home Audience 6 Dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide. Severe complications are most often irreversible and often lead to death. Providing prehospital care to the injured

Dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide. Severe complications are most often irreversible and often lead to death. Providing prehospital care to the injured

What to do in case of poisoning carbon monoxide And what kind of help should be given to the victim? Let's take a look at the methods of treating carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as the causes and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide is a substance that is formed due to the incomplete combustion of any type of fuel. If the gas enters the blood, then it takes the initiative from oxygen, since it is 200 times lighter. It is precisely because carbon monoxide is lighter that it actively binds to hemoglobin, which leads to the loss of the latter's ability to carry oxygen to tissues and vitally. important organs. The lack of oxygen causes suffocation and death. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and be able to provide first aid to the victim.

ICD-10 code

T58 Toxic action carbon monoxide

Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

Any mechanism that runs on combustible fuel emits carbon monoxide. And due to malfunction or damage, problems can arise:

If a car or other mechanism is left running indoors, carbon monoxide will be released, filling all the free space both in the car and outside it. The substance even seeps into car seats, making them dangerous.
Improper operation or installation of devices and mechanisms that operate on combustible fuels can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Poisoning can occur due to heating systems that are used indoors during the cold season. If such a system works in a new home with insulated windows and tightly closed doors, carbon monoxide buildup and poisoning will result. This also applies to old houses with faulty chimneys, which contribute to the stagnation of carbon monoxide in apartments and offices.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning may appear suddenly or over a long period of time. It is the inhalation of air with a low content of carbon monoxide over a long period of time that causes serious problems with the cardiovascular system and cause brain damage. If you notice headaches, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and tinnitus while indoors, you should seek immediate medical attention. If you feel better as soon as you leave the room and other people who work or live in the same room with you have similar symptoms, then this indicates a carbon monoxide leak.

Allocate early symptoms carbon monoxide poisoning or mild degree intoxication. These include: nausea and vomiting, trembling throughout the body, throbbing in the head, hearing problems, muscle weakness, fainting state. Such symptoms require medical care, especially if you continue to breathe carbon monoxide with the above symptoms.
With intoxication moderate a person has short-term memory lapses, severe adynamia, trembling in the body, impaired coordination of movements and asthenic condition.
If severe intoxication occurs, then a person has a protracted coma which can last longer than one week. There are brain lesions, convulsions, seizures, involuntary defecation and urination, muscle stiffness of the limbs and general hyperhidrosis. Patients have irregular breathing and body temperature 39-40°C. All this can lead to death due to respiratory paralysis. The survival prognosis for such carbon monoxide poisoning is determined by the duration and depth of the coma.

In addition to the three degrees of carbon monoxide poisoning described above, there are other symptoms that indicate a pathological condition. Let's take a look at it:

People with carbon monoxide poisoning may color blindness, atrophy optic nerve, double vision.
Hemorrhagic eruptions, graying and hair loss, trophic skin lesions and other lesions of the stripes and skin.
Damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems begins from the first hours of intoxication of the body. The patient has tachycardia coronary insufficiency, pulse lability.
In moderate and severe intoxication, bronchitis, toxic pneumonia and pulmonary edema appear. Clinical symptoms is very scarce and develops to pathological condition during two days.
The patient has a high content of red blood cells and hemoglobin, an increase in lactic acid, urea, sugar levels and acetone bodies

There is chronic carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of this condition are manifested in frequent headaches, dizziness, fatigue, visual impairments. Because of chronic poisoning possible development of atherosclerosis and endocrine disorders. Because of physical activity, noise and vibration, the symptoms of chronic intoxication increase.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

If any member of your family exhibits the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning described above, you must act immediately. First of all, remove the victim from the gassed area and provide continuous rest and access to fresh air. Vigorously rub the body of the victim, if the patient is conscious, give him warm tea and coffee, put him on his chest and head cold compress. And be sure to call ambulance.

If the victim is unconscious, then this indicates severe poisoning. The patient's skin turns red. Breathing becomes frequent and superficial. Involuntary bowel movements are possible. Despite such symptoms, the patient's condition is reversible. First of all, remove the victim from the gas room and call for help.

If the victim is not breathing, take immediate artificial ventilation lungs. To do this, you can use the method "mouth to mouth", "mouth to nose". Please note that in order not to get poisoned at the time of first aid, it is recommended to put moistened water on the mouth or nose of the victim. gauze bandage or a scarf. In the absence of a pulse, conduct outdoor massage hearts. Resuscitation must continue until the arrival of an ambulance.

