How carbon monoxide works. Carbon monoxide poisoning (Carbon monoxide poisoning, Carbon monoxide poisoning)

23.06.2020

Carbon monoxide is a fairly common form of body intoxication, which is characterized by a rapid and extremely severe course, causes damage to all organs and systems, and often ends in death. If the victim is provided with first aid at the scene of the accident in a timely and competent manner, the risk of developing severe complications can be significantly reduced. Adequate actions of others can save the victim from death.

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is a poison of rapid and general toxic action. If its concentration in the air reaches 1.2% or more, then the death of the victim occurs within 3 minutes. The dangers of carbon monoxide are as follows:

It has neither color nor smell - a person simply will not feel his presence in the room.
Able to penetrate through soil layers, walls and any partitions.
It is not absorbed by porous materials, so even ordinary filtering gas masks do not protect against the toxic effects of carbon monoxide.

How carbon monoxide affects the body

First of all, the type of gas in question blocks the delivery of oxygen to organs and tissues - it is considered a blood poison, since red blood cells are primarily affected. Normally, these blood cells carry oxygen to organs and systems with the help of hemoglobin, and when carbon monoxide enters the body, it binds to hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which is considered a compound that is detrimental to the whole body. As a result, erythrocytes are not able to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues, the whole body experiences acute oxygen starvation (hypoxia).

Since nerve cells are the most sensitive to a lack of oxygen, in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, characteristic symptoms of damage to the central nervous system appear first of all - impaired coordination,.

One more important point: carbon monoxide disrupts the work of the heart muscle and skeletal muscles. The fact is that this type of gas, when it enters the body, binds to protein skeletal muscle and the heart muscle, and this is manifested by serious disturbances in the work of the heart - rapid breathing / heartbeat, weak pulse.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The intensity of the manifestations of symptoms depends only on how long carbon monoxide has been affecting the human body, and what was its concentration in the air - it is on the basis of these data that the degree of intoxication is established.

central nervous system

In mild to moderate poisoning, there will be:

encircling nature with localization in the temples and forehead;
nausea and;
flickering of the image, "front sights";
blurred consciousness;
a sharp decrease in visual acuity and hearing;
violation of coordination of movement;
short term.

If there is a severe degree of carbon monoxide poisoning, then the victim will experience:

loss of consciousness;
coma;
involuntary urination and defecation.

The cardiovascular system

Light and moderate degree of poisoning will be characterized by:

increased heart rate and pulse;
pressing pains in the anatomical location of the heart.

With severe poisoning, symptoms characteristic of a severe degree of carbon monoxide intoxication will appear:

significantly accelerated pulse - up to 130 beats per minute, but at the same time it is practically not palpable;
the highest risk of rapid development.

Respiratory system

This section of the body suffers precisely because of the acute lack of oxygen at the time of carbon monoxide poisoning. If intoxication occurs in a mild to moderate degree, then a person will also experience rapid breathing. But in the case of a severe degree of poisoning with the type of gas in question, the victim's breathing will be intermittent, superficial.

Skin and mucous membranes

It is almost impossible to notice any pronounced changes on the skin and mucous membranes during carbon monoxide poisoning. The only thing that can appear with a mild and moderate degree of intoxication is their bright red or pronounced pink hue. With a severe degree of the condition under consideration, on the contrary, the skin and mucous membranes will be pale, with a barely noticeable pink tint.

In medicine, atypical forms of carbon monoxide poisoning are also distinguished. In this case, the following symptoms will be present:

swoon form- intense, pronounced pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, loss of consciousness.
Euphoric form- the patient is agitated, there are hallucinations, there may be unmotivated actions, loss of consciousness, coupled with heart and respiratory failure.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

The condition under consideration entails a number of complications, which in medicine are usually divided into early and late.

Early complications of acute carbon monoxide poisoning (first 2 days after the incident):

Late complications of carbon monoxide poisoning (2-40 days):

From the side of the central nervous system: memory loss, decreased intelligence, impaired motor function, apathy, blindness, dysfunction of the pelvic organs, parkinsonism, paralysis.
From the side of the cardiovascular system:, cardiac asthma, mycoarditis different types, .
From the side respiratory system: swift .

