Smoke poisoning: any fire is potentially dangerous

Domestic and natural fires, bonfires, burning garbage - all this can become a real cause of intoxication by combustion products, especially if toxic components such as paint, plastic or polyethylene get into the flame. Smoke poisoning accounts for up to 60% of all fatalities among victims caught in a smoke zone.

Caution is paramount!

It is the combustion products, and not the flame, that in most cases become the culprits of severe conditions and burns of the respiratory tract. Information about symptoms, first aid instructions, as well as photos and videos in this article will tell you how to behave and whether it is possible to prevent intoxication.

A little bit of theory

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (CO), is often called the “silent killer.”
The main problem is that it doesn't cause any sensation at all (until it's too late). It cannot be detected by eye, and its presence remains unnoticed by the victim. In this case, the gas spreads quickly, mixing with the air without losing its toxic properties.

For humans, carbon monoxide is the strongest poison. Entering the body during breathing, it penetrates from the lungs into the circulatory system, where it combines with hemoglobin. As a result, the blood loses its ability to carry and deliver oxygen to tissues, and the body very quickly begins to experience a lack of it. The brain is primarily affected, but other organs may also be affected, depending on the general state of health. According to the old proverb: “Where it is thin, it breaks.”

Any fireplace or stove can become a source of danger

By the way, it would be a mistake to think that the threat of poisoning exists only in houses with stove heating. Carbon monoxide is formed during incomplete combustion of ANY fuel. Gas, coal, firewood, gasoline and so on - it doesn’t matter. Only the degree of risk is different.

The “leader” in terms of the amount of carbon monoxide released during combustion is coal. Cars are considered the main source of pollution for the environment. They are also potentially dangerous for their owners—every year, many motorists die in their own garages. The habit of working with the car engine turned on (for heating) plus the lack of ventilation - and here is the sad result...

Finally, according to scientists, the concentration of CO in cigarette smoke exceeds the maximum permissible by 8 times, so those who like to smoke indoors and those who find themselves with them are also at risk - especially if the ventilation is poor.

The concentration of carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke exceeds the maximum permissible levels by 8 times.

Natural gas itself is safe - but only if it is of proper quality, has good ventilation and uses properly installed equipment. Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning in apartments where gas water heaters are located, alas, are recorded annually.

Let’s finish with the theory here and move on to purely practical questions: how to avoid poisoning and how to help the victim if it was not possible to prevent the problem.

Main reasons

Some experts note that fire poisoning is considered an even more common cause of death than death from burns from an open fire. Intoxication during fires occurs due to the fact that a person inhales the combustion products of smoldering objects around him. The most dangerous thing in this case:

Moreover, the last point is dangerous even in very small quantities. This substance can be found in numerous modern building materials.

If you add cyanide exposure to normal hypoxia, the body will receive a blockage of cellular respiration, as well as impaired energy metabolism in tissues of any type.

The hidden danger is the release of certain irritating gases during combustion. Once released, they actively combine with water to form deadly poisonous liquids such as nitric acid or its sulfuric, sulfurous analogue, as well as ammonia. They have a negative effect on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, which leads to a chemical burn with subsequent narrowing of the bronchi and the accumulation of fluid in them.

It’s even worse if particles of phosgene, a highly toxic poison, remain in the smoke. It is formed when the contents of a fire extinguisher come into contact with any hot surface.

Some people mistakenly believe that poisoning from combustion products from a blazing fire is an impossible situation, but this is not so. Such experiments are especially dangerous for pregnant women and young children. For example, the average amount of cooking over an open fire can have a negative impact on the body, representing the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes.

It is strictly not recommended to burn garbage even in small quantities. The reason lies in the fact that plastic bottles end up in a common pile intended for burning. In addition, the grass that burns along with the garbage can be contaminated with oils and diesel fuel from passing vehicles.

According to fire safety experts, a particular danger comes from materials created through the chemical industry. We are talking about the following items:

In addition to producing phosgene, they also produce dioxin, which is responsible for the development of malignant diseases. And cyanide contributes to a sharp exacerbation of allergic reactions.

The situation does not look much better if the burning is carried out outside in damp weather. In this situation, toxins mix with water vapor, hang, and then settle on the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs.

Even ordinary burnt meat in a pan left unattended can cause serious intoxication. During the smoldering process, carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide are released. The only remedy for burnout in such situations is vigilance.