Gas poisoning

First aid in this case is similar to that provided for carbon monoxide poisoning. The patient is given access to oxygen, placed on a soft surface and artificial respiration is performed. It is very important to loosen the collar and belt of the victim, that is, the squeezing elements of clothing. Let the victim inhale ammonia. If the poisoning is severe, then you need to call an ambulance. Doctors will improve the patient's condition with the help of a special antidote and medicines.

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic nerve poison that leads to hypoxia, as it irritates the mucous membrane. First aid is to open the victim's access to air. The patient needs to wash his eyes and nose clean water and make cold soaks. If the victim has pain in the eyes, then it is necessary to drip novocaine and dikatin into the eyes. With prolonged pain in the upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx, the patient is shown rinsing warm water with soda.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. This is simply the result of burning carbon, which can be harmful to health. A person can lose his ability to work or exhaust his health reserves. Carbon monoxide poisoning is very dangerous and it is fraught with disastrous consequences. To date, many cases of CO poisoning have already been recorded. Often poisoning occurs due to banal security breaches.

The main sources of danger are:

Cars with a security system violation;
Household fires;
Burners;
Furnace room system;
Burners.

Poisoning with household and natural gas. A large number of poisoning occurs in the cold season. This is not strange, because just at this time, people are actively using heating devices that can provoke carbon poisoning.

Symptoms of poisoning

The very first symptoms of poisoning:

strong headache;
Loss of consciousness and disorientation;
Vomiting reflex.

There are some main degrees of poisoning:

Mild poisoning. It is characterized by severe pain in the head, vomiting and loss of strength in the muscles.
The average degree of poisoning. This level is similar to the previous one. They can be distinguished by the strength of the consequences. That is, in medium degree poisoning, the head hurts much more and the body is weaker.
Severe degree of poisoning. It is characterized by severe violations of the functionality of the whole organism, a person can fall into a coma, and the worst thing is that such poisoning can lead to death.

First of all, when intoxicated, the brain suffers. The first sign of CO poisoning is headache and spasms, which are caused by a lack of oxygen. Also, in case of poisoning, instant loss of consciousness is possible.

Then there is pain in the chest. This is due to the fact that the body is trying to make up for the loss of oxygen in the brain and make up for the loss by increasing muscle contraction. Thus, the heart rate increases. If you do not make up for the loss of oxygen in time and the heart does not have enough oxygen, then a heart attack will eventually occur.

Then the lungs suffer. If the body does not have enough oxygen, then the lungs quickly try to make up for its loss. Thus, the lungs receive even more carbon monoxide and quickly lose their efficiency.

After all this, human skin begins to suffer. Due to carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen, the skin becomes deficient in blood circulation, which leads to whitening of the skin.

Forms of poisoning:

Fainting - a person begins to dramatically lose skin color and loses consciousness. His blood pressure is dropping rapidly.
Euphoric - when the nervous system is affected, hallucinations appear.
Lightning - with a saturated concentration of carbon in the air, a person experiences the strongest oxygen deficiency. Immediately there are cramps in the arms and legs, the heartbeat quickens and the person faints. As unfortunate as it may be, but with a lightning-fast form, toxic substances can provoke death, which occurs within a minute and a half.

Initial actions for carbon poisoning

Initially, it is worth opening air access to the victim. The airway should not be obstructed; this may require artificial respiration. You also need to remove chest clothing from the patient. His chest should be completely free. It is worth noting that if the patient is unconscious, then he must be shifted to his side in order to level the threat of swallowing his own tongue.

When all this is done, then use ammonia and do everything possible to keep the patient conscious. Then you need to rub his chest and back. All these actions will normalize the state of a person and bring him to his senses.

Recovery after CO poisoning

The most important thing after poisoning is to treat the body and fill it with oxygen. For 6-7 hours, the patient's body receives fifteen liters of oxygen per minute. The carbon monoxide poisoning clinic is required to completely restore the oxygen deficiency.
The treatment and recovery itself directly depends on the severity of the poisoning. It often happens that the body requires a blood transfusion. However, be that as it may, if it seems to you that the first aid was enough for recovery, you still need to consult a doctor. The fact is that poisoning can occur after a few days. An accidental stroke or heart attack can happen, which can lead to death if there is no one nearby to help.

