Five students from the Agustín Garzón Agulla Higher Normal School, in the city of Córdoba, ended up poisoned as a result of the loss of gas from screens that they used to heat the classrooms.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at the establishment, located on 150 Juan José Viamonte Street in the General Paz neighborhood, and the disabled were removed by their parents. The Fire Department High Risk Units Department (Duar) intervened at the scene.
Daniel Heredia, a member of Duar, told The voice that when they attended the school, after the directors called about an apparent gas leak in three classrooms that were heated with gas screens, when they arrived they found that there were no gas leaks and the classrooms were already ventilated.
“According to the directors’ statements, the minors became ill, so they called the emergency service and were assisted by doctors, but none of them had any type of serious injury. They were in good health. Then, they were removed by the parents,” he said.
The Firefighters team tested to see if there was a gas leak or not, but found nothing. The stoves were closed waiting for a licensed gas technician.
And the three classrooms, located on the first floor, where the loss occurred, remain closed. Meanwhile, the rest of the classrooms continue with classes. Now, Firefighters are carrying out tests to determine the causes of the losses.
These gas screens are used in many educational establishments and in other areas, which is why Duar recommends that they always have to be verified by a licensed gas technician.
And like every year, during the winter season, the use of these devices increases; many of them use combustible material that, when burned poorly, can generate carbon monoxide, a gas that is very harmful to people.
Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is known as “the silent death” since it is an odorless and tasteless gas, meaning it cannot be perceived with the naked eye or smell. It also does not irritate the eyes or nose.
Carbon monoxide is caused by poor combustion and lack of oxygen in closed environments. It is highly poisonous and, once in the body, can cause a person to become unconscious within minutes and die a short time later.
Year after year, in Córdoba, as in other districts of Argentina, tragedies are recorded in homes due to this gas. Annually, approximately 40 thousand cases and around 250 deaths due to carbon monoxide (CO) are reported in Argentina.
During 2023 in Córdoba there were six deaths from carbon monoxide, which is why the authorities insist on prevention tasks to avoid poisoning.
Nilda Gait, head of the Department of Environmental Health, of the provincial health portfolio, insisted on the importance of having heating devices verified by a specialist before use and specified that based on the latest cases attended to, the brazier is the device that the more damage it is generating.