Causes of poisoning by combustion products

In case of fire, the risk is posed not only by open flames, but also by smoldering materials, the vapors from which enter the body through the respiratory tract. The poisonous effect is provided by two substances that are contained in the smoke. These include carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. The presence of the latter component in the smoke is due to the fact that it is present in building materials.

Under the influence of carbon dioxide, hemoglobin is blocked, as a result of which the oxygen supply to various organs is disrupted. Thus, oxygen starvation occurs. The action of cyanide is aimed at destroying energy metabolism in the tissue structure.

When various materials burn, irritating gases are formed. When combined with water, they form a corrosive solution - nitric, sulfuric, sulfurous acids and ammonia. When they affect the body, a chemical burn of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract occurs, the small bronchi narrow, and fluid accumulates in the lungs. The smoke may contain phosgene.

Is it possible to get smoke poisoning if you sit near a fire? As you know, smoke from a fire has the same harmful effect on the body as cigarette smoke. If you have to forcefully cook food over a fire, then a certain amount of tar will enter your body every day, which is equivalent to what a person would get from smoking 2 packs of cigarettes.

Based on the nature of their effect on the human body, combustion products that cause poisoning are divided into the following groups:

1. Having irritating and cauterizing effects on mucous membranes and skin. These include sulfur dioxide and vapors of organic compounds - acetic and formic acids, tar, formaldehyde and others. As a result of combustion of the substance, particles are formed, leading to burning, lacrimation, coughing and itching.
2. Damaging respiratory organs. Intoxication is caused by ammonia, chloropicrin, nitric oxide, chlorine, sulfuric and sulfurous anhydride, phosgene and the like. Depending on the concentration of carbon monoxide, breathing inhibition or paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs. When the air contains more than 8% carbon monoxide particles, there is a possibility of damage to the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. In case of poisoning, pneumonia occurs, leading to stagnation of blood in the lungs and tissue fluid in the body, which disrupts cardiac activity and contributes to the development of pulmonary edema.
3. Affecting the composition of the blood. This group includes: lead, arsenic hydrogen, carbon monoxide, benzene and its derivatives (toluene, xylene and others).
4. Metabolic or enzymatic poisons (hydrogen sulfide, hydrocyanic acid and others). They affect the functioning of the respiratory system, as a result of which the supply of oxygen to the tissues is disrupted. Intoxication occurs, acute chronic intoxication, which can cause cerebral edema. This condition is considered the most severe.

The substances included in the last three groups do not have an immediate effect. The consequences will be visible for some time: in severe cases - after 2 hours, with mild or moderate damage - from 3 to 10 hours from the moment combustion products enter the body. If you do not stop exposure to the hazardous substances that caused the damage, death will occur quite quickly.

In most cases, fires release combustion products such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, carbon disulfide, hydrogen and vinyl chlorides, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide. The latter is the most dangerous, since it can cause poisoning even at low concentrations in the air. Hydrogen cyanide leads to disruption of energy metabolism in tissues and cellular respiration. It often occurs when building materials burn.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with a shower cabin without a bath

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an acute form of injury. A toxic substance is released in the event of a fire in industrial premises. It is contained in mine and tunnel gases, furnace and blast furnace structures. Carbon monoxide can be poisoned during the synthesis of methyl alcohol, methane, phosgene or acetone.

Intoxication with petroleum products is considered extremely dangerous. These substances include lubricants and all types of fuel, some groups of solvents. The most common are fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene. The causes of poisoning with petroleum products are accidents at production enterprises, disruption of transportation and storage of working materials of production.

Often, petroleum derivatives, the toxic effects of which can be acute or chronic, are used by drug addicts for inhalation as narcotic substances.

Symptoms of damage to human organs from smoke depend on the severity of the poisoning. But the general signs are quite specific. The main ones:

• sudden general weakness;
• pain affecting the forehead and temples, heaviness in the head;
• redness of the facial skin;
• noise in ears;
• dyspnea;
• increased heart rate;
• drowsiness;
• Moderate or severe poisoning may cause vomiting and fainting.

A man has a severe cough

Often, despite the fact that the victim is conscious and recognizes his condition as satisfactory, the severity of the injury increases gradually and appears only a few hours after poisoning. In this case, the following symptoms may develop:

• pain in the chest and larynx;
• severe persistent cough;
• within 24 hours the skin acquires a bluish tint;
• shortness of breath begins.