Carbon monoxide is invisible to human eye. That is why, on initial stage difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. When a patient comes to the doctor with such symptoms, he is a specialist, most likely he will consider everything as a viral infection. As a result, the disease will be treated completely incorrectly, and medicines from viral infection contribute to the development of carbon monoxide poisoning. For accurate diagnosis, you need to insist that the doctors conduct a blood test. It is worth noting that carbon monoxide poisoning involves complex treatment.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

It should be initially noted that the consequences of intoxication can manifest themselves both in the first days and over the next month, when the body will be rehabilitated.

If a person suffered from carbon monoxide, then in the future he may develop many diseases. Very often accompanied by an exacerbation of spasmodic diseases. Also, the sensitivity of the limbs can be significantly reduced. There are cases when a patient has hearing loss and cerebral edema, but these are very rare cases.

Further, diseases associated with the performance of the brain may develop. Memory will disappear, vision will deteriorate, intellectual ability will decrease, and there are even cases when mental disorders. These consequences are explained by the fact that with a shortage pure oxygen, initially the brain suffers and in it die nerve cells which are no longer recoverable.

Concerning of cardio-vascular system, then she is also at risk of disease after poisoning. After a course of treatment, there may be problems with the heartbeat (often the rhythm goes astray) and this can eventually lead to a heart attack or provoke cardiac asthma.
Most often, after a course of treatment, lung diseases can manifest. They are the first to take a hit from carbon monoxide, so they get the most harm. The lungs may become inflamed or have swelling.

Most often, pregnant women, children and people who are prone to alcoholism suffer after treatment. Also on this list, you can safely include people who have problems with respiratory system and heart. Treating dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning is a complex procedure, so it's best to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide.

Prevention after treatment

As mentioned above, carbon monoxide can lead to disastrous consequences. It can lead to health problems and even death. Carbon monoxide adversely affects the human body and is capable of making it disabled for life. No one is immune from poisoning. The apartment may leak, or a fire breaks out. However, in order to reduce the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning to zero, it is necessary to carry out prevention:

You need to check the ventilation of your home often. It is advisable to do this as often as possible, because if it becomes clogged with carbon monoxide, then you will slowly poison yourself.
Furnaces and chimneys must always be in perfect condition. Old equipment can be a source of carbon monoxide.
If you decide to lay out your oven at home, then it is advisable to use the services of specialists who are able to make a safe design.
In the event that you had to sleep in the car, remember to turn off the engine.
When you repair your car in a closed garage, either open the window or turn off the engine.
If you do not want your family to suffer from carbon monoxide, then you can purchase special home identifiers that immediately show that there is too much invisible harmful gas in the house.
When you have children, do not put flammable materials in a place accessible to them. This simple safety measure can reduce the risk of a house fire.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most common poisonings in everyday life, it is very dangerous and often leads to grave consequences and even lethal outcome.

CO (carbon monoxide) is a product of incomplete combustion of organic substances. It is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas, does not irritate the skin and mucous membranes, therefore it is not organoleptically determined in the air. The source of this poison can be any flame, running internal combustion engines, unregulated stove heating, damage to gas pipelines in apartments and other premises.

More often acute poisoning carbon monoxide is obtained in garages, apartments, fires, industrial accidents. In such cases, the concentration of CO can reach significant levels. So, in the exhaust gases of cars, it can exceed 3-6%.

Carbon monoxide has a high toxicity, which is determined by its concentration in the air. So, when a person is in a room where its concentration reaches 0.1% for 1 hour, he develops acute poisoning of moderate severity; severe - at a concentration of 0.3% for 30 minutes, and fatal - when a person inhales air with 0.4% CO for 30 minutes or 0.5% for only 1 minute.

Formation of carboxyhemoglobin

The danger to humans and animals occurs when carbon monoxide is inhaled into the body and is determined to a large extent by the affinity of CO with iron-containing compounds: hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochrome enzymes that form reverse complexes. In particular, CO, interacting with hemoglobin, converts it into a state of carboxyhemoglobin (sleep). It is able to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Moreover, in the presence of dormouse, the dissociation of oxyhemoglobin into O2 and hemoglobin decreases. This makes it difficult to transport oxygen to tissues and negatively affects the activity of organs and systems of the body, primarily the brain and heart.

