Household Gas Poisoning - Symptoms, First Aid, Treatment, Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Household gas poisoning

Domestic gas is a mixture based on natural gas used for domestic needs. Natural and municipal gas differ in composition and characteristics.

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Natural gas contains methane - from 80% or more (ideally about 100%) and up to 20% homologues (ethane, propane, butane). In addition to hydrocarbons, it contains water vapor, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium. Natural gas is odorless and burns with a steady blue flame.

Residential buildings or boiler rooms are supplied with gas with a modified composition - household gas. At gas distribution stations, to create a warning effect, an odor additive is introduced into its composition - ethyl mercaptan. Thanks to this organosulfur compound, the house gas acquires a specific pungent smell and a reddish flame color.

Methane, which is the main constituent of domestic gas, is lighter than air and rises upward if it leaks. In the amount of 4.5 to 17% of the total amount of air in the room, it acquires explosive characteristics.

Despite the fact that methane is a low-toxic paraffinic hydrocarbon, accumulating in an unventilated isolated room, it causes poisoning in humans associated with acute oxygen starvation of organs and tissues. The concentration required for the onset of symptoms of intoxication should be at least 25-30% of the total volume of air in the room. With systematic long-term exposure, methane can have a neurotoxic effect.

How does household gas poisoning occur?

Acute intoxication develops when the gas is inhaled.

Household gas in indoor air can appear in several cases:

• loose connection at the joints of gas pipes;
• violation of the integrity of gas pipes and hoses;
• loose closing of the flame control valve handle on the gas stove;
• malfunction of gas equipment;
• deliberate organization of a gas leak with the aim of committing suicide or murder.

A particular danger is posed by the leakage of household gas at night, since the developing hypoxia is superimposed on the physiological state of sleep and remains unnoticed, while the victims die without regaining consciousness.

Poisoning symptoms

Depending on the concentration of gas in the air, the degree of poisoning varies from mild to severe, in extreme cases - lightning fast.

In case of mild poisoning appear:

• noise, ringing in the ears;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• pain and burning sensation in the eyes, nasopharynx;
• lachrymation, profuse discharge from the nose.

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For moderate poisoning, the symptoms of damage to the central nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems are characteristic of the above complaints:

• drowsiness;
• depression and confusion of consciousness;
• violation of orientation in time and space;
• discoordination;
• hallucinations, delusions;
• vomiting;
• hyperemia of the skin;
• severe muscle weakness;
• rapid, possibly arrhythmic pulse;
• decrease in blood pressure;
• dyspnea.

In case of severe poisoning with household gas, the victim is unconscious, does not respond to stimuli, breathing is shallow, unproductive, there is severe shortness of breath, cyanotic staining of the skin, convulsions, and an irregular threadlike pulse. Death is possible due to acute heart failure, paralysis of the respiratory or vasomotor centers.

The lightning form develops within a few minutes at extremely high concentrations of gas in the air. After 2-3 breaths, the victim loses consciousness, symptoms of severe poisoning appear, ending in death or coma (in case of immediate evacuation from the lesion).

First aid for household gas poisoning

1. Interrupt contact with the gas by evacuating the victim from the lesion.
2. Provide the victim with access to oxygen by opening a window, unbuttoning tight clothing.
3. Give a position with an elevated foot end.
4. Rub the chest and extremities to promote circulation.
5. Provide an abundant drink (still water, all kinds of decoctions, tea, milk).
6. In case of vomiting, prevent tongue retraction and aspiration of vomit by turning the victim's head to one side.
7. If signs of clinical death appear (lack of consciousness, breathing, reaction to light and pulsations in the carotid arteries), carry out basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (artificial respiration and chest compressions) before the arrival of the ambulance team.

When is medical attention required?

In case of poisoning with household gas, seeking medical attention is necessary in any case. In addition to the ambulance crew, it is necessary to call emergency services, since it is not always possible to independently identify the cause of the gas leak and assess the degree of danger. Critical in this case is the accumulation of household gas in an insufficiently ventilated room, which can lead to an explosion.

Possible consequences

The most typical complications of household gas intoxication:

• respiratory diseases (laryngitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, pneumonia);
• chronic heart failure;
• decreased cognitive function.

Since the development of long-term consequences is not excluded, after the end of the hospitalization period, the victim is recommended to undergo preventive medical examinations at least once every six months. Removal from observation occurs no earlier than 3 years later.

Prevention

1. Systematically monitor the condition of gas equipment, maintain it in good condition.
2. If a technical defect is discovered, or if a possible leak is suspected, immediately stop the gas supply and call a specialized repair team.
3. Provide adequate ventilation in the area with gas equipment.
4. If gas appliances do not have an automatic emergency system, do not leave them unattended.
5. Do not use gas stoves to heat rooms, especially at night.
6. At the end of using gas, close the taps and valves on gas appliances, and when using cylinders, close the valves of the cylinders.
7. When leaving the room with gas equipment for a long time, shut off the gas supply on the gas pipeline.
8. Do not allow the use of gas equipment in children's games, do not leave children alone near stoves, gas cylinders.
9. Make sure that the burners remain dry during cooking and do not flood them with liquid.

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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author

Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".

The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!