Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning. What to do about carbon monoxide poisoning

Most likely, everyone at least once heard such a thing as "carbon monoxide". After all, many people have suffered because of this substance. Unfortunately, despite the awareness of carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide poisoning is still common. Often this is observed in homes where there is a harmful effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is expressed in the fact that the substance affects the respiratory system. As a result, changes in the composition of the blood occur. Then the whole body starts to suffer. Left untreated, intoxication can cause serious consequences.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless substance. Another name for this compound is carbon monoxide. The formula for carbon monoxide is CO. This substance is not considered to pose a major hazard at room temperature. High toxicity occurs if the atmospheric air is very hot. For example, during fires. However, even small concentrations of carbon monoxide can cause poisoning. At room temperature, this chemical rarely causes symptoms of severe intoxication. But it can cause chronic poisoning, which people rarely pay attention to.

Found everywhere. It is formed not only during fires, but also under normal conditions. Carbon monoxide is dealt with daily by people who own a car and smoke. In addition, it is contained in the air. However, its concentration is significantly exceeded during various emergencies. The allowable content of carbon monoxide is considered to be 33 mg / m 3 (maximum value), the lethal dose is 1.8%. With an increase in the concentration of a substance in the air, symptoms of hypoxia develop, that is, a lack of oxygen.

Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

The main cause of poisoning is the harmful effect of carbon monoxide on the human body. This happens if the concentration of this compound in the atmosphere is above the permissible norm. What causes an increase in carbon monoxide? There are several factors due to which carbon monoxide is formed:

Fires in enclosed spaces. A well-known fact is that most often death during fires does not occur due to the direct effects of fire (burns), but due to hypoxia. The low oxygen supply to the body is due to the increased amount of carbon monoxide in the air.
Stay in specialized institutions (factories, laboratories) where carbon monoxide is used. This substance is necessary to synthesize various chemical compounds. Among them - acetone, alcohol, phenol.
Failure to comply with the rules for the operation of gas equipment. It includes running water heaters, stoves.
Violation of the functioning of furnace heating. A high concentration of carbon monoxide is often observed due to poor draft in ventilation ducts and chimneys.
Long stay with cars in an unventilated garage, box.
Tobacco smoking, especially hookah.

In the situations listed above, you should constantly pay attention to changes in well-being. If there are signs of illness, you need to seek help. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector if possible. To a greater extent, it is needed in poorly ventilated areas.

Effects of carbon monoxide on the body

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous to the body? This is due to the mechanism of its effect on tissues. The main effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is blocking the delivery of oxygen to cells. As you know, the hemoglobin protein contained in erythrocytes is involved in this process. Under the influence of carbon monoxide, oxygen transport to the tissues is disrupted. This occurs as a result of protein binding and the formation of a compound such as carboxyhemoglobin. The consequence of such changes is the development of hemic hypoxia. That is, damage to red blood cells is considered the cause of oxygen starvation. In addition, there is another detrimental effect of carbon monoxide on the human body. It has a detrimental effect on muscle tissue. This is due to the binding of carbon monoxide to myoglobin. As a result, there are violations of the heart and skeletal muscles. Severe consequences of hypoxia of the brain and other organs can lead to death. Most often, violations occur in acute poisoning. But chronic intoxication is not ruled out.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The main damaging effects of carbon monoxide are directed to the tissue of the brain, heart and skeletal muscles. Damage to the central nervous system is characterized by the occurrence of the following symptoms: headache, nausea, decreased hearing and vision, tinnitus, impaired consciousness and coordination of movements. In severe cases, a coma, convulsive syndrome may develop. Changes in the cardiovascular system are the occurrence of tachycardia, pain in the chest. There is also a decrease in muscle tone, weakness. It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe, tachypnea is noted. The skin and mucous membranes are hyperemic.

In some cases, atypical clinical forms of poisoning occur. These include symptoms such as fainting and euphoria. In the first case, short-term loss of consciousness, a decrease in blood pressure, and pallor of the skin are observed. The euphoric form is characterized by psychomotor agitation, the development of hallucinations, delusions.

Diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide can be provided only if such a condition is diagnosed in time. After all, the symptoms of hypoxia are observed in various diseases. Attention should be paid to the living conditions, the place of work of the patient. If the house has stove heating, you need to find out how often the room is ventilated. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, it is necessary to conduct a study of the gas composition of the blood. With moderate severity, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin is in the range from 20 to 50%. In addition, there is an increase in carbon dioxide content. The oxygen concentration is decreasing. In severe poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin is more than 50%. In addition to oximetry, a general and biochemical blood test is performed. To diagnose complications, ECG, electroencephalography, dopplerography of the vessels of the heart and brain are performed.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

The severity of the patient's condition in case of carbon monoxide poisoning is due to hypoxia. The higher the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, the worse the prognosis of the disease. In addition, it matters how long a person has been in contact with a poisonous substance. The consequences of hypoxia of organs and tissues can lead to complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory and heart failure. With severe intoxication, biochemical disturbances of the acid-base balance are observed. They are the development of metabolic acidosis. If the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is more than 1.8%, a person may die already in the first minutes of being in the room. To prevent the development of severe hypoxia, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

First aid for gas poisoning

What is the emergency treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning? The answer to this question should be known not only by doctors, but also by people at risk (constantly in contact with carbon monoxide). First of all, you should take the injured person to fresh air and ventilate the room. If the patient is unconscious, it is necessary to provide oxygen access, remove tight clothing from him and put him on his left side. If necessary, resuscitation measures are taken. If a person is in, you should bring a cotton swab with ammonia to his nose, rub the chest to improve blood flow to the organs. The antidote for carbon monoxide is oxygen. Therefore, patients with moderate intoxication should be in a special mask for several hours.

Carbon monoxide poisoning: treatment in a hospital setting

In most cases, hospitalization is indicated. The patient does not need a special treatment if he has mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Treatment in this case is to walk in the fresh air. With a moderate and severe degree, hospitalization is necessary, especially this rule applies to pregnant women, children and people suffering from cardiac pathologies. With the development of complications, the patient is placed in the intensive care unit to monitor oxygen saturation indicators. After stabilization of the condition, specific treatment in pressure chambers, climate change, etc. are recommended.

household - what is it?

Currently, there are special sensors that respond to an increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide in the room. A carbon monoxide detector is a household appliance that should be installed almost everywhere. Unfortunately, this rule is rarely observed, and sensors are available only in industrial premises (laboratories, factories). It should be noted that the detectors must be installed in private houses, apartments, as well as garages. This will help to avoid dangerous consequences for life.

If poisoning occurs carbon monoxide , then we are talking about a serious pathological condition. It develops if a certain concentration enters the body carbon monoxide .

This condition is dangerous to health and life, and if you do not turn to specialists for help in a timely manner, death from carbon monoxide can occur.

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, CO) is a product that is released during combustion and enters the atmosphere. Since poison gas has no smell or taste, and it is impossible to determine its presence in the air, it is very dangerous. In addition, it can penetrate soil, walls, filters. Many are interested in the question, carbon monoxide is heavier or lighter than air, the answer is that it is lighter than air.

That is why it is possible to determine that the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is exceeded using special devices. It is also possible to suspect CO poisoning if a person develops some signs rapidly.

In urban conditions, the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is increased by vehicle exhaust gases. But car exhaust poisoning can only occur at high concentrations.

How CO affects the body?

This gas enters the blood very quickly and actively binds to. As a result, it produces carboxyhemoglobin , which is more closely related to hemoglobin than oxyhemoglobin (oxygen and hemoglobin). The resulting substance blocks the transfer of oxygen to tissue cells. As a result, it develops hemic type.

Carbon monoxide in the body binds to myoglobin (it is a protein of skeletal muscles and heart muscle). As a result, the pumping function of the heart decreases, and severe muscle weakness develops.

Also carbon monoxide enters into oxidative reactions, which disrupts the normal biochemical balance in the tissues.

Where can carbon monoxide poisoning occur?

Many situations can occur in which carbon monoxide poisoning is possible:

poisoning by combustion products during a fire;
in rooms where gas equipment is operated, and there is no normal ventilation, there is not enough supply air, which is necessary for normal gas combustion;
in those industries where CO is involved in the reactions of synthesis of substances ( acetone , phenol );
in places where automobile exhaust gases can accumulate due to insufficient ventilation - in tunnels, garages, etc.;
at home, when there is a leakage of lighting gas;
when staying near very busy highways for a long time;
with prolonged use of a kerosene lamp, if the room is not ventilated;
if the stove damper of the home stove, fireplace, sauna stove was closed too early;
when using breathing apparatus with low-quality air.

Who can suffer from hypersensitivity to CO?

people who have been diagnosed with exhaustion of the body;
those who suffer , ;
future mothers;
teenagers, children;
those who smoke a lot;
people who abuse alcohol.