To reduce the intensity of complications, to protect the victim from severe intoxication, you need to know how to act when a person who has been poisoned by carbon monoxide is detected.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

The first thing to do when a victim is found is to call an ambulance team, and this must be done even if the victim himself speaks of his normal state of health. Remember important points:

And before the arrival of the ambulance brigade, you can and should provide the following assistance:

Stop the effect of carbon monoxide on the body of the victim. To do this, a person should be taken out to fresh air, cut off the source of carbon monoxide (if possible), put on an oxygen mask or a special gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge. The latest recommendations apply to those cases where such funds are "at hand".
Ensure the passage of oxygen through the respiratory tract. It is highly desirable to lay the victim on his side, after unbuttoning his tie, shirt, belt on his trousers, removing his sweater or jacket, jacket.
Bring to consciousness, provide a rush of blood to the brain. This goal can be achieved with ammonia - drop it on a cotton swab and bring it to the victim’s nose at a distance of at least 1 cm. You can rub your chest, and if you have mustard plasters “at hand”, put them on your back or chest (only outside the anatomical location hearts). Give the victim to drink hot tea or coffee, if there is such an opportunity and the poisoned person has already regained consciousness.
If there is a need, then you need to make the victim an indirect heart massage and artificial respiration. In this case, the cycle must be defined: 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions.
The victim should not waste his energy, he needs to provide peace. To do this, it is enough to lay the poisoned person on their side, cover them with a blanket or wrap them in a jacket / coat. Be sure to ensure that the victim does not overheat.

If poisoning occurs carbon monoxide , then we are talking about a serious pathological condition. It develops if a certain concentration enters the body carbon monoxide .

This condition is dangerous to health and life, and if you do not turn to specialists for help in a timely manner, death from carbon monoxide can occur.

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, CO) is a product that is released during combustion and enters the atmosphere. Since poison gas has no smell or taste, and it is impossible to determine its presence in the air, it is very dangerous. In addition, it can penetrate soil, walls, filters. Many are interested in the question, carbon monoxide is heavier or lighter than air, the answer is that it is lighter than air.

That is why it is possible to determine that the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is exceeded using special devices. It is also possible to suspect CO poisoning if a person develops some signs rapidly.

In urban conditions, the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is increased by vehicle exhaust gases. But car exhaust poisoning can only occur at high concentrations.

How CO affects the body?

This gas enters the blood very quickly and actively binds to. As a result, it produces carboxyhemoglobin , which is more closely related to hemoglobin than oxyhemoglobin (oxygen and hemoglobin). The resulting substance blocks the transfer of oxygen to tissue cells. As a result, it develops hemic type.

Carbon monoxide in the body binds to myoglobin (it is a protein of skeletal muscles and heart muscle). As a result, the pumping function of the heart decreases, and severe muscle weakness develops.

Also carbon monoxide enters into oxidative reactions, which disrupts the normal biochemical balance in the tissues.

Where can carbon monoxide poisoning occur?

Many situations can occur in which carbon monoxide poisoning is possible:

poisoning by combustion products during a fire;
in rooms where gas equipment is operated, and there is no normal ventilation, it is not enough supply air, which is necessary for the normal combustion of gas;
in those industries where CO is involved in the reactions of synthesis of substances ( acetone , phenol );
in places where automobile exhaust gases can accumulate due to insufficient ventilation - in tunnels, garages, etc.;
at home, when there is a leakage of lighting gas;
when staying near very busy highways for a long time;
with prolonged use of a kerosene lamp, if the room is not ventilated;
if the stove damper of the home stove, fireplace, sauna stove was closed too early;
when using breathing apparatus with low-quality air.

Who can suffer from hypersensitivity to CO?

people who have been diagnosed with exhaustion of the body;
those who suffer , ;
future mothers;
teenagers, children;
those who smoke a lot;
people who abuse alcohol.

You should know that organs and systems in case of carbon monoxide poisoning are more quickly affected in women. The symptoms of poisoning are very similar. methane .