In persons who breathe air containing 0.1% CO, the level of sleepiness in the blood can reach 50%. Such a high level of this compound is facilitated by a significant affinity (affinity) of CO with hemoglobin, which is 220 times higher than the affinity of O2. The dissociation of carboxyhemoglobin is 3600 times slower than that of oxyhemoglobin. Its stability in the body creates the basis for the development of hemic and tissue hypoxia.

The antagonist of carbon monoxide in the body is oxygen. At an air pressure of 1 atm., TCO from the body is about 320 minutes, with inhalation of 100% oxygen - 80 minutes, and in a pressure chamber (2-3 atm.) - decreases to 20 minutes.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning is very dangerous because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. A person does not even understand that he is in mortal danger.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

Symptoms of poisoning

Manifestations of carbon monoxide intoxication are determined not only by its content in the air, but also by the duration of action and the intensity of breathing. Inhalation of CO at a concentration of 0.05% for 60 minutes leads to appearance of mild headache. At the same time, the concentration of sleepyheads in the blood does not exceed 20%. Longer exposure or more intense inhalation can increase dormice levels by up to 40-50%. Clinically, this is manifested by significant headache, confusion, bright red coloration of the skin and mucous membranes. At a concentration of CO in the air of 0.1%, loss of consciousness occurs, breathing is weakened. Death is possible if the duration of action of the gas exceeds 1 hour. At the same time, the level of sleepiness can reach 60-90%. At a sleepiness level of less than 15%, there are no signs of acute poisoning.
The severity of acute carbon monoxide poisoning increases with overwork, blood loss, hypovitaminosis, if the victims have concomitant diseases especially cardiovascular and respiratory systems, at high temperature air, reducing the content of O2 and increasing CO2 in it.

Leading clinical signs acute carbon monoxide poisoning are hypoxia and the appearance of symptoms in the following sequence:

a) psychomotor disorders;
b) headache and feeling of pressure in the temporal region;
c) confusion and decreased visual acuity;
d) tachycardia, tachypnea, loss of consciousness, coma;
e) deep coma, convulsions, shock and respiratory arrest.

Degrees of acute intoxication

There are 4 degrees of severity of acute carbon monoxide poisoning CO: mild, moderate, severe and fulminant.

mild poisoning

Mild CO poisoning occurs when the level of dormice in plasma reaches 20-30%. There is a headache, dizziness, a feeling of heaviness and squeezing in the head, pulsation in the temples, tinnitus, drowsiness and lethargy. Possible euphoria with visual and auditory hallucinations, nausea, sometimes vomiting. Often develops tachycardia, moderate hypertension, shortness of breath. Moderately dilated pupils react to light.

Moderate poisoning

Manifestations of acute poisoning of moderate severity occur when the level of sleepiness increases to 50%. Clinically, this is manifested by drowsiness, severe dizziness and headache, increasing weakness, impaired coordination of movements, vomiting. Characteristic short-term loss of consciousness and memory, the appearance of convulsions, tonic contraction of the masticatory muscles (trismus). As with mild poisoning, the skin and mucous membranes remain bright red, the heartbeat and shortness of breath increase, and sometimes a coma develops.

severe poisoning

When the content of dormice in the blood exceeds 50%, the condition of the victims deteriorates sharply (severe degree of intoxication). In patients, consciousness may not be restored. There are such manifestations of CNS damage as hallucinations, delirium, clonic-tonic convulsions, paresis and paralysis, decerebral rigidity, hyperthermia, meningitis symptoms, and from the circulatory system - severe tachycardia, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, tachypnea. Breathing becomes pathological, like Cheyne-Stokes.
Urination and defecation are involuntary.

Depending on the circumstances clinical picture acute intoxication can be supplemented by other manifestations. So, on fires, a burn of the upper respiratory tract can develop, acute respiratory failure by aspiration-obturation type, sudden death(lightning degree of poisoning). Victims instantly lose consciousness. Their breathing stops, and after 3-5 minutes their heart stops.

In addition, acute carbon monoxide poisoning in the toxicogenic phase can be complicated by pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, and in the somatogenic phase - polyneuritis, pneumonia, impaired skin trophism, acute insufficiency kidneys.

At the pre-medical stage, diagnosis acute intoxication SO is based on results clinical manifestations, anamnesis data, analysis of the circumstances at the scene. 5 ml of blood (with 1-2 drops of heparin) is transferred to the laboratory for analysis. Patients are evacuated to a hospital, preferably with a pressure chamber.

What to do about carbon monoxide poisoning

When we see a person in unconscious, first of all, you need to assess what happened to him. In order to understand, one must study environment victim.