You should know that organs and systems in case of carbon monoxide poisoning are more quickly affected in women. The symptoms of poisoning are very similar. methane .

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The following describes the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans, depending on the concentration of CO. Symptoms of household gas poisoning and poisoning from other sources manifest themselves in different ways, and by the way carbon monoxide (not carbon dioxide, as it is sometimes mistakenly called) acts on a person, one can assume how strong its concentration was in the air. However, carbon dioxide in high concentrations can also lead to poisoning and the manifestation of a number of alarming symptoms.

Concentration up to 0.009%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 3-5 hours:

decrease in the speed of psychomotor reactions;
increased blood flow in vital organs;
in people with heart failure in severe form, chest pain is also noted.

Concentration up to 0.019%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 6 hours:

performance decreases;
shortness of breath with moderate physical exertion;
headache , slightly pronounced;
visual impairment;
the death of those who suffer from severe heart failure is possible, and fetal death can also occur.

Concentration 0.019-0.052%

severe throbbing headache;
irritability, instability of the emotional state;
nausea;
impaired attention, memory;
fine motor problems.

Concentration up to 0.069%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

vision problems;
worse headache pain;
confusion;
weakness;
nausea, vomiting;
runny nose.

Concentration 0.069-0.094%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

severe dysmotility (ataxia);
appearance;
strong rapid breathing.

Concentration 0.1%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

weak pulse;
a state of fainting;
convulsions;
breathing becomes rare and superficial;
condition .

Concentration 0.15%

Clinical manifestations are observed after 1.5 hours. Manifestations are similar to the previous description.

Concentration 0.17%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5 hours.

Manifestations are similar to the previous description.

Concentration 0.2-0.29%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5 hours:

convulsions appear;
there is respiratory depression and cardiac activity;
coma ;
death is likely.

Concentration 0.49-0.99%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2-5 minutes:

no reflexes;
pulse thready;
deep coma;
death.

Concentration 1.2%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5-3 minutes:

convulsions;
lack of consciousness;
vomit;
death.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The table below summarizes the signs that appear with different degrees of poisoning:

The mechanism of development of symptoms

The manifestation of symptoms of various types is associated with exposure to carbon monoxide. Let us consider in more detail the symptoms of various types and the features of the mechanisms of their manifestation.

neurological

The greatest sensitivity to hypoxia show nerve cells as well as the brain. That is why the development of dizziness, nausea, headache indicate that oxygen starvation of cells occurs. More severe neurological symptoms appear as a result of severe or irreversible damage to the nerve structures. In this case, convulsions, impaired consciousness occur.

Respiratory

When breathing quickens, the compensatory mechanism “turns on”. However, if the respiratory center is damaged after poisoning, the respiratory movements become superficial and ineffective.

Cardiovascular

Due to the lack of oxygen, more active cardiac activity is noted, that is, tachycardia . But due to hypoxia of the heart muscle, pain in the heart can also occur. If such pain becomes acute, it means that oxygen has completely stopped flowing to the myocardium.

Dermal

Due to a very strong compensatory blood flow to the head, the mucous membranes and skin of the head become blue-red.

If mild or moderate carbon monoxide poisoning or natural gas poisoning occurs, then for a long time a person may experience: dizziness and headaches. Also, his memory, intellectual abilities are deteriorating, emotional fluctuations are noted, since during poisoning the gray and white matter of the brain is affected.

The consequences of severe poisoning, as a rule, are irreversible. Very often, such lesions end in death. In this case, the following severe manifestations are noted:

subarachnoid hemorrhages;
disorders of a skin-trophic nature (edema and tissue);
cerebral edema ;
violation of cerebral hemodynamics;
deterioration of vision and hearing up to complete loss;
polyneuritis ;
pneumonia in severe form, which complicates coma;

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First of all, emergency care for carbon monoxide poisoning involves the immediate cessation of human contact with the gas that poisons the body, as well as the restoration of all important body functions. It is extremely important that the person who provides first aid does not become poisoned in the course of these actions. Therefore, if possible, it is necessary to put on a gas mask, and only after that go to the room where the poisoning occurred.

Before the start of PMP, it is necessary to take out or remove the one who suffered from the room in which the concentration of carbon monoxide is increased. You need to clearly understand what CO is what kind of gas, and how quickly it can harm the body. And since each breath of poisoned air will only increase negative symptoms, it is necessary to deliver the victim to fresh air as soon as possible.

