One of the Most Lethal Sorts of Poisoning Is with CO₁

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritant gas produced through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like oil, gas and petrol. The silent death of a lot of our compatriots in recent years occurred as to improper use of gas convector heaters. Incomplete combustion in these heaters is a serious alarm to pay more serious attention to how to apply gas-burning heaters.

According to WebDa, more than 3,000 incidences of death by carbon monoxide from 2010-2013 in our country could have been prevented by employing simple methods and paying attention to the safety instruction in using gas-burning instruments, heaters and machines working with fossil fuels like oil and gasoline. Being poisoned by carbon monoxide is one of the deadliest types of poisoning which is known as silent death. The death that gradually draws the individual from sleep into eternal sleep.

The signs and symptoms of poisoning with CO₁ can vary in different individuals. In some cases, the symptoms might appear in gastrointestinal problems like nausea and vomiting. In incidence of exposure to CO₁ for long, dizziness, confusion, severe throbbing in temples, Tinnitus and drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, palpitation, loss of consciousness, permanent neurological damage, coma, and death occur.

Long exposure to little amount of carbon monoxide can cause infliction with cardiovascular diseases. The symptoms of CO₁ poisoning in kids are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which occur in exposure with less amount of CO₁. Long CO₁ exposure especially in kids may accompany behavioral disorders, loss of memory and IQ. Recent cases have been a consequence of air pollution in industrial towns.

When fire burns everything up, besides CO_1, cyanide gas is also released as to burning plastic materials, which is very poisonous. These gases are warm and light and move upward. Therefore, in case of exposure to a place burning in fire, immediately cover you face, mouth and nose with a wet mask or piece of cloth, then with no waste of time exist the place in a bending or crawling posture. There is a possibility that people are not burnt in fire but are poisoned with CO_1, which firstly cause dizziness, confusion and faint, then as to their inability to move out of that place, there is more exposure to poisonous gases which leads the individual to brain death.

The first measure to be undertaken while facing someone poisoned with CO₁ is to transfer him/her to somewhere with fresh air. In case they have stopped breathing, CPR must be performed while immediately contacting medical emergencies.

With the start of cold seasons and the usage of convector heating instruments, especially gas-burning ones, paying attention to some critical points is very important in preventing CO₁ poisoning.  A considerable portion of annual death records in forensic medicine organization is caused by CO₁ poisoning. Though this kind of death and CO₁ poisoning incidences increase with the weather’s getting cold and using gas-burning heaters and heating instruments, forensic medicine organization has reported 41 CO₁ poisoning incidences of death in four months from March through June 2016. From 2011 to the end of July 2015, there has respectively been 965, 697, 828, 626 and 141 death incidences caused by this colorless, odorless gas in Iran.

The highest statistics in recent years refers to 2011 (in which 16% of death incidences has been for CO₁ poisoning). A high percentage of this amount has been for adults.

In order to prevent CO₁ poisoning, consider the following points. In emergencies, call 115, medical emergency number or 1490 (extension 2).

1. Avoid keeping children in a car which is switched on in the parking spaces of shopping centers. As soon as arriving to the parking exit, ask the person next to you to take the kid out to get fresh air. Close the airflow coming into the car from outside.


2. There is some portion of CO₁ in cigarette’s smoke. This gas can cause chronic poisoning in smokers after long term smoking.


3. Using gas burning convector heaters without flue pipes and chimney can only be allowed in air conditioned environment with proper air circulation such as crowded public places with a lot of comings and goings. By taking safety instructions, notices and alarms about using heating convectors, people can keep their family safe from exposure to silent death.


4. While using oil and gas burning convector heaters, it is necessary to make sure of the correct installment and proper functioning of the flue pipes in order to prevent CO₁ poisoning.


5. Before turning on gas burning heaters in the beginning of cold seasons, control the following items:

1)      Is the flue pipe correctly installed and fitted into the body of the heater?

2)      Is the route of the chimney pipe on the roof fully open? Or it might have been blocked by something through the warm seasons.

3)      Is the gas pipe correctly connected and fixed to the body of the heater?

4)      Is the heater a standard one with a pilot so that it can be switched off as soon as the flame dies?

5)      Is the flue pipe warm or cold when you touch it after switching the heater on?

If it is cold, it is a sign of insufficient and incorrect ventilation. Therefore the gas would spread over home environment.

1. There are reports of lethal poisoning with carbon monoxide while driving. For those drivers who use gas burners to keep warm in cold seasons. Hence before switching the automobile on, open the parking door. Never use gas burners that are specified for cooking to heat the environment.


2. Being in an enclosed parking in which there is an automobile with its engine on accompanies the risk of poisoning with carbon monoxide. Therefore, before switching the automobile on, open the parking door. There have been reports of death incidences of the passengers in the car in the parking with their air-conditioner and heater on.

 Using oil and gas burning water heaters or radiator package devices inside the bathroom or small enclosed spaces would lead to incomplete combustion and gas poisoning.