If an unconscious person assumes that he has been poisoned by carbon monoxide, it is possible if:
1. The victim is in the garage with the car engine running.
2. The victim is at the stove.

A person poisoned by carbon monoxide will have difficulty breathing as long as he is conscious.

What to do?
First of all, don't panic.
When moving the victim, you must always remember about your own safety. Therefore, try not to breathe the air exhaled by the victim and the air in the room where there is a gas leak.
First step: Fresh air
If a person has lost consciousness, he must be taken out to fresh air. If this is not possible, provide fresh air on site (switch off car, open garage door, window).

Second step: evaluation respiratory function victims
In case of unconsciousness, after providing fresh air, he should be given artificial respiration. In case of anomaly, immediately call an ambulance and then proceed with the massage chest(30 compressions and 2 breaths).

Third step: waiting for help
If it was possible to restore proper breathing, we place the victim in a safe position and look forward to the arrival of medical help. While waiting, you can not leave the patient, you need to constantly check his condition. In addition, the patient should be covered - protected from hypothermia.

Emergency aid for intoxication

Emergency care consists in the immediate cessation of further penetration of carbon monoxide into the body of the victim and providing him with calmness, warmth and high level ventilation. To do this, you should immediately take it out of the contaminated room, provide access to clean air or oxygen. Bring a cotton swab moistened to the nose ammonia, rub the chest, put heating pads on the legs, mustard plasters on the chest and back, give the victim hot tea or coffee to drink.

When breathing stops, it is necessary to resort to artificial ventilation of the lungs in the hyperventilation mode, the introduction of respiratory stimulants (lobelin hydrochloride 1 ml of 1% solution, cytiton 1 ml). The use of carbogen and methylene blue is contraindicated. It is also necessary to stop convulsions with anticonvulsants.

Pharmacological correction of cardiac disorders and prevention of threatening disorders heart rate and conductivity in acute carbon monoxide poisoning is carried out using unithiol 5-10 ml 5% solution, sodium thiosulfate 30-60 ml 30% solution, cytochrome C 25-50 mg vitamin E 1 ml 30% oil solution subcutaneously. It is advisable to infuse 5-10% glucose with insulin, B vitamins, ascorbic acid, glucocorticoids, for example, intravenously 90-120 mg of prednisolone hemisuccinate.

In the presence of hyperthermia, intravenous analgin injections of 2 ml of a 50% solution and craniocerebral hypothermia are indicated. With the appearance of an injection of mezaton 0.5-1 ml of a 1% solution, ephedrine hydrochloride 1 ml of a 5% solution. The stages of providing medical care to a victim of carbon monoxide are presented in the table.

Stages of medical care for victims of carbon monoxide poisoning(according to P. Kondratenko, 2001)

Therapeutic measures	Actions of the medical staff	Medications and manipulation
1	2	3
First aid and first aid	Remove victim to fresh air	In case of cardiac arrest - indirect massage heart and mechanical ventilation: mouth-to-nose or mouth-to-mouth breathing
First aid	Delivery of the victim to the intensive care unit	Cordiamin or caffeine, or mezaton (1 ml of a 1% solution intramuscularly). Ascorbic acid - 20-30 mg in 20-50 ml of 40% glucose solution intravenously; 500 ml of 5% glucose with 50 ml of 2% novocaine and 20-30 ml of 5% ascorbic acid intravenously. Analgin or Reopirin - intramuscularly, as well as glucocorticoids. In case of cardiac arrest - chest compressions and mechanical ventilation: mouth-to-nose or mouth-to-mouth breathing
Qualified medical care		Ventilation with machines in hyperventilation mode, using 100% oxygen supply. Cytochrome C - 15-60 mg / day. Antihypoxants (sodium hydroxybutyrate), tranquilizers or antipsychotics, antihistamines intravenously. Symptomatic therapy. Glucocorticoids.

Most effective method The treatment of acute intoxication with carbon monoxide is oxybarotherapy (at a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres for 30-90 minutes), since inhalation of O2 under pressure sharply accelerates the release of CO from the serum, contributes to the disappearance of hemocirculatory disorders, improves breathing and heart activity.

Chronic carbon monoxide toxicity

With chronic exposure to CO, poisoning is most common in the professional environment.