No matter how quickly and professionally the first aid is provided, even if the person feels relatively well, it is necessary to call an ambulance. There is no need to be deceived by the fact that the victim is joking and laughing, because such a reaction can be provoked by the action of carbon monoxide on the vital centers of the nervous system. Only a professional doctor can clearly assess the patient's condition and understand what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If the degree of poisoning is mild, the victim should be given strong tea, warm it up and ensure complete rest.

If confusion is noted, or it is absent at all, you should lay the person on his side on a flat surface, make sure that he receives an influx of fresh air by unbuttoning his belt, collar, underwear. Give a sniff of ammonia, holding the cotton at a distance of 1 cm.

In the absence of a heartbeat and breathing, artificial respiration should be carried out, a sternum massage should be done in the projection of the heart.

In an emergency, you can't act rashly. If there are still people in a burning building, you cannot save them on your own, as this can lead to an increase in the number of victims. It is important to immediately call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Even after a few breaths of CO poisoned air, death can occur. Therefore, it is a mistake to believe that a wet rag or gauze mask can protect against the harmful effects of carbon monoxide. Only a gas mask can prevent the lethal effects of CO.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning

Do not practice after poisoning treatment at home. A person in such a situation needs the help of specialists.

Provided that the victim is in a critical condition, doctors carry out a set of resuscitation measures. Immediately injected intramuscularly 1 ml of antidote 6%. The victim must be taken to the hospital.

It is important that in such conditions the patient is provided with complete rest. He is provided with breathing with pure oxygen (partial pressure 1.5-2 atm.) Or carbogen (composition - 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide). This procedure is carried out for 3-6 hours.

Further, it is important to ensure the restoration of the functions of the central nervous system and other organs. The treatment regimen prescribed by the specialist depends on how severe the patient's condition is and whether the pathological reactions that occurred after the poisoning are reversible.

In order to prevent natural gas and CO poisoning, it is important to follow very carefully those rules that will help prevent dangerous situations.

If there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during certain work, they should only be carried out in rooms that are well ventilated.
Carefully check the dampers of fireplaces, stoves, do not close them completely until the firewood is burned.
In a room where CO poisoning can potentially occur, it is necessary to install autonomous gas detectors.
If possible contact with carbon monoxide is planned, one capsule should be taken. Acizola half an hour before such contact. The protective effect will last up to two and a half hours after taking the capsule.

Acizol is a domestically produced medicine that is an effective and fast-acting antidote against acute CO poisoning. It creates an obstacle in the body for the formation carboxyhemoglobin , and also speeds up the process of removing carbon monoxide.

The sooner Acizol is administered intramuscularly in case of poisoning, the greater the chances of a person to survive. Also, this medicine increases the effectiveness of those measures that will subsequently be taken for resuscitation and treatment.

conclusions

Thus, carbon monoxide poisoning is a very dangerous condition. The higher the gas concentration, the more likely the death. Therefore, it is very important to be extremely careful to comply with all the rules of prevention, and at the first suspicion of such poisoning, immediately call for emergency care.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most common poisonings. It occurs due to the inhalation of air filled with smoke or carbon monoxide. The toxic effect on the human body of this colorless, odorless gas is undeniable, but the exact mechanism of its action has not yet been proven.

It is important to know that intoxication resulting from poisoning proceeds with complications and negatively affects the functionality of internal organs and systems in both children and adults.

How does carbon monoxide poisoning happen?

The saturation of the air with toxic vapors, due to their lack of organoleptic properties, is difficult to determine without special instruments. Therefore, poisoning often occurs both at home and at work.

If you use heating columns with poor ventilation at home, faulty furnace installations, then saturation of the air with a toxic substance cannot be avoided. Also, intoxication of the body with poisonous gas is often observed as a result of a long stay in closed parking lots and garages with a large concentration of cars. The saturation of space, in such places, is as fast as possible. Sometimes symptoms of intoxication are observed in active smokers and lovers of hookahs.

For poisoning, it is enough to inhale air containing 0.1% CO2. The severity of intoxication is also affected by the time factor of CO impact on the body. There is also a certain risk group of people in whom the process of acute intoxication occurs an order of magnitude faster.

The risk group includes:

women during pregnancy;
children;
old men;
young immunocompromised people after illness.

