Every year, with the arrival of cold weather, tragic cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes tend to multiply. The environments are they ventilate less, gas appliances are used more; and suddenly, due to a fault, they can begin to poison the air that we breathe. especially if prevention was lacking.
The great difficulty is that carbon monoxide is imperceptible. It does not smell, color or flavor. It doesn’t make noise. Does not irritate eyes or nose. But it is very harmful: it can cause serious damage to health or even death. That is why it is known as the invisible killer.
This very dangerous gas – which enters through the lungs, settles in the blood and leaves the brain and heart without oxygen – can be released in the home if a stove, heater, oven, burner or some other appliance begins to generate a poor, incomplete combustion.
If the fault is not repaired in time and on top of that the home does not offer that poison escape routes towards the outside, the people inside begin to breathe monoxide of carbon, which generally no time to react.
To prevent these tragedies, according to experts, great efforts or investments are not necessary. Simply take a series of simple precautions and hold them over time.
Following, the 6 key care that all users should adopt, arising from the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, the National Gas Regulatory Entity (Enargas) and the gas distributors Metrogas, Naturgy and Camuzzi.
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: 6 essential care at home
1. Maintain ventilation. Always leave a small opening in the windows that allows a minimum air exchange. You also have to install grates fixed ventilation systems – that cannot be closed – in all environments that have devices with open chambers, and frequently check that nothing is covering them.
2. Control the fire often. Devices should only sprout blue flames, with transparent ends and a uniform geometry. If it were yellow, orange or red could be producing carbon monoxide. In these cases, it is indicated turn off quickly the appliance and have the burner checked.
3. Do preventive maintenance. It is recommended that all gas appliances be inspected once a year by licensed gas fitters. This is key to ensuring that the burners work well and that there is not blockages, cracks or breaks in the ducts responsible for evacuating toxic gases.
4. After cooking, clean. Keep them clean burners of liquids and food, to prevent them from clogging the burners and causing poor combustion.
5. Respect the function of each device. Each device must be used only for what it was designed for. In that sense, a common and dangerous mistake is to use the oven or the heating stoves.
6. Do not use poorly installed devices. Water heaters, infrared heaters or open flame They should never be installed in bathrooms, bedrooms and other closed or poorly ventilated spaces. In places like this there can only be gas appliances with output to the outside (balanced draft), which – in turn – should not direct their burned gases to another closed environment.
For greater security: how much does it cost to install carbon monoxide detectors?
When all precautions fail and the environment begins to become contaminated, these small sensors with alarms save lives by emit an audible alert which allows us to act before it is too late.
A basic one, easy to install, is obtained from the $12,500. The most complete, also sensitive to natural gas leaks, start in $130,000.
Video
A malfunction of stoves, water heaters and kitchens can trigger a tragedy. Some recommendations on what to do and what not to do when heating our homes without taking risks.
What are the first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and how should you act?
When a person is starting to intoxicate With carbon monoxide the following may appear:
- Weaknessfatigue, drowsiness and confusion.
- Headachenausea and vomiting.
- Chest pain and acceleration of pulse.
In turn, when the painting is already serioussymptoms such as:
- Low body temperature (hypothermia).
- Unconsciousness.
- Irregular breathing.
- Seizures.
- Slow and/or irregular pulse.
- Low blood pressure.
- Respiratory faliure.
The first symptoms are often confused with those of the flu, food poisoning or a stroke. “In young children it can simulate a meningeal condition due to irritability, continuous crying and refusal of food,” according to the Ministry of Health.
Thus, in the face of the most minimal suspicion one has to act immediately thus:
- Open windows and doors.
- Evacuate move affected people to an outdoor location.
- Call service emergencies or go to a guard, keeping the intoxicated lying down and sheltered.
- If the person stops breathing, practice revival cardiopulmonary (CPR).
Where can I get more information, advice and assistance on this topic?
There are telephone lines that can be called for free every day, 24 hoursto make inquiries about poisoning:
- He 0800-333-0160 from the Posadas Hospital (El Palomar, Morón).
- He 0800-444-TOXI (8694) of the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital (CABA).
- He 0800-222-9911 from the Sor María Ludovica Hospital (La Plata).
How and where to verify that a gas fitter is registered?
Always hiring licensed gas technicians is key when carrying out any facility, repair either inspection. Those who are not registered may charge less, but it is not certified that they have the necessary knowledge to leave home equipment working safely.
Each company distributor gas publishes the list of the gas operators authorized to provide service in their coverage area.
-Customers Metrogas You can consult the list at this link.
-Customers Naturgy You can consult the list of each municipality at this link.
-Customers Camuzzi You can consult the list of each municipality at this link.
