A 70-year-old woman died in her home on rue du Général-Leclerc in Nancy, on the evening of November 11. Death most likely linked to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Her 80-year-old husband was saved by firefighters. He was transported to Luxembourg to receive treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.
Thomas Loison, what is carbon monoxide or CO?
“It is a colorless and odorless gas. It is produced by the malfunction of a combustion appliance, whether wood, gas, coal, gasoline, fuel, oil… It is nicknamed the silent killer.”
What are the signs of CO poisoning?
“The first signs generally appear as headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness. They may suggest another pathology, but even more so in the winter season and with a home equipped with fuel-fired heating, carbon monoxide should be considered. And don't minimize the symptoms. »
How should we react?
“Above all, do not go to bed because the intoxication can continue during the night, worsen and lead to loss of consciousness. Until cardiac arrest. You must call 18 or 112; ventilate your home by opening the windows and go outside until the arrival of emergency services who will take care of you and carry out the necessary CO detection.”
Any advice on how to avoid carbon monoxide buildup in your home?
“The first thing is not to ignore periodic and regular maintenance, by a professional, of your heating device. Then, even if it is cold and you feel a draft near the ventilation strips found on the windows for example, you should definitely not close them because they contribute to the renewal of the air. air. Otherwise, this would constitute an accelerator of CO concentration. Generally speaking, we do not block an air vent and we regularly ventilate the rooms by opening the windows. Even in winter. Finally, if unlike the smoke detector, it is not obligatory, I recommend equipping your home with a CO detector. »
