precautions are violated. That is, gas leaks occur due to faulty equipment, poor ventilation or its complete absence, and so on;

In places with a large congestion of cars. Exhaust gases accumulate there, and prolonged exposure to them leads to poisoning. These places include: garages, busy highways, underground parking lots, tunnels;
Domestic gas leakage in apartments and houses;
Prolonged use of kerosene lamps in an unventilated area;
In houses and rooms with stove heating in case of its malfunction or untimely closing of the damper.

Possible Complications

Poisoning does not pass without a trace, and even with mild intoxication, certain consequences are observed.

Complications that can occur with mild and moderate intoxication:

chronic headaches and meteosensitivity, that is, a person feels worse due to weather changes;
Frequent dizziness;
Decline in cognitive abilities. That is, memory, attention, perception of new information worsens;
Deterioration of vision;
Emotional instability(frequent outbursts of anger, anger, which are replaced by apathy).

Complications that occur with severe intoxication:

Hemorrhages in the brain;
swelling of brain tissue;
Acute myocardial infarction against the background of hypoxia;
Inflammation of the airways (severe bronchitis, pneumonia);
Coma is the most severe consequence of poisoning, which can result in the death of the patient.

How to detect carbon monoxide indoors

It is not possible to detect carbon monoxide indoors without special devices, since it has no taste, no smell, no color.

You should be wary of smelling smoke (even barely perceptible) and feeling worse for no apparent reason (nausea, vomiting, weakness).

Gas analyzers are used to determine carbon monoxide in the air. Which can be purchased in specialized stores. However, most often they are installed in production or in private houses with stove heating.

Due to the difficulty of its detection, the Ministry of Emergency Situations recommends that all precautions be observed, namely:

Keep ventilation in proper condition and periodically check its functionality;
Monitor the serviceability of stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and gas equipment;
Ventilate the room;
Observe safety precautions at work.

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