Subsequently, the victim, who was not provided with timely assistance, experiences loss of consciousness caused by pulmonary edema.

In severe forms of poisoning, convulsions appear and shallow and rapid breathing is noted. The first sign of severe organ damage is heart failure and respiratory dysfunction. Involuntary urination may occur. The result of such poisoning can be death due to respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Intoxication by combustion products is often observed in residents of areas prone to forest fires. People complain of poor health, malaise, weakness, and malfunctions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Phenazepam

In case of poisoning, treatment is carried out in a hospital or at home. A conclusion about the severity of poisoning is made after examining the victim. The following methods are used:

1. Supply of pure oxygen in the first hours after the injury, the amount of which gradually decreases to 40-50%.
2. If there is a threat of brain damage, a pressure chamber is used.
3. In case of carbon dioxide poisoning, the antidote Acitol is administered, and in case of obstruction of the respiratory organs, Eufillin is administered.
4. For convulsions, intramuscular injections of Barbamil and intramuscular injections of Phenazepam are used.
5. For heart failure, Cordiamine, solutions of glucose (intravenously) and caffeine (subcutaneously) are administered.
6. In case of poisoning by petroleum product vapors, urgent detoxification measures are carried out.

Smoke often occurs during the burning of leaves, grass and other household debris.

The overwhelming majority of acute poisonings from combustion products occur as a result of fires that occurred in residential or work premises. It is carbon monoxide that claims thousands of lives every year, even in cases of minor fires.

Once in the respiratory tract, toxic substances block the respiratory function, penetrate into the blood and disrupt the process of saturation of plasma with hemoglobin, negatively affecting the central nervous system and the body as a whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwN-xKAMT6M

Other reasons may be:

• fire of peat bogs;
• Forest fires;
• welding and other work requiring high temperatures;
• burning garbage, leaves, dry grass;
• fires and barbecues.

The main toxic components of smoke

Exhaust fumes are also dangerous

Almost everything burns, and what is not completely subject to fire melts, is exposed to thermal effects and releases certain substances.

During the combustion process, the following are released:

• carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide, which disrupts the binding of air molecules to blood components, thereby causing a deficiency of oxygen saturation in the tissues of the entire body;
• hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid, which paralyzes the respiratory center;
• phosgene, contained in varnishes, paints, solvents, as well as in fire extinguishing compositions;
• hydrogen chloride, which disrupts the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
• benzene, which depresses the central nervous system;
• ammonia, which causes toxic pulmonary edema;
• formaldehyde, which impairs breathing and causes severe intoxication of the gastrointestinal tract.

IMPORTANT! There are a huge number of substances that are formed during the combustion process, and almost all of them in one way or another affect the normal functioning of the entire human body. But combustion products released during industrial accidents, fires in chemical warehouses, during smoldering of plastic and any objects coated with varnishes, solvents or paints are especially dangerous.

First aid

The following symptoms of smoke poisoning can be identified:

• general weakness;
• heaviness in the head;
• headache;
• facial redness;
• noise in ears;
• increased heart rate;
• drowsiness;
• muscle pain;
• vomiting and fainting.

Signs of poisoning may become apparent after a few hours, but their severity increases rapidly, which poses a danger to the patient’s life.

Under the influence of the irritating gas, pain in the throat and sternum may occur. They are of a burning nature. The poisoned person complains of a persistent cough throughout the day, a bluish tint to the skin, shortness of breath and pulmonary edema are observed.

If a severe degree of intoxication is observed, then smoke poisoning manifests itself in the form of convulsions, insufficient functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Involuntary urination often develops. Death occurs due to respiratory and cardiac arrest.

In the event of massive forest fires in nearby settlements, people experience general malaise, poor health, and impaired functioning of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system.

The life of the victim depends on how promptly and correctly he was provided with first aid for smoke inhalation. First you need to call an ambulance. Before her arrival, you can help the victim if you follow the following tips:

1. Take the poisoned person outside into fresh air. Remove clothing that makes breathing difficult.
2. Give hot strong tea.
3. To speed up the process of removing toxins from the body. It is necessary to give the patient a sorbent. Polysorb MP remains the most powerful today. If it is not available, then you can use Activated Carbon.
4. In case of fainting, apply cotton wool with ammonia to the victim’s nose.
5. Make sure that the airway is clear. If vomit is present, empty the mouth of it.
6. When the poisoned person is unconscious, lay him down so that his head is on his side. This will prevent tongue retraction.
7. Check if there is a pulse in the carotid artery.
8. When the heartbeat and breathing cannot be felt, perform indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration.
9. Avoid hypothermia. You can place heating pads on your feet, being careful not to cause skin burns.

