Lhe purchase of additional heaters, particularly coal or oil, increases sharply at the end of the year with the drop in temperatures. But be careful of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Each year, around a hundred poisonings are declared to the ARS Hauts-de-France. Thus, during the last heating season, from October 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024, 99 incidents were reported. This toxic gas is responsible for around a hundred deaths in France each year.
What causes carbon monoxide emissions?
Carbon monoxide emissions are the result of poor combustion in a heating appliance running on gas, wood, coal, gasoline, fuel oil or even ethanol.
Any thermal appliance (engine, cooking, heating or hot water production appliance) using a fuel containing carbon is therefore likely to cause carbon monoxide poisoning if it is not installed, used or maintained correctly.
4 tips to avoid poisoning
1. Before winter, call in a professional to check the installations
Have boilers, water heaters, bath heaters, inserts and stoves checked and maintained. It is recommended to sign a maintenance contract guaranteeing an annual preventive visit (adjustment, cleaning and replacement of defective parts).
Have the flues checked and maintained (by mechanical chimney sweeping) every year.
Keep generators outside, ensure the correct installation and operation of any new gas appliance before it is put into service and require a certificate of conformity from the installer.
2. Ensure good ventilation in the home
You must ventilate your home every day for at least 10 minutes, even when it is cold, indicates the association for the prevention of atmospheric pollution.
Do not obstruct air inlets and outlets (mainly ventilation grilles in kitchens, bathrooms and boiler rooms). If a room is insufficiently ventilated, combustion within the appliances will be incomplete and will emit carbon monoxide.
3. Use combustion appliances appropriately
Never operate auxiliary heaters continuously. They are designed for brief, intermittent use only.
4. Maintain devices
Clean the gas stove burners regularly (the flame must be visible in each orifice). If they are clogged, the air-gas mixture does not take place in good conditions and the burner may go out, especially when it is idling. A well-regulated flame should not blacken the bottom of the pans, adds the association.
What to do in case of poisoning?
If you have headaches, nausea, malaise and vomiting, this may be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is invisible, odorless and non-irritating. The safety instructions are simple:
– Immediately ventilate the premises by opening doors and windows
– Stop all combustion appliances
– Evacuate premises and buildings
– Call for help: the single European emergency number (112), the firefighters (18) or the SAMU (15)
– Do not re-enter the premises before having received advice from a heating professional or the fire brigade.
France
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