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Carbon monoxide, or as it is also called carbon monoxide, is often used by the manufacturing industry. It is important to handle this substance carefully, as the consequences of poisoning can be very serious.
As a rule, carbon monoxide is used as a synthesizer for acetone, methyl alcohol, phenol, and many other organic substances. Therefore, if you work in such conditions, be sure to ventilate the room in which you are and follow all safety rules.
You can get carbon monoxide poisoning at home, especially for people who heat their living quarters with stoves. It is not enough time to close the stove damper, as carbon monoxide will begin to spread throughout the house.
How do you know if you have carbon monoxide poisoning?
As soon as this substance enters the human body, a slight headache begins, accompanied by heaviness. You may also notice nausea, dizziness, whistling in the ears, and a rapid heartbeat.
After some time, a person begins to show weakness in the muscles, gag reflexes, which often end in the release of vomit.
If you stay in a room with carbon monoxide for a long time, then all signs of poisoning will gradually increase, and drowsiness, loss of consciousness and heavy breathing will join them.
Outwardly, poisoning is manifested by pallor of the skin or the appearance of burgundy spots. If you do not leave this room in time, then breathing will become superficial, convulsive seizures will begin to appear.
The worst thing that carbon monoxide poisoning can end up with is paralysis of the respiratory center, which can lead to death.
Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous to the human body?
Carbon monoxide begins its negative effect on the body after its components begin to combine with hemoglobin. Recall that hemoglobin is a chemical compound of blood, which consists of iron and protein. It is these trace elements that are responsible for saturating tissues with oxygen. As a result of the combination of carbon monoxide and hemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin begins to form, which completely stops transporting oxygen through the tissues. Because of this, oxygen starvation of tissues begins.
Therefore, the first symptoms are associated with the central nervous system, as it constantly needs a full oxygen supply.
Where can you get carbon monoxide poisoning?
More likely to carbon monoxide poisoning are people who:
- work as machinists in motor ships, airplanes and diesel locomotives;
- work in boiler houses, foundries;
- participate in mass terrorist activities;
- work in rooms where the presence of carbon monoxide is possible.
First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning
If you notice the first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in a person, then you must immediately call an ambulance, and while you are waiting for the doctors, immediately, in any weather, take the person to fresh air. It is desirable that he was there for at least one hour, the best option is two to three hours. Thus, under the pressure of oxygen, part of the substances will leave the body. Put it on the floor or on the ground, free the chest area from clothing (it will be easier for a person to breathe). To prevent the victim from freezing, you need to cover him with something warm or overlay heating pads.
If a person is in a state, it is necessary to give him something warm to drink. It can be tea, compote or plain warm water. If you have chosen tea, then it is better to make it strong, this will help relieve the person of nausea.
Be careful not to let the victim fall asleep. When a person sleeps, breathing becomes much more difficult, and the supply of oxygen slows down. If oxygen ceases to enter the human body, then instant death occurs. If the victim tends to sleep, it is strictly forbidden to disturb him strongly. Increased physical activity during carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.
In the case when a person stops breathing, artificial respiration should be done immediately. If necessary, do this until the ambulance arrives.
If the patient had vomiting, then it is very important to clean his oral cavity from the remnants of the masses, because in the prone position a person can easily choke on them.
Ammonia very well leads to consciousness.
When calling to a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning, the health worker takes with him a certain list of drugs that must be immediately administered to the patient.
First you need to intravenously inject ascorbic acid, a solution of novocaine and glucose.
If high activity is noticed, then it is important to introduce special drugs consisting of aminizine, propylene, diphenhydramine and promedol. Each drug is administered individually or by intramuscular injection.
If the doctor noticed that a person poisoned by carbon monoxide has impaired breathing, then it is necessary to intravenously inject a solution of aminophylline. Thus, specialists create artificial respiration. For seizures, doctors administer barbamil.
After providing emergency care, specialists must transport the patient to the hospital. Here he will first be sent to intensive care, and then to the toxicology department. All the time that a person is in the hospital, doctors take important measures to completely cleanse the body of a dangerous substance. When the specialists are sure that nothing threatens the life of the victim, he is discharged home.
When carbon monoxide enters the human body, it begins to completely prevent the penetration of oxygen. Oxygen starvation can cause a number of negative phenomena, primarily in the nervous system.