When first aid has been provided to the poisoned person, he is taken to the hospital, where a doctor conducts an examination. When the patient is hospitalized, he is prescribed long-term oxygen breathing. Thanks to this, carbon dioxide is displaced from its connection with hemoglobin. Hyperventilation mode is maintained for 3 hours. In case of particularly severe pathology, therapy is carried out in a pressure chamber with increased oxygen pressure.

Symptomatic therapy is performed taking into account the severity of the condition. If there are indications, then apply:

• corticosteroids;
• antidotes;
• cardiac drugs;
• vitamin therapy.

Smoke poisoning can occur from a fire in a house, forest, from a fire while burning garbage, or during cooking. Particularly dangerous is the smoke that occurs when plastic burns. Therefore, to avoid smoke poisoning, all safety regulations must be strictly followed.

Lyubimtseva S. I.

Infectious disease doctor, private clinic “Medcenterservice”, Moscow. Senior editor of the website "Poisoning Stop".

Symptoms of smoke poisoning can be divided into three groups depending on the degree of damage to the body. This classification allows doctors to choose the optimal treatment strategy for patients.

Mild degree

Signs of mild poisoning:

• attacks of dizziness;
• jump in blood pressure;
• nausea, which may be accompanied by vomiting.

A person begins to complain of a sore throat, which is replaced by an annoying paroxysmal cough. Heaviness appears when breathing, the skin of the face turns red.

Average degree

With longer exposure to the toxic substance, mild symptoms worsen. Additionally, there are complaints about:

• short-term episodes of loss of consciousness;
• sharp mental agitation followed by apathy;
• hallucinations;
• noise in ears;
• tachycardia;
• high pressure.

If a person does not receive first aid in a timely manner for moderate smoke poisoning, the situation will worsen.

Severe degree

Severe intoxication is accompanied by:

• the appearance of cramps in the limbs, gradually spreading throughout the body;
• breathing problems;
• heart damage such as a heart attack (lack of oxygen leads to the death of myocytes);
• renal failure;
• collapse;
• coma.

In case of severe intoxication, the poisoned person definitely needs qualified medical care.

First aid for smoke inhalation should be provided to the victim as quickly as possible. It must be taken into account that in a fire situation, without special skills and equipment, you cannot throw yourself into the fire.

Before paramedics arrive, victims are helped in the following ways:

• free from all tight clothing that may interfere with breathing (untie the tie, unbutton the shirt and belt);
• they sing with hot, strong tea or, if possible, with milk;
• provide sorbents such as Polysorb, Enterosgel, activated carbon;
• if the patient is unconscious, then apply a cotton swab with ammonia to the nose;
• ensure patency of the airways, freeing them from vomit;
• in the absence of consciousness, the patient is placed on his back and his head is turned to his side;
• prevent hypothermia using blankets or heating pads;
• in the absence of breathing or heartbeat, indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration are performed.

What else should you do if you are poisoned? Be sure to call an ambulance and transfer the patient to specialists.

Smoke poisoning is a big danger. It occurs due to inhalation of irritating gases released during the combustion of fabrics, furniture, and finishing materials.

The manifestation of symptoms of poisoning depends on the amount of harmful substances in the air and the state of human health. A weakened body is more susceptible to rapid intoxication.

• sore throat, cough
• chest pain, shortness of breath
• blurred vision
• headache, dizziness
• weakness, drowsiness
• nausea, vomiting
• tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension (most dangerous for people suffering from heart failure)

Some substances have a narcotic effect and lead to hallucinations. Severe intoxication is accompanied by loss of consciousness, convulsions, paralysis, and impaired consciousness. Prolonged exposure leads to the development of a critical condition.

Respiratory failure and circulatory disorders are often the cause of death of the victim. Delayed provision of medical care leads to irreversible consequences.

The only way to help victims is timely provision of first aid. While waiting for the emergency team to arrive, it is necessary to move the victim to fresh air, to a safe place.

In case of mild poisoning, be sure to drink plenty of fluids (hot tea or water will do), and you should wrap the person up and place a heating pad under your feet. The threshold of pain sensitivity is violated, there is a high probability of developing a burn, the victim may not feel the full severity of the condition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRHuZ_h1htE

If the victim is conscious, it is necessary to lay him down, providing access to fresh air. An abundant supply of oxygen helps to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, and the body is cleansed of harmful impurities.