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The following describes the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans, depending on the concentration of CO. Symptoms of household gas poisoning and poisoning from other sources manifest themselves in different ways, and by the way carbon monoxide (not carbon dioxide, as it is sometimes mistakenly called) acts on a person, one can assume how strong its concentration was in the air. However, carbon dioxide in high concentrations can also lead to poisoning and the manifestation of a number of alarming symptoms.

Concentration up to 0.009%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 3-5 hours:

decrease in the speed of psychomotor reactions;
increased blood flow in vital organs;
in people with heart failure in severe form, chest pain is also noted.

Concentration up to 0.019%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 6 hours:

performance decreases;
shortness of breath with moderate physical exertion;
headache , slightly pronounced;
visual impairment;
death is possible for those who suffer from severe heart failure, and fetal death can also occur.

Concentration 0.019-0.052%

severe throbbing headache;
irritability, instability of the emotional state;
nausea;
impaired attention, memory;
fine motor problems.

Concentration up to 0.069%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

vision problems;
worse headache pain;
confusion;
weakness;
nausea, vomiting;
runny nose.

Concentration 0.069-0.094%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

severe dysmotility (ataxia);
appearance;
strong rapid breathing.

Concentration 0.1%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2 hours:

weak pulse;
a state of fainting;
convulsions;
breathing becomes rare and superficial;
condition .

Concentration 0.15%

Clinical manifestations are observed after 1.5 hours. Manifestations are similar to the previous description.

Concentration 0.17%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5 hours.

Manifestations are similar to the previous description.

Concentration 0.2-0.29%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5 hours:

convulsions appear;
there is respiratory depression and cardiac activity;
coma ;
death is likely.

Concentration 0.49-0.99%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 2-5 minutes:

no reflexes;
pulse thready;
deep coma;
death.

Concentration 1.2%

Clinical manifestations are noted after 0.5-3 minutes:

convulsions;
lack of consciousness;
vomit;
death.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The table below summarizes the signs that appear with different degrees of poisoning:

The mechanism of development of symptoms

Manifestation of symptoms different type associated with exposure to carbon monoxide. Let us consider in more detail the symptoms of various types and the features of the mechanisms of their manifestation.

neurological

The greatest sensitivity to hypoxia show nerve cells as well as the brain. That is why the development of dizziness, nausea, headache indicate that oxygen starvation of cells occurs. More severe neurological symptoms appear as a result of severe or irreversible damage to the nerve structures. In this case, convulsions, impaired consciousness occur.

Respiratory

When breathing quickens, the compensatory mechanism “turns on”. However, if the respiratory center is damaged after poisoning, the respiratory movements become superficial and ineffective.

Cardiovascular

Due to the lack of oxygen, more active cardiac activity is noted, that is, tachycardia . But due to hypoxia of the heart muscle, pain in the heart can also occur. If such pain becomes acute, it means that oxygen has completely stopped flowing to the myocardium.

Dermal

Due to a very strong compensatory blood flow to the head, the mucous membranes and skin of the head become blue-red.

If mild or moderate carbon monoxide poisoning or natural gas poisoning has occurred, then for a long time a person may experience: dizziness and headaches. He also has memory impairment. intellectual ability, emotional fluctuations are noted, since during poisoning the gray and white matter of the brain is affected.

The consequences of severe poisoning, as a rule, are irreversible. Very often, such lesions end in death. In this case, the following severe manifestations are noted:

subarachnoid hemorrhages;
disorders of a skin-trophic nature (edema and tissue);
cerebral edema ;
violation of cerebral hemodynamics;
deterioration of vision and hearing up to complete loss;
polyneuritis ;
pneumonia in severe form, which complicates coma;

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First of all, emergency care for carbon monoxide poisoning involves the immediate cessation of human contact with the gas that poisons the body, as well as the restoration of all important body functions. It is extremely important that the person who provides first aid does not become poisoned in the course of these actions. Therefore, if possible, it is necessary to put on a gas mask, and only after that go to the room where the poisoning occurred.

