How carbon monoxide poisoning happens — and how to prevent it
Thirty-five students and eight adults students were sent to hospitals on Monday after a LaSalle school was evacuated because of high levels of carbon monoxide.
Here’s what you should know about the potentially deadly gas. What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a clear, odourless and tasteless gas that can make humans sick and can lead to death. The gas is created when fuels such as oil, coal, wood, gasoline, propane and natural gas are burned. Health Canada says the risk of having carbon monoxide in a building is higher in the winter due to use of furnaces and wood stoves, which can release the gas if they are not installed correctly, or if they malfunction.
How does carbon monoxide affect humans?
Carbon monoxide does not irritate the eyes or respiratory tract. But when a person inhales it, the gas enters their blood and interferes with oxygen intake, damaging tissue, according to Quebec’s health department. The effects can vary depending on the quantity of the gas in the air and the length of exposure. Severe carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to a coma and death within minutes.
Carbon monoxide poisoning affects some people more quickly than others. Those most vulnerable to the illness include pregnant women, newborns, children, the elderly and people suffering from pulmonary, respiratory or cardiovascular problems, the Montreal Children’s Hospital says.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Symptoms can vary, Quebec’s health department says:
Light poisoning:
Headache
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
More serious poisoning: Dizziness
Fatigue
Chest pain
Vision problems Difficulty concentrating Severe poisoning:
Problems co-ordinating movement or muscle paralysis, which prevent the person from leaving the premises
Loss of consciousness
How is carbon monoxide poisoning treated?
A physician should treat carbon monoxide poisoning, Quebec health officials say.
The standard treatment: administration of high levels of oxygen.
“If the person’s condition is more serious, the physician may prescribe hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” Quebec’s health department says. “For this treatment, the person is placed in a closed chamber in which they receive pressurized oxygen.”
How can you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
The only way to detect the presence of the gas is to install a carbon monoxide detector.
Two-thirds of all households have at least one source of carbon monoxide. Less than one-third of these households are equipped with a carbon monoxide detector, says the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
Whether or not your alarm goes off, if you have symptoms of poisoning, you should leave the premises and go outside, and call 911 or Quebec’s poison control centre (1-800-463-5060), health officials say. Leave the door open when exiting to completely ventilate the premises.
Wait for the authorization of a firefighter before returning inside, even for a few minutes.
Do not use your fuel-burning appliances again before having them checked by a qualified person.