The unconscious victim must be given a safe position that prevents the tongue from retracting into the throat (turn the head slightly to the side). Ammonia will help him come to his senses.

If the pulse is weak and there is no pronounced breathing, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration and external cardiac massage. Artificial respiration is done using the “mouth to mouth” or “mouth to nose” method.

Both methods are effective and safe, they must be continued until the ambulance arrives. In 1 minute you need to take 15-20 breaths, keeping your head tilted back.

To perform a cardiac massage, you need to place your hands on the victim’s chest and apply pressure on the ribs with all your might approximately once a second. Movements should be fast, strong, directed strictly vertically.

After 45 pressures, artificial respiration is resumed, blowing air 1-2 times. Artificial respiration cannot be performed simultaneously with cardiac massage; they must be alternated.

Compliance with fire safety rules is the most important preventative measure for smoke poisoning.

Confident actions in case of fire, making quick and correct decisions will help protect yourself from exposure to caustic smoke and even save lives. The basics of first aid are simple; you should be proficient in them in order to provide assistance to victims if necessary.

Coughing is the first sign that toxic substances have entered the respiratory tract.

Other symptoms also include:

• intense nausea, turning into vomiting;
• muscle pain, mainly in the legs;
• general weakness (“legs give way”);
• lacrimation;
• redness of the skin on the face and neck;
• increased sweating.

Tearing

It is impossible to stop resuscitation efforts if a person shows no signs of life

Phenazepam

Tobacco smoke poisoning

Inhaling tar and nicotine does not improve health either for the smoker or for the people around him

Nicotine intoxication as one of the types of smoke poisoning can rightfully be separated into a separate chapter, since more people suffer from the negative effects of tobacco smoking every year than in all fires combined.

You can be poisoned by cigarette smoke:

• while smoking, especially frequently or for the first time;
• during inhalation during passive smoking;
• being in close proximity to a person who has recently smoked a cigarette and is hypersensitive to nicotine.

ATTENTION! In addition to nicotine, cigarettes and other types of smoking contain a lot of other equally dangerous components - tar, ammonia, phenol, which are also released into the surrounding air during smoking.

Symptoms of tobacco product smoke poisoning are similar to other types of damage to the body from combustion products:

• dizziness;
• headache and throbbing in the temples;
• nausea, turning into vomiting;
• weakness;
• cough;
• strengthening the work of sweat glands;
• redness or pallor of the skin;
• hand tremors;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• diarrhea;
• muscle cramps;
• disturbances of consciousness in severe cases.

Cigarette smoke contains harmful substances

ATTENTION! Children are most susceptible to the toxic effects of tobacco products. A couple of breaths are enough for them to have symptoms (poisoning from cigarettes or pipes) instantly manifest themselves in the form of a sharp deterioration in well-being and impaired respiratory function, up to a spasm of the larynx.

In addition to acute nicotine poisoning, there is also a chronic version of intoxication, which is observed in people who smoke for a long time.

They are expressed in:

• “smoker's bronchitis” - a spasmodic, rough cough that mainly occurs after waking up, physical exertion, or walking in the fresh air;
• hypertension;
• irritated conjunctiva of the eyes;
• increased heart rate;
• reduced performance;
• delayed reaction;
• depression of attention, memory, coordination;
• increased stomach acidity (heartburn);
• deterioration of skin and hair health;
• mental cognitive disorders;
• sudden weight loss or gain;
• excessive irritability.

IMPORTANT! The longer a person smokes, the more his body is subject to destruction, which becomes more noticeable and severe every year. And the price for this is not only lung cancer or emphysema. Shortness of breath appears even with minor exertion, angina develops, oxygen starvation of the brain increases, and gradually, one after another, the body's systems begin to fail regularly. Therefore, poisoning with nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke is sometimes no less dangerous and destructive than carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide released during fires.

Benzene food poisoning

Benzene is a widely used raw material in industry for the production of synthetic and plastic products and pharmaceuticals. It is highly toxic; if it enters the human body, it can cause the development of cancer pathologies.

Food poisoning with benzene is most often observed in drug addicts. By inhaling concentrated vapors of a toxic substance, people with a dangerous addiction experience auditory and visual hallucinations and euphoria.

