Popular Science One
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
Answer:
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and imperceptible gas. The binding capacity of hemoglobin to carbon monoxide in the blood is more than 200 times stronger than that of oxygen, and the separation of hemoglobin from oxygen is very slow. Therefore, once a person inhales carbon monoxide, oxygen loses the opportunity to combine with hemoglobin, so that tissue cells cannot obtain enough oxygen from the blood, resulting in difficulty breathing, and even suffocation.
Popular Science II
What are the main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Answer:
1. Mild poisoning: initial headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache dizziness, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, weakness of limbs, and even transient syncope. They are usually conscious, and their symptoms disappear when they breathe in fresh air and get out of the toxic environment.
2. Moderate poisoning: hyperhidrosis, irritability, unsteady walking, pale skin, confusion, drowsiness, prostration or coma and other symptoms, the skin and the unique cherry red color of carbon monoxide poisoning, most patients quickly develop convulsions, coma, two frequencies, and the skin of the chest is cherry red.
3. Severe poisoning: confusion, incontinence, cold limbs, dilated pupils, decreased blood pressure, weak or stopped breathing. Most will have sequelae such as dementia, epilepsy, stiffness or weakness of the limbs, or arrhythmias.
Popular Science III
Why does carbon monoxide poisoning occur?
Answer:
Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances such as liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, coal, charcoal, and firewood under the condition of insufficient oxygen (air).
1. The use of gas water heaters and gas stoves for a long time, the doors and windows are closed and poorly ventilated, the air is insufficient, the gas combustion is not sufficient, and the indoor carbon monoxide concentration increases, resulting in poisoning accidents.
2. The gas water heater is installed in the bathroom (toilet), or the smoke exhaust pipe is not installed, or the smoke exhaust pipe is installed but the smoke exhaust is not smooth, resulting in the exhaust gas emission generated by the gas water heater when it is used along the room or in the room, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning.
3. The flue installation of the gas water heater is not standardized, and the interface with the water heater or the connection of the smoke pipe is not tight and there are cracks, which cannot effectively discharge the exhaust gas to the outdoors, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning.
4. The outdoor part of the flue pipe is not standardized or there is no windproof cap, resulting in windy weather, the smoke backs up into the room, resulting in carbon monoxide poisoning.
5. When burning coal, charcoal, firewood, etc. for heating and cooking in a closed room, due to poor ventilation and insufficient air, carbon monoxide is produced, resulting in carbon oxide poisoning.
6. Starting the car in the car or sleeping in the car after starting the air conditioner in the car may cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Popular Science IV
How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
Answer:
1. For households that use coal for heating, a chimney should be installed in the stove in the living room, and the chimney structure should be tight, and the smoke exhaust should be good. Coal stoves without chimneys should be placed outdoors at night and day, and special attention should be paid to the weather with high air humidity and low air pressure, and the indoor windows should not be closed too strictly.
2. When using pipeline gas, pay attention to check whether the rubber pipe connected to the gas stove is loose, aging, ruptured, or insect bites to prevent gas leakage.
3. Before using water heaters and gas stoves, you should smell whether there is a gas odor to determine whether there is air leakage, and do not install it in a closed bathroom or a poorly ventilated place. Do not close the room when using the natural gas water heater, and avoid bathing for too long, no more than 20 minutes.
4. Do not eat charcoal hot pot or charcoal brazier in a closed room.
5. When driving, do not let the engine idle for a long time; When the car is stopped, do not turn on the air conditioner for too long; Even when driving, you should open the windows frequently to allow convection of the air inside and outside the vehicle. Stop immediately if you feel unwell; If you feel dizzy, heavi, or weak in your limbs while driving or riding in an air-conditioned vehicle, you should open the window in time to breathe fresh air.
6. Install carbon monoxide alarms where carbon monoxide may be generated, if available. The carbon monoxide alarm is a device specially used to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, which can alarm in time when the carbon oxide concentration exceeds the standard.
Popular Science V
What are the principles of first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Answer:
By the time people realize that carbon monoxide poisoning has occurred, it is often too late. Because the cerebral cortex, which governs the movement of the human body, is the first to be damaged by paralysis, the hand is no longer at the command. As a result, people with carbon monoxide poisoning are often unable to effectively help themselves. When you find that someone around you has carbon monoxide poisoning, you should take care of the following methods:
1. Immediately open doors and windows to circulate air and immediately turn the patient away from the poisoned environment.
2. Patients should rest quietly to avoid increasing the burden on the heart and lungs and increasing oxygen consumption after activities.
3. Move the poisoned person to a place with sufficient air and give the poisoned person an adequate supply of oxygen.
4. For patients with mild poisoning, you can let him drink some strong tea, fresh radish juice and mung bean soup.
5. Poisoned patients who are delirious must be lifted out of the poisoning environment as soon as possible, let the patient lie flat in an environment with air circulation, and unbutton his clothes and trouser belts. In the shortest possible time, the patient's breathing, pulse, and blood pressure are checked, and emergency treatment is carried out according to these conditions.
6. After discovering the poisoning, call the 120 emergency service immediately and escort the patient to the hospital for further examination and treatment.
Source: Ministry of Emergency Management
Editor in charge: Ma Keyan