Main clinical manifestations

cerebrasthenia,
diencephaly,
polyneuritis,
angina attacks,
thyrotoxicosis,
impotence,
pernicious anemia,
polycythemia,
splenomegaly and others. After severe poisoning there are consequences - deterioration of memory and intelligence.

Treatment

Collection of history that caused acute poisoning, cessation of contact with CO, symptomatic treatment, cerebroprotective treatment with glucose-insulin injections, B vitamins, enzyme preparations, physiotherapy, rehabilitation - physical and mental.

Carbon monoxide poisoning (from the colloquial "burn out") - extremely dangerous state person, which can even lead to death. According to statistics, CO poisoning is one of the most common causes of domestic accidents. And since first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning can be decisive, everyone needs to know the basic rules for its provision.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur:

during a fire;
in production conditions, in which CO is used for the synthesis of organic substances: acetone, methyl alcohol, phenol, etc.;
in garages, tunnels, other rooms with poor ventilation - from a running internal combustion engine;
when staying near a busy highway for a long time;
in case of premature closing of the stove damper, clogging of the chimney or if there are cracks in the stove;
using respiratory apparatus with bad air.

That insidious carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is indeed very insidious: it is odorless and at the same time is formed wherever the combustion process can occur in conditions of lack of oxygen. Carbon monoxide replaces carbon dioxide gas, so poisoning occurs completely unnoticed.

Getting into the human blood during respiration, CO binds hemoglobin cells and forms carboxyhemoglobin. Bound hemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to tissue cells.

With a decrease in the amount of “workable” hemoglobin in the blood, the amount of oxygen required by the body for normal functioning. Hypoxia, or suffocation, occurs, a headache occurs, blackout or loss of consciousness occurs. If first aid is not provided to a person in a timely manner, death from carbon monoxide poisoning is inevitable.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes the following symptoms in sequence:

muscle weakness;
tinnitus and pounding in the temples;
dizziness;
chest pain, nausea and vomiting;
drowsiness or, conversely, increased motor activity;
disorder of coordination of movements;
delirium, auditory and visual hallucinations;
loss of consciousness;
convulsions;
dilated pupils with a weakened reaction to a light source;
involuntary discharge of urine and feces;
coma and death due to respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest.

The degree of harm caused to the body directly depends on the concentration of CO in the inhaled air:

0.08% cause choking and headache;
0.32% lead to paralysis and loss of consciousness;
1.2% loss of consciousness occurs after only 2-3 breaths, death - after 2-3 minutes.

In the event of an exit from a coma, serious complications are possible, since hemoglobin cells are restored and cleared for quite a long time. That is why it is extremely important to provide first aid in case of carbon monoxide poisoning in a timely and correct manner.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning involves the following measures:

it is necessary to eliminate the flow of CO (turn off the source), while breathing through gauze or a handkerchief yourself, so as not to become a victim of poisoning;
the victim should be urgently withdrawn or taken out to clean air;
if the degree of poisoning is not great - wipe whiskey, face and chest with vinegar, give a solution baking soda(1 teaspoon to 1 glass of water), offer hot coffee or tea;
if the victim received large dose SO, but is conscious, he needs to be laid down and provided with peace;
the victim in an unconscious state must be brought to the nose (distance - no more than 1 cm!) Cotton wool with ammonia, a container with cold water or ice, and feet, on the contrary, warm;
if a person does not come to his senses, then before the ambulance arrives, it may be necessary for the victim to indoor massage heart and artificial respiration.

Remember: the impact of CO on the human body can have irreversible consequences, because correct rendering first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning can save someone's life.

Carbon monoxide is a product of combustion that is colorless and odorless. The level of its concentration and the time spent in a gassed room affect the degree of poisoning and the complications associated with it. If there was an average or severe form of carbon monoxide poisoning and the treatment went well, then the effects of poisoning will still make themselves felt for some time. This may manifest itself in neurological or psychiatric disorders.

Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

They get carbon monoxide poisoning not only in factories or when extinguishing fires, but also in everyday life. You can get poisoned by this gas, even if you are near a busy and major freeway. Concentration harmful substances from exhaust gases in such places exceeds the threshold allowable norms. Car exhaust concentrations of carbon monoxide can range from 1 to 3 percent. And for severe poisoning, the content of carbon monoxide in the range of 0.1% is already enough.

You can get carbon monoxide poisoning in rooms where stove heating is used, a fireplace or there is an accumulation of car exhaust gases, there are propane leaks or kerosene lamps are used and ventilation does not work.