In addition, chemical reactions that occur during the coking of coal or the production of gasoline (rubber, plastics, paints and varnishes) can become a source of poisoning. Chronic damage develops in people involved in cleaning tanks from petroleum product residues.

Nausea and vomiting

In mild forms of poisoning, the following are observed:

• severe weakness;
• increased excitability, irritability;
• nausea and vomiting.

Severe lesions lead to death.

Manifestations of intoxication

Smoke poisoning resulting from smoking is considered separately. Smokers do not even suspect that this is possible, but in fact, tobacco smoke contains many compounds that are poisonous and can have a carcinogenic effect. All of them affect cells and tissues, disrupting the process of their saturation with oxygen.

You can be poisoned by tobacco smoke not only through active smoking, but also through passive smoking. Tobacco smoke intoxication can be acute or chronic. In the first case, poisoning is expressed in increased sweating, pale skin, convulsions, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea.

Symptoms of chronic smoke poisoning:

• weight loss;
• inflammation of the conjunctiva;
• regular increase in blood pressure;
• mental disorders.

Regardless of what caused smoke intoxication, you should take the victim to a medical facility or call an ambulance.

Under what conditions can you get poisoned?

Smoke poisoning can occur both in simple, everyday situations, and can be of a very specific nature. The reasons may be as follows:

• smoke intoxication during a fire occurs when there is a fire in both premises and forests on summer days (sometimes the volume of smoke is such that it is impossible to escape from it even indoors);
• in the autumn, poisoning is possible during the burning of leaves (in this case, signs of poisoning from smoke from a fire may be supplemented by signs characteristic of poisoning by vapors from burning plastic, polystyrene foam, plywood, if any waste other than plant waste gets into the pile);
• when working with a welding machine, both acute and chronic intoxication are possible (although there is no open fire, in addition to carbon monoxide, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and other harmful components are also released);
• You can be poisoned by smoke by regularly cooking food over a fire, since in this case a large amount of toxic resins penetrate into the body;
• in a small room where people smoke in large quantities, symptoms of smoke poisoning may appear not only in those who have an addiction to cigarettes, but also in people without this bad habit;
• car exhaust in a closed garage can lead to symptoms characteristic of carbon monoxide or smoke intoxication;
• At home, intoxication is possible if you cook meat or fish over a fire (in this case, a mixture of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is released into the air).

Why smoke poisoning

In case of fires, poisoning occurs due to smoke entering the body through the respiratory organs. Acute intoxication is caused by two substances contained in combustion products:

The presence of cyanide in smoke is explained by the fact that it is found in almost all building materials.

Carbon monoxide blocks hemoglobin , due to which the delivery of oxygen to various organs is disrupted, and oxygen starvation occurs. Cyanide blocks metabolism in soft tissues and the flow of oxygen into cells.

When burned, any materials release harmful gases, which, when interacting with water, form caustic reagents - nitric and sulfuric acid, as well as ammonia. These compounds cause chemical burns to the membranes of the respiratory system, damage to part of the bronchi and accumulation of fluid in the lung tissue.

If a fire is extinguished using fire extinguishers, then the air contains a very toxic gas phosgene , which is released when hot surfaces interact with the contents of the fire extinguishing agents.

Prevention

Basic caution and teaching children these rules can prevent a tragedy

1. Beware of fires: do not smoke in the house, do not keep flammable substances in the apartment, check the serviceability of household appliances and electrical wiring, teach children how to properly handle dangerous objects and especially matches.
2. In case of urban smog, reduce the time you spend outside, carefully close windows and doors, and use air purifiers and humidifiers whenever possible.
3. When lighting fires, remember that not only explosive objects, but also varnished or painted surfaces, rubber, plastic bags and plastic should not be thrown into the fire. Teach children safety precautions and do not allow them to start fires themselves.
4. When camping or while cooking on grills and smokehouses, do not stand in the direction of the smoke or lean close to the fire.
5. Do not go to the forest if a state of emergency has been declared in the region due to the increase in natural fires, and never make fires during a drought (especially when it comes to burning last year’s grass and leaves).
6. When working at an enterprise, strictly follow safety rules and do not neglect basic caution.
7. If you were forced to find yourself in a smoke zone, it is highly advisable not to take off your gas mask or respiratory mask, and indoors, in order to avoid severe poisoning, you need to lie on the floor while waiting for help or crawl your way to the exit.
8. Do not smoke near children and non-smokers.