According to the international classification of diseases ICD-10, the poisoning of this type is assigned the code T58.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide binds red blood cells and prevents them from transporting oxygen to human organs and tissues. Thus, it inhibits mitochondrial respiration and the process of saturating the body with oxygen. The nervous system, respiratory organs suffer from a lack of oxygen, the work of the heart goes astray and the vascular tissue is deformed. Carbon monoxide poisoning is divided by physicians into three stages of severity. (stages below)

The first mild stage, with timely assistance, passes quickly and the symptoms subside without complications. The middle and severe stages of intoxication provoke the development of serious complications in the victim. With prolonged inhalation of air saturated with carbon monoxide, even death is possible.

Mild stage symptoms:

pulsation in the temporal region, squeezing headache;
blurred consciousness;
noise or ringing in the ears;
pre-fainting state;
mild nausea;
decreased vision, tearfulness;
discomfort in the larynx, causing coughing fits;
hard breathing.

With more prolonged inhalation of carbon monoxide, symptoms rapidly worsen. At the initial stage of poisoning, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the body reaches 30%, then at the middle stage this figure reaches 40%.

Moderate symptoms:

temporary unconsciousness;
a feeling of stupor and a violation of general coordination in space;
severe shortness of breath;
cramps in the limbs;
insufficient oxygen supply to brain cells leads to hallucinations;
pressure in the chest area;
difference in the size of the pupils of the eyes;
temporary or permanent loss of hearing and vision.

If carbon monoxide poisoning continues, severe poisoning is diagnosed. It can be complicated by a rapid course, when a person dies in a few minutes.

Main symptoms:

falling into a coma, which can last several days;
severe convulsions leading to paralysis;
weak pulse and dilated pupils;
intermittent shallow breathing;
bluish skin and mucous membranes;
spontaneous excretion of urine and feces.

The above signs are characteristic of the three standard forms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some victims show atypical symptoms that are not described above.

Non-standard symptoms:

a sharp decrease in pressure to 70-50 mm Hg, which leads to fainting;
excited state (euphoria) with hallucinations;
a state of coma with a fatal outcome (rapid course).

First aid for gas intoxication

Only medical professionals can objectively assess the situation and its severity, so you need to immediately call an ambulance. Prior to her arrival, it is desirable to provide the victim with first aid, which will reduce the risk of complications.

Before the arrival of the doctors you need:

neutralize the source that emits carbon monoxide;
provide the victim with an influx of fresh air (help him go outside or open windows);
release the person from tight clothing, unfasten the top buttons and loosen the belt to ensure better patency of clean air into the lungs;
do not let the victim fall asleep, try to keep him conscious until the doctors arrive, using ammonia.
when the victim regained consciousness, it is necessary to give him absorbent drugs, for example, Polysorb. It actively cleanses the body of toxic substances.

This should be first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning until the arrival of doctors. Next, the doctors themselves will diagnose, administer an antidote and decide on the need for hospitalization. The actions of physicians in case of carbon monoxide poisoning should be clear and quick.

They include the following manipulations:

using an oxygen mask to restore breathing;
the use of the drug Acizol, which is an antidote because it destroys carboxyhemoglobin molecules;
subcutaneous injections of caffeine to normalize the heart rhythm;
intravenous injections of the enzyme Carboxylase, which also destroys carboxyhemoglobin;
hospitalization of the victim for a complete examination and symptomatic therapy. The antidote is administered daily at 1 ml for a week.

Treatment at home is possible only in the case when an overdose of poisonous gas did not lead to serious consequences. The first degree of poisoning (lightened) in adults is removed quickly and does not have any serious consequences in the future. A certain category of victims needs an additional health examination in a hospital, after carbon monoxide poisoning.

This list includes:

pregnant women;
victims with concomitant diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
adults with neurotic disorders;
patients with low body temperature.

When is medical assistance required?

All cases of acute poisoning with corresponding symptoms suggest the provision of emergency medical care. Depending on the general condition of the patient, he is placed in the intensive care unit or in intensive care. When first aid is provided, the victim may need to continue treatment aimed at restoring the work of all organs and systems.

Consequences and prevention

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes many unpleasant health complications in people. Physicians divide them into two groups. Early complications appear immediately after poisoning, and late complications appear weeks or even months later.

Early complications:

regular headaches and dizziness;
retardation of movements and low sensitivity of the fingers and toes;
violation of the functioning of the intestines and urea;
deterioration of vision and hearing;
unbalanced mental state;
swelling of the brain and lungs;
violation of the outflow of blood and failures in the heart rhythm;
death due to cardiac arrest.

Late complications may appear after 30-40 days. The long time of manifestation of pathologies is due to the fact that they develop as the work of internal organs and systems worsens. Most often, pathologies are determined in the work of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory organs and the nervous system.

