In what cases can carbon monoxide poisoning occur?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur due to incomplete combustion of the combustible substance when natural gas is burning in enterprises that produce organic substances with poorly functioning ventilation systems, parking lots, newly painted and unventilated rooms, houses and bathrooms with fuel-heated furnaces, as well as in domestic conditions. Even the smallest amount of carbon dioxide is enough to cause poisoning. A person does not feel its effects until he feels the symptoms of weakness.
The main cause of poisoning
Non-observance of safety rules when using gas, coal, firewood and similar fuels, use of non-standard, i.e. homemade or non-certified heating stoves and equipment, improper installation of chimneys, heating stoves adapted to gas or other alternative fuel and bringing gas cylinders into bedrooms, use of open fire or coal and wood for heating rooms with no air exchange cause gas poisoning. Also, it is possible to get poisoned in cases such as closing the ventilation holes of the air exchanger, malfunctioning of the ventilation system, using the engine of motor vehicles in closed buildings, using a gas stove for heating the building and drying clothes, leaving it switched on without supervision, leaving gas cylinders near the heat source, leaking natural gas from the pipes, not closing the lid of the ovens.
Without sufficient oxygen during combustion, poisoning can occur in any environment, even when a gas stovetop oven is operating.
What is prohibited in the use of natural gas?
It is forbidden to arbitrarily gasify the house, replace and repair the gas plate, shut off the chimney and ventilation systems of the building, disconnect the safety and adjustment automation, use of gas appliances by children of preschool age, as well as persons who cannot control their actions, use of gas appliances for other purposes, sleep and rest in the room where they are installed.
What to do if you smell gas in the building?
In such cases, it was requested to immediately notify the gas emergency dispatch service by phone number 104 and the rescue service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by phone number 1050, close all gas taps, do not use open flames, immediately open doors and windows, ventilate the room, and do not turn on electrical equipment.
What measures should be taken to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
For this, citizens are given the following recommendations:
- constantly pay special attention to the adjustment of the heating furnaces and chimneys in the building, that they are not blocked by various items and barriers, and that they are cleaned on time by special organizations;
- do not use improvised and faulty heating devices to heat the room;
- do not leave the heating system of the building unattended at night;
- do not use natural gas stoves installed in the kitchen to heat rooms;
- follow the procedures for connecting gas equipment, do not allow them to be connected through rubber hoses.
Remember, you and your loved ones' safety and health are always in your hands!
Sanjar ERGASNEV,
Ministry of Emergencies, Civil Protection
Institute teacher, associate professor.