Before the start of PMP, it is necessary to take out or remove the one who suffered from the room in which the concentration of carbon monoxide is increased. You need to clearly understand what CO is what kind of gas, and how quickly it can harm the body. And since each breath of poisoned air will only increase negative symptoms, it is necessary to deliver the victim to fresh air as soon as possible.

No matter how quickly and professionally the first aid is provided, even if the person feels relatively well, it is necessary to call an ambulance. There is no need to be deceived by the fact that the victim is joking and laughing, because such a reaction can be provoked by the action of carbon monoxide on the vital centers of the nervous system. Only professional doctor can clearly assess the patient's condition and understand what to do in case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If degree mild poisoning, the victim needs to be given strong tea, warm it up and ensure complete rest.

If confusion is noted, or it is absent at all, the person should be laid on his side on flat surface, make sure that he receives an influx of fresh air by unbuttoning his belt, collar, underwear. Give a sniff of ammonia, holding the cotton at a distance of 1 cm.

In the absence of a heartbeat and breathing, artificial respiration should be carried out, a sternum massage should be done in the projection of the heart.

At emergency you can't act recklessly. If there are still people in a burning building, you cannot save them on your own, as this can lead to an increase in the number of victims. It is important to immediately call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Even after a few breaths of CO poisoned air, death can occur. Therefore, it is a mistake to believe that a wet rag or gauze mask can protect against the harmful effects of carbon monoxide. Only a gas mask can prevent the lethal effects of CO.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning

Do not practice after poisoning treatment at home. A person in such a situation needs the help of specialists.

Provided that the victim is in a critical condition, doctors carry out a set of resuscitation measures. Immediately injected intramuscularly 1 ml of antidote 6%. The victim must be taken to the hospital.

It is important that in such conditions the patient is provided with complete rest. He is provided with breathing with pure oxygen (partial pressure 1.5-2 atm.) Or carbogen (composition - 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide). This procedure is carried out for 3-6 hours.

Further, it is important to ensure the restoration of the functions of the central nervous system and other organs. The treatment regimen prescribed by a specialist depends on how severe the patient's condition is and whether the pathological reactions that occurred after the poisoning are reversible.

In order to prevent natural gas and CO poisoning, it is important to follow very carefully those rules that will help prevent dangerous situations.

If there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during certain work, they should only be carried out in rooms that are well ventilated.
Carefully check the dampers of fireplaces, stoves, do not close them completely until the firewood is burned.
In a room where CO poisoning can potentially occur, it is necessary to install autonomous gas detectors.
If possible contact with carbon monoxide is planned, one capsule should be taken. Acizola half an hour before such contact. The protective effect will last up to two and a half hours after taking the capsule.

Acizol is a domestically produced medicine that is an effective and fast-acting antidote against acute CO poisoning. It creates an obstacle in the body for the formation carboxyhemoglobin , and also speeds up the process of removing carbon monoxide.

The sooner Acizol is administered intramuscularly in case of poisoning, the greater the chances of a person to survive. Also, this medicine increases the effectiveness of those measures that will subsequently be taken for resuscitation and treatment.

conclusions

Thus, carbon monoxide poisoning is a very dangerous condition. The higher the gas concentration, the more likely the death. Therefore, it is very important to be extremely careful to comply with all the rules of prevention, and at the first suspicion of such poisoning, immediately call for emergency care.

Carbon monoxide is a product released during the combustion of carbon, so anyone can be poisoned by it. Of particular danger is the fact that an insignificant amount of gas is needed for lethal care, which has neither color nor smell. The second aspect is the speed of the poison, often doctors simply do not have time to provide assistance.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is carbon monoxide that is released together with carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. True, in contrast to carbon dioxide, the CO content in the room is required much less in order to cause fatal poisoning. Poisoning with the toxin in question is one of the most common household intoxications, which is why it is so important to know its symptoms in order to prevent dire consequences.

CO poisoning ranks first in Russia in terms of mortality among household intoxications. Every year in our country, at least 100 people die from. The death of those who are poisoned occurs at the site of poisoning, doctors simply do not have time to provide assistance to the victims. That is why it is so important to start taking rescue measures as early as possible.