These include:

decreased limb activity leading to paralysis;
development of amnesia;
heart attack (may cause cardiac arrest);
ischemic disease of the heart muscle;
cardiac asthma.

All of these diseases develop as a result of acute carbon monoxide poisoning and the provision of 1 help late.

What to do to protect yourself and your loved ones from poisoning? Number one on the list of preventive measures is strict adherence to fire safety rules. People often carelessly follow these rules, causing accidents.

To exclude the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning at work and at home, it is recommended to stop using broken gas and electrical equipment. It is not necessary to stay in a closed room where cars work for a long time. All industrial garages and basements must be equipped with a powerful ventilation system.

Video with Elena Malysheva about carbon monoxide

Accidents can happen to anyone and are almost impossible to prevent. But each of us needs to have information on how to behave if such a nuisance happened to someone close to us or just to a random stranger. So a fairly common and at the same time dangerous accident is carbon monoxide poisoning, symptoms, the treatment of which should be known in advance.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in different situations, for example, by inhalation, in case of carbon monoxide poisoning in everyday life (due to leakage of domestic gas or malfunction of appliances, etc.). Also, such an accident can occur due to poisoning in a fire.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning depend on its concentration in the inhaled air, as well as on the duration of its exposure to the human body.

With a mild form of carbon monoxide poisoning, a person begins to have a headache, which is shingles in nature, and can be localized in the temples or in the forehead area. The victim is worried about dizziness, noise sensations in the ears and an unpleasant flicker before the eyes. Consciousness becomes clouded, coordination of movements is disturbed, visual acuity and hearing may decrease. In some cases, there is a short-term loss of consciousness, and nausea often occurs, turning into vomiting.

Many victims of carbon monoxide poisoning complain of a rapid pulse, palpitations, and pressing pain in the region of the heart. Breathing becomes frequent, shortness of breath occurs. When exposed to carbon monoxide, the skin of the face, as well as the mucous membranes, turns bright red or pink.

With a severe degree of carbon monoxide poisoning, the victim loses consciousness, he may begin to have convulsions. Sometimes pathological processes cause coma, involuntary urination or defecation. The pulse is quite frequent, but weakly palpable. The likelihood of development increases. The victim's breathing becomes shallow and intermittent, the skin and mucous membranes look pale with an unexpressed pinkish tinge.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - emergency

The first step is to stop the aggressive effect of carbon monoxide on a person: take it to fresh air or use an oxygen mask (you can also use a gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge). In the room, it is necessary to dissolve the windows and doors for ventilation.

Clear the airway of the victim, then remove the tie from his neck, unbutton his shirt, etc. It is best to lay the person on his side.

To stimulate the respiratory processes, bring the patient to consciousness and activate blood flow to the head area, let the victim smell ammonia. But do not bring it closer to the nose by less than one centimeter. Rub the patient's chest, you can place mustard plasters on your back and chest - this is how you stimulate.
Give the patient hot tea and coffee - to increase the tone of the nervous system and to stimulate breathing.

If necessary, the victim is carried out. At the same time, for thirty clicks on the sternum area, two breaths are taken.

After that, it is necessary to lay the patient on his side and warm him well, protecting him from hypothermia. And, of course, call an ambulance! In such actions, the provision of first aid in case of gas poisoning consists.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - treatment of the victim

Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning by doctors begins with the use of an antidote -. For carbon monoxide poisoning, doctors use one hundred percent oxygen, it is applied at 10-15 l / min and served through a mask adjacent to the face. If the patient is unconscious, specialists carry out intubation and transfer the victim to a ventilator (artificial lung ventilation) again with one hundred percent oxygen.

Also, the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning involves infusion therapy. It is aimed at correcting hemodynamic disorders and. Patients are intravenously injected with sodium bicarbonate (soda) - a four percent solution in the amount of four hundred milliliters. Hemodez is also carried out or the introduction of polyionic solutions (quartosal, chlosol, acesol).

Therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning may involve the use of acyzol, an antidote for carbon monoxide. Such a tool helps to accelerate the breakdown of aggressive carboxyhemoglobin and promotes the addition of oxygen to hemoglobin. effectively reduces the toxic effect of carbon monoxide on the cells of the brain and the whole body. It is usually used for intramuscular injection, injecting one milliliter of the drug as early as possible after the poisoning has occurred. Re-introduction is carried out in an hour.