It is important to follow preventive measures and be more attentive and careful. This will help keep you healthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD7KjUS31Zg

In order to prevent smoke poisoning, you should not be in the premises where the fire starts. It is necessary to monitor the serviceability of household and electronic equipment. It is prohibited to be in a garage without access to oxygen while the car engine is running. To avoid chemical burns, work with hazardous substances must be carried out in protective clothing. All measures are aimed at avoiding any contact with smoke that can cause poisoning.

Author of the article: Bespalova Irina Leonidovna

Pulmonologist, Therapist, Cardiologist, Functional Diagnostics Doctor. Doctor of the highest category. Work experience: 9 years. Graduated from Khabarovsk State Medical Institute, clinical residency in therapy. I am engaged in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of internal organs, and also conduct medical examinations. I treat diseases of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.

Bespalova Irina Leonidovna published articles: 419

What to do if there is a fire in the apartment?

If a fire occurs in the apartment, you need to calm down and not panic. Confident actions in most cases are the key to saving life.

If it is possible to leave the apartment, immediately go to a safe place. Try to turn off the electricity and turn off the gas - this will reduce the increase in the complexity of the fire.

Close doors along the way to slow down the rate of fire spread. Once you are safe, dial the fire department and report the fire.

A call from a landline phone is made to 101 or 01, from a mobile phone - 010 (MTS, Megafon) or 001 (Beeline). An emergency call is made to 112 even without a SIM card.

If it is not possible to leave the room, close the door tightly, fill the cracks with wet towels, clothes or other fabrics (curtains, blankets). This will seal the room and reduce the concentration of incoming smoke.

The face should be wrapped in a damp cloth to reduce the suffocating effect of air full of burning smoke. After collecting water, try to wet the doors and floor. These measures will help you not to lose consciousness and wait for help from rescuers.

If the room continues to fill with smoke, crawl - the temperature and concentration of harmful impurities near the floor are lower than at the height level.

Once you reach the phone, contact the fire department, report the emergency, that you are cut off from the exit by fire, and then describe in detail your location in the apartment. Wait for the fire brigade, they will arrive in a few minutes.

You should not risk your life to save property. Putting out a fire on your own is a very risky endeavor. You cannot flood equipment with water, hide in confined spaces (closets, closets), jump out of a window, or climb down ropes.

Peace of mind in many cases is the main factor in saving lives.

For more information on how to behave in case of fire, watch the video below.

Treatment in a hospital setting

Smoke poisoning is a condition in which the victim requires full treatment in a hospital. First of all, a person is given oxygen to breathe so that it displaces carbon dioxide from red blood cells. The oxygen concentration in the first few hours is up to 80%, after which it is reduced to 50%. If the poisoning is very severe, the patient is placed in a pressure chamber where oxygen is supplied under pressure.

How to treat the patient further depends on the degree of intoxication and the symptoms that appear. The doctor, at his discretion, can prescribe drugs from the group:

• corticosteroids;
• vitamins;
• antidotes;
• detoxifiers, etc.

Drug therapy is prescribed individually in each case.

Main features

Typically, the symptoms of stove burns are not much different from other types of poisoning. The overall picture looks like this:

• lethargy,
• headaches in the temple area,
• dyspnea,
• heaviness in the head
• redness,
• noise in ears,
• drowsiness,
• muscle pain,
• vomit,
• loss of consciousness.

Sometimes symptoms may not appear until several hours after intoxication.

Additionally, a burning sensation in the throat and chest may occur, and the person may also experience coughing. In the following hours, the skin takes on a bluish tint, and then pulmonary edema develops. This is caused by the destructive effects of irritating gases.

In particularly severe poisonings, frequent and shallow breathing can be heard. The patient also suffers from seizures. Subsequently, cardiovascular and respiratory failure develops. Sometimes there are cases of involuntary urination. If you do not go to a medical facility in time, the person dies due to respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest.

If a large part of an open area is on fire, then local residents nearby will feel severe malaise, disruption of the heart rhythm and respiratory system in general.

Possible complications

Having been poisoned by smoke, not every patient rushes to see a doctor for help, believing that there simply cannot be any serious consequences. This is not true. Often the consequences are delayed, expressed in:

• development of diseases of the respiratory system (asthma, silicosis, cancer, etc.);
• chronic hypertension;
• development of pathologies of the nervous system (up to lifelong decline in mental abilities).