The physical and chemical properties of CO are such that it is a colorless and odorless gas. It is released during the partial combustion of substances that have carbon in their composition. To answer the question about carbon monoxide, is it heavier or lighter than air, you need to remember a school chemistry course or turn to Wikipedia. With any of the options, we learn that it is lighter than air, and, therefore, in case of fire, you need to move around, bending as low as possible to the ground.

It easily penetrates thin walls and layers of loose soil. It is not absorbed by materials with a porous structure, which makes filter-type gas masks useless. Carbon monoxide has a rapid general toxic effect. So, with its concentration in the air over 1.3%, death occurs in 3-4 minutes.

CO is ubiquitous. Therefore, poisoning occurs quite often. It is possible to be poisoned by this gas:

in domestic fires;
in industries where CO is used as a reagent ( chemical industry, heavy metallurgy);
with insufficient ventilation in rooms with gas equipment, with a leak in gas cylinders(has a characteristic smell due to specially added odorous substances, pure CO is odorless);
at long burning kerosene and petrol lamps;
in places of accumulation of exhaust gases of cars (large highways, garages), you can also get poisoned with carbon monoxide.

Impact on the human body

Carbon monoxide, causing acute poisoning, is a dangerous chemical compound for a living organism.

The following groups of people are especially susceptible to its damaging effects:

people with bad habits(alcoholics, drug addicts and smokers);
teenagers;
women during pregnancy;
children and adolescents under 16;
people with exhaustion of the body;
people diagnosed with anemia;
people suffering from chronic diseases of the respiratory system, such as bronchial asthma and COPD.

So, the detrimental effect on the human body is based on the transformation of the blood composition and damage to the respiratory system.

The main damaging factors of carbon monoxide include:

Blocking transport processes

CO is a blood poison that primarily affects red blood cells (erythrocytes). With the help of a protein called hemoglobin, which contains iron, cells carry oxygen. When carbon monoxide enters the body, hemoglobin binds to CO more quickly, forming a compound called carboxyhemoglobin. Erythrocytes containing such a modified protein lose their ability to deliver oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body, as a result of which they begin to experience oxygen starvation. That is, hypoxia develops.

Nerve cells are the most sensitive to lack of oxygen. Therefore, the initial signs of CO intoxication will be associated with disorders of the nervous system.

Violation of the skeletal and cardiac muscles

In addition to hemoglobin, which is found in the blood, CO is also able to bind to myoglobin, which is found in muscle tissues. As a result of this, a compound is also formed that loses its ability to perform its original function of providing oxygen to muscle fibers. So, there are symptoms from the muscular and cardiovascular systems. These include: shortness of breath, increased heart rate, thready pulse, general muscle weakness.

Carbon monoxide enters into other biochemical reactions of the body, disrupting the metabolic balance in tissues and organs.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

In people belonging to classes at risk of fatal CO poisoning, the manifestations and severity of intoxication directly depend on the concentration of toxic gas in the air and the time spent in poisoned air. air environment. They range from harmless to lethal.

CO concentration, %	Time of onset of symptoms, h	Manifesting signs and symptoms
< 0,008	3−5	Slowdown of psychomotor reactions, compensatory increase in blood circulation in organs and tissues, chest pain and shortness of breath (with heart failure).
< 0,02	6	Deterioration in performance, headache, shortness of breath physical activity, disturbance of perception and vision, death in persons with heart failure and in the fetus.
0,02−0,055	2	Throbbing headache, confusion, impaired fine motor skills, inability to concentrate.
<0,07	2	Severe headache, vision, runny nose, vomiting.
0,07−0,095	2	Hallucinations, ataxia, shallow breathing.
0,1	2	Fainting, weakening of the pulse, convulsions and convulsions, tachycardia, rare shallow breathing, coma.
0,15	1,5
0,18	0,5	Same as at 0.1% concentration
0,2−0,3	0,5	Convulsions, heart and respiratory failure, coma, possibly fatal.
0,5−1	0,08−0,1	Inhibition of all reflexes, arrhythmia, filiform pulse wave, deep coma, death
>1,3	0,01−0,07	Convulsions, loss of consciousness, vomiting, coma and death.