The victims are also prescribed vitamin preparations, they contribute to the reimbursement of energy costs. The drugs of choice are usually solutions of ascorbic acid (five percent in the amount of twenty milliliters) and glucose (forty percent in the amount of sixty milliliters). These drugs are administered intravenously.

Doctors who manage patients who have had carbon monoxide poisoning should be prepared for correction as well. Also, patients may develop convulsions and even coma.

With mild poisoning, it is quite possible to cope on an outpatient basis. If poisoning of moderate or severe severity has occurred, hospitalization is indispensable.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - home treatment

You can cope with the consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning with the use of traditional medicine. Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning at home can be carried out after the patient has received qualified medical care and permission to return home.

Treatment after carbon monoxide poisoning with infusion of cranberries and lingonberries. Healers advise combining one hundred grams of dried berries with two hundred grams of lingonberries. Rub them well and combine with three hundred milliliters of boiling water. Infuse the medicine for two hours, then strain. Take an infusion of cranberries and lingonberries fifty milliliters six times a day.

Infusion of knotweed - use for carbon monoxide poisoning. To quickly remove aggressive substances from the body, prepare a dry one. Brew a couple of tablespoons of such crushed raw materials with half a liter of only boiled water. Insist for one to two hours, then strain. Take the finished drink in half a glass twice or thrice a day.

Rhodiola rosea extract - use for carbon monoxide poisoning. To improve the activity of the body after suffering poisoning, you can prepare an alcohol extract of Rhodiola rosea. It can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. After carbon monoxide poisoning, you need to take a tincture of five to ten drops twice or thrice a day, dissolving such a volume of medicine in a small amount of water. The last reception should be carried out no later than seven in the evening. In parallel, you need to take water sweetened with honey.

Decoction of dandelion roots. Dandelion also has excellent antitoxic properties. Brew six grams of dried crushed raw materials with two hundred milliliters of boiling water and boil for a quarter of an hour. Then insist the medicine for another half hour. Strain the finished infusion and dilute it with warm, pre-boiled water to the initial volume. Take it in a tablespoon three times a day.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a dangerous condition that requires immediate first aid and adequate therapy under the supervision of doctors.

Ekaterina, www.site
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Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous harmful substances. Not only health, but also human life depends on how quickly and efficiently first aid is provided for carbon monoxide poisoning.

This substance with the onset of cold weather becomes one of the most dangerous killers.

The decisive moment in case of carbon monoxide poisoning is timely provided first aid. It is necessary to act promptly. Not only the health of the victim depends on this, but his life.

First of all, you need to move the poisoned person outside, to fresh air. Further, in any way to facilitate breathing: unfasten clothes, free the upper respiratory tract. If a person is unconscious, it is necessary to lay him on his side. In this position, the risk of retraction of the tongue is minimal.

Each person should be familiar with the method of providing assistance for such poisoning.

Then you need to stimulate the saturation of the respiratory organs with oxygen. The method depends on the condition: use ammonia to bring to life, warm the legs and arms.

If you managed to bring a person to life, this does not mean that everything worked out. In any case, you need to call an ambulance. Only doctors will be able to determine the level of damage and prescribe further treatment. The timeliness of medical care is very important: this way you can avoid complications after poisoning. If the victim is unconscious, then you need to call an ambulance first of all, after he was taken out of the smoky room.

What is carbon monoxide and why is it dangerous?

When burning any type of fuel, where one of the important components is carbon, its oxide CO is formed. This is carbon monoxide. It has no smell, no color. For its toxicity and special danger, it was called the "silent killer".

Carbon dioxide released during fires is less dangerous: it causes an attack of suffocation and forces people to act in order to save themselves. Carbon monoxide is more insidious. The person does not experience any serious ailment, except for drowsiness. Feeling a breakdown, a desire to sleep, a person makes a fatal mistake - he tries to lie down. And when the realization comes that you need to go out into the fresh air, a person is no longer able to change the situation.

The danger of toxic effects of carbon monoxide is explained by the fact that, when it enters the human body, it forms carboxyhemoglobin. This connection with hemoglobin is stronger than the connection between hemoglobin and oxygen, which is so necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. The degeneration of hemoglobin instantly reduces the supply of oxygen to tissues, which leads to hypoxia.

The central nervous system, kidneys and heart immediately react to the lack of oxygen. Untimely assistance in case of carbon monoxide poisoning is the cause of serious diseases:

cerebral edema,
myocardial infarction,
kidney failure,
pneumonia.

