Gas poisoning: symptoms, first aid, treatment, consequences

Methane - the most common household gas, used in almost every home and fueling bus stations. The convenience of using this gas is familiar to everyone who has a gas stove, a boiler, a water heater, etc. at home.

However, it is necessary to use the equipment very carefully, otherwise the consequences may be the most deplorable: an explosion or gas poisoning, the symptoms of which can be noticed not immediately. Both cases often lead to fatal outcomes.

Treachery of methane

Methane poisoning - a condition for the body is very dangerous, so it is important to know how it manifests in order to take the appropriate measures and provide first aid as soon as possible. Covarene household gas is not only its toxicity, but also because it has no color and odor, so it is almost impossible to determine its presence in the room. When in the air the methane content exceeds 20%, while oxygen is less than this index, poisoning inevitably occurs.

By action, methane is comparable to narcotic substances:

• The central nervous system is affected;
• Respiratory function is inhibited;
• There is oxygen starvation.

Late actions in the provision of emergency assistance will lead to death. In the body, natural gas displaces oxygen and replaces it, which leads to suffocation. The poison enters the respiratory tract into the lungs and prevents the normal operation of hemoglobin. Acute oxygen deficiency appears.

Gas poisoning: symptoms

The limit of permissible concentration of methane in the room is 7000 mg / m³. In factories, sensors are installed to monitor gas in the air. And at its manufacture add the special substances allocating a specific smell, for fast detection of connection.

Everyone should understand when a gas poisoning occurred, the symptoms of intoxication are known and first aid measures. By severity, poisoning can take several forms:

• Light form - dizziness, weakness and drowsiness, pain in the eyes, tearing, pain in the chest.
• The average form is a rapid pulse and palpitations, coordination of movements, severe heart failure are impaired.
• Severe form - intoxication as a result of obtaining a large dose of methane. Steady loss of consciousness, involuntary urination, blue / white skin, cramps, shallow breathing.
• Instantaneous poisoning - the strongest poisoning occurs after 2 breaths, after a few minutes a person loses consciousness and dies.

Early signs of gas poisoning:

• Dull headache;
• Confused consciousness ;
• Vomiting;
• High irritability and nervousness;
• noise in ears;
• A feeling that there is not enough air;

First Aid

First aid is needed urgently. The victim needs to ensure saturation with fresh air: if he is conscious, then take to the street. If you lose consciousness, you must open all the windows in the room and turn the poisoned side. In this case, release the neck and chest from clothing to facilitate breathing and call an ambulance.

Before the arrival of physicians it is important to examine a person, with weak breathing or stopping him, make artificial respiration. Inhalation is done through a gauze dressing or nasal flow in order to avoid poisoning the person who provides help.

The cold is applied to the victim's head, arms and legs are released from tight clothing to ensure normal blood flow. If possible, give the person more fluid. It can be water (provided that there is no vomiting), milk, tea or kefir.

Treatment with poisoning with household gas

After the patient was given first aid in gas poisoning and he was saved, professional medical care was provided in a hospital. The treatment in the intensive supply of the patient with oxygen for several hours is concluded. The treatment will depend on the severity of the poisoning, in some cases a blood transfusion is required.

Treatment is selected individually after a thorough examination, most often appointed:

• Cardiac drugs to maintain the cardiovascular system.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs for restoring the functions of the respiratory system.
• Anesthetics for removing pain in the head and chest.

Procedures in the form of respiratory gymnastics are also prescribed to prevent stagnant and inflammatory processes in the respiratory system. Restoration after poisoning with household gas can last a long time, in some cases such toxic effects result in the development of serious pathologies.

After discharge from the hospital, you must regularly visit the health facility for preventive examination. In the absence of diseases, the patient is removed from the register only after 3 years of observation. Even if it has already happened Poisoning with gas, the symptoms do not bother, the observation is mandatory.

The consequences of such violations are often severe mental disorders, loss of vision (partial or complete). Intellectual abilities decrease. The cardiovascular system is severely affected due to intoxication, which can lead to the appearance of heart attacks. The most serious complication is pulmonary edema.

Basic Cautions and Actions

Poisoning by household gas is due to its leakage, so this problem must be solved urgently, after inspecting the home gas equipment. At the slightest suspicion of leakage it is dangerous to include any electrical appliances, lights, light matches and smoke - these actions will provoke an explosion.

Providing assistance to the victim, you need to find a few assistants, because the actions should be as fast as possible, and to cope with the poisoned person alone, especially when he is unconscious, is extremely difficult.

Causes of Poisoning

Intoxication occurs as a result of improper operation of gas and heating appliances. Often there is intentional poisoning in suicidal or criminal purposes. Appliances using household gas:

• Home furnaces and gas equipment;
• Cooker, grill;
• Fireplaces, water heaters;
• Woodburning stoves;
• Portable generators;
• Cars and trucks.

Consequences of poisoning

The consequences can be pronounced or asymptomatic. Harm caused to the health quickly and without a trace does not pass. Causes of spasmodic pain, dizziness, low sensitivity of the limbs, partial loss of hearing, edema of the brain (in more severe cases). When hypoxia (oxygen starvation), brain cells cause irreparable damage, some of them die completely.

Poisoning by household gas is dangerous for everyone without exception, but there is a category of people who feel especially strong its effect, the symptoms they are manifested brighter and faster. These include children, the elderly, smokers and people with diseases of the lungs, heart and blood.