A pregnant woman may give birth to a child with developmental defects (cleft palate, cleft lip, etc.) or have a miscarriage due to smoke inhalation.

Medical treatment

Having figured out what to do if you inhale smoke from a fire, many people can save the lives of their friends or colleagues by following simple rules.

After the victim is taken to the hospital, the doctor will examine him, which will become the basis for prescribing initial treatment measures.

The first step after hospitalization is usually prolonged breathing of oxygen, which should displace carbon dioxide. The latter negatively affects the functioning of the body due to its connection with hemoglobin.

In the most difficult situations, the patient is prescribed not just a hyperventilation regimen, but is also transferred to a pressure chamber for treatment.

Separately, symptomatic treatment is prescribed, which involves taking:

• antidotes,
• cardiac drug groups,
• corticosteroids;
• vitamins

The recovery period takes place strictly under the supervision of specialists, first on an inpatient basis and then on an outpatient basis.

Precautionary measures

Smoke poisoning can be prevented by taking basic precautions. These include:

• regular inspection and cleaning of chimneys, ventilation shafts and heating devices;
• installation of special sensors capable of responding to smoke or gas;
• the habit of turning off the car in the garage and starting it in a closed room only for a short time;
• avoiding staying on busy roads for long periods of time, if possible;
• use of Acizol if contact with carbon monoxide is necessary;
• compliance with safety rules when making fires and working with welding.

You need to know what the symptoms of poisoning are and in what cases it is possible in order to protect yourself and your loved ones from danger. When intoxicated by combustion products, timely assistance often plays a decisive role. Qualified treatment in a hospital after properly provided first aid will help prevent dangerous consequences.

What to do?

First aid for poisoning by combustion products is extremely important. But before starting auxiliary measures, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. After this, several measures can be taken to alleviate the condition of the victim. Their list includes:

• removing the poisoned person to fresh air. If he is unconscious, he must be taken out and provided with fresh air.
• liberation from all constricting elements of clothing. For example, you need to take off your tie or unbutton your collar.
• Give the patient a drink of hot, strong tea.
• accelerating the elimination of toxins that have managed to enter the blood. This can be done by using sorbents from the first aid kit. Even regular activated carbon will do.
• bringing to life if a person constantly faints. Here you should use a proven method, which involves using a cotton swab with ammonia, which is brought to the victim’s nose.
• If a person vomits, then this is normal. You just need to make sure that the airways remain open. If vomit remains, it should be removed manually directly from the mouth. Otherwise, the patient may suffocate.
• If the victim is still fainting, he should be placed on a flat surface with his head turned to the side. This is necessary as a preventive measure for tongue retraction.
• pulse check. If it cannot be traced, then it is necessary to carry out emergency resuscitation measures: indirect cardiac massage, as well as artificial respiration.

First aid for smoke poisoning also includes avoiding possible hypothermia. If necessary, it is better to apply warm heating pads to the extremities of the poisoned person. Too hot surfaces are contraindicated here, since the patient’s sensitivity threshold will now be significantly reduced.

Impact on the body

Smoke poisoning is usually scary because the combustion process releases substances harmful to the respiratory system. This applies not only to the combustion of objects during an accidental fire or purposeful lighting of a fire, but also when a person enters a smoky room.

After the smoke enters the bloodstream, it immediately begins to bind hemoglobin. It is he who is responsible for the transfer of oxygen. If the deficiency of oxygen transport persists for quite a long time, this leads to hypoxia. Tissues and organs lose their ability to function normally, which first leads to disruption of their activity, and then to a complete cessation of vital activity.

The brain is the first to suffer from hypoxia. Its damage can cause death.

The composition of the smoke can vary significantly depending on where the fire occurs and what exactly it says. You can often get burned from smoke due to the following components:

• carbon dioxide,
• nitric oxide,
• sulfur dioxide and trioxide,
• hydrogen sulfide,
• ammonium hydroxide,
• phosgene.

But these are only the most common substances, so the smoke content can vary significantly.

Children are especially susceptible to its negative influence. If the baby's parents smoke, he may be exposed to chronic intoxication. Moreover, danger lurks not only in cases where a child falls asleep in a smoky room. A child may become a victim of secondhand smoke due to the carelessness of his own parents. This is why doctors ask mothers and fathers not to smoke in front of their children, because if they want to spoil their health, they can do so, but this should not affect their offspring.