If the toxic effect turned out to be strong (long stay in a smoky room or a high concentration of fumes), then death is inevitable.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

In acute intoxication, the symptoms appear immediately and differ in the degree of damage.

A mild degree of poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

violation in the perception of color;
all reactions are inhibited;
pain in the temples;
dizziness;
noise in ears;
muscle weakness;
nausea;
tearing;
redness of the skin and mucous membranes;
cardiopalmus.

It is these symptoms that are the signals of CO poisoning.

With an average level of severity, all symptoms are aggravated. Possible short syncope, vomiting, clouding of consciousness, auditory and visual hallucinations, acute pain in the chest.

The severe form is accompanied by negative changes that affect all vital organs.

Skin and mucous membranes

There is a picture of a "thermal burn", trophic lesions of the skin, painful swelling of the extremities are possible.

Respiratory system

With an average degree, pulmonary edema develops on the first day. Subsequently, pneumonia can be diagnosed.

The cardiovascular system

Insufficient amount of oxygen provokes cardiovascular insufficiency, toxic damage to the heart muscle. The clinical picture worsens after a few days, signs of a heart attack appear. Myocardial damage manifests itself over the next one and a half months, even in young people. Recovery is difficult, repeated complications are possible.

Nervous system

After leaving the coma, manifestations of parkinsonism are possible, disorders of the peripheral nervous system are observed. Rarely, psychosis develops.

There are several stages of severity of harm to health

The acute or chronic form of poisoning depends on the concentration of fumes and the time of its exposure to a person. This is crucial in first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning.

chronic poisoning

The reality is that all the inhabitants of modern megacities suffer from the effects of CO in a chronic form. The abundance of cars is accompanied by the release of exhaust gases and various impurities that accompany the process of generation of thermal energy. In hazardous industries (metallurgy, boiler houses, etc.), the concentration of CO is insignificant, but constant. Over time, the accumulation of harmful substances reaches a critical level. The danger of the chronic form of poisoning is that it goes almost unnoticed. And only after 10-15 years its destructive impact is felt.

At the initial stages, constant headaches are noted, working capacity decreases. In the future, a person develops weakness during any physical exertion, shortness of breath develops, leg cramps begin to torment at night, periodically there are pains in the back, in the joints. Then more serious changes occur in the body: various pathologies of the liver, the cardiovascular system develop, and anemia is possible. In addition, endocrine disorders, disruptions in the menstrual cycle, complications during pregnancy, and the appearance of sexual dysfunction in men can be noted. The last stage is characterized by a weakening of the immune system and the appearance of oncological diseases.

Acute poisoning

Both forms - chronic and acute - are equally dangerous. In chronic, you can skip the very fact of intoxication, while the acute form is determined immediately due to a visible deterioration in the condition. But in the latter case, you can immediately provide first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning.

According to the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin, 3 degrees of poisoning are distinguished:

The mild is accompanied by symptoms that disappear after the cessation of the effect of the harmful substance. The concentration of carboxyhemoglobin is up to 30%.
The average degree develops in the presence of 30-40% carboxyhemoglobin in the blood. Signs of intoxication are pronounced. After the provision of medical care, residual effects are diagnosed for several more days.
In severe form of intoxication, the content of carboxyhemoglobin reaches 50%. There are serious violations of vital organs, which can result in death. With timely assistance, this outcome can be avoided, but serious complications will arise. Residual manifestations of poisoning are observed for several weeks.

In some cases, atypical forms of gas damage are observed - euphoric and fainting.

The latter is characterized by various mental disorders: incoherent delirium, agitation, causeless laughter, hallucinations. With a fainting form, loss of consciousness is characteristic, pressure decreases sharply, the skin becomes pale.

Treatment in a hospital

Even before arriving at the hospital, the ambulance team provides first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning. The patient is put on an oxygen mask, intravenous injections are made to relieve intoxication, and other drugs are also administered depending on his condition. In severe cases, resuscitation is carried out.

Treatment in a hospital depends on the degree of poisoning. The patient can be placed in the intensive care unit, and in severe cases - in intensive care. In case of CO poisoning, the main treatment involves the removal of carboxymoglobin from the body. For this purpose, the patient is placed in an oxygen pressure chamber so that the body is freed from carboxymoglobin and saturated with oxygen. Additionally, the patient is given a course of intravenous administration of drugs for further detoxification. If symptoms of damage to other organs are observed, additional treatment is prescribed. The length of stay in the hospital depends entirely on the patient's condition, as well as possible complications after poisoning.

We remind you once again that a person's life depends on the timely provision of medical care!