Carbon monoxide passes through walls, soil and other partitions. An ordinary gas mask will not be able to protect against the effects of carbon monoxide.

Symptoms of poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that attacks the blood, nervous system And muscle tissue. Chad gas enters the blood through the lungs and does so 200 times faster than oxygen.

The cause of poisoning can also be a careless attitude to the rules. fire safety, instructions for using gas or heating appliances. The list of actions in case of poisoning will be determined by the level of intoxication. In carbon monoxide poisoning, there are three degrees of poisoning:

mild (accumulation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood up to 30%),
medium (the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is from 30 to 40%),
severe (the level of carboxyhemoglobin is from 40 to 50%).

Mild to moderate poisoning

Depending on the form, the symptoms of poisoning also differ. Mild to moderate poisoning is characterized by symptoms such as:

Severe degree of poisoning

Severe poisoning may result lethal outcome, and to prevent this from happening, you need to call a doctor immediately. For severe poisoning, the symptoms will be in manifestations:

coma,
loss of consciousness
convulsions,
cardiac disorders,
respiratory disorders,
involuntary urination,
loss of all superficial and deep reflexes,
trophic disorders of the skin,
pulmonary edema,
myocardial infarction,
toxic pneumonia.

When carbon monoxide enters the blood, it prevents hemoglobin from carrying oxygen. It forms carboxyhemoglobin with it, which blocks the delivery of oxygen by hemoglobin. This is the reason oxygen starvation for the cells of the whole body, but most dangerous for brain cells.

Carbon monoxide affects the human body in a detrimental and unpredictable way. It enters into oxidative reactions that destroy the body and disrupt its biochemical balance. The presence of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood in the range of 50 to 80 percent leads a person into a coma or death. Very sensitive to the effects of carbon monoxide are pregnant women, people with chronic diseases respiratory tract and children.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

The stages of carbon monoxide poisoning differ in severity, but regardless of the level of danger, they require the mandatory presence of a doctor and the provision of medical care. Carbon monoxide affects the human body even after the victim has left danger zone. The consequences of poisoning are divided into early (up to 2 days) and late (up to 40 days). Therefore, the patient needs medical supervision and help.

Carbon monoxide should be provided as early as possible. A person who ended up in a gassed room and was poisoned should be taken out or taken out to fresh air and an ambulance should be called immediately. Determine the degree of intoxication and provide qualified assistance only a specialist can. Carbon monoxide spreads very quickly through the blood, so you can’t hesitate to call, it can cost the life of the victim.

Until the ambulance arrives, it is necessary and possible to provide the victim emergency care. Provide oxygen access to the patient, unbutton the collar, remove the tie, loosen the belt, remove the scarf or scarf. If the victim is conscious, then he can be given sweet and strong tea or coffee to drink.

If the patient has lost consciousness and is not breathing, then it will be necessary to immediately carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation. You can also bring the patient to life with ammonia, moistening a cotton swab with it beforehand. If this does not help, intensive rubbing of the limbs, face and chest should be done. This activates blood circulation. In case of loss of consciousness, the victim must be turned to the side. Yes, open Airways and there will be no risk of tongue falling into the throat.

Rescuers before entering a smoky room should take a deep breath and try not to breathe while they are inside the building. As much as possible. If possible, open windows to reduce the concentration of gas. Employees of enterprises using carbon monoxide in production processes must clearly understand what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. To do this, they are instructed.

Prevention

The consequences of poisoning with fumes are very complex nature. To protect and protect yourself and your family from poisoning with fumes, precautions must be taken. TO preventive measures Here are some simple yet effective rules:

is not located near large and busy highways during peak traffic on them,
check and monitor the serviceability of stove heating, fireplaces and ventilation,
use only certified propane tanks,
do not leave kerosene lamps unattended,
do not close the garage door when the car is running,
does not go to bed in a car if the engine is running,
do not leave children unattended and follow fire safety rules.

Conclusion

Carbon monoxide cannot be detected or sensed. The consequences of poisoning are very serious, sometimes fatal. First aid in case of poisoning to the victim should be provided as soon as possible, his life depends on it. The degree of poisoning is determined by the concentration toxic substances in the air and the time spent in a gassed space. The consequences of poisoning can occur during the entire period of treatment. If stick elementary conditions security, then you can not expose yourself or loved ones to such a serious test. Be serious about following the established rules, not only when you are being controlled, but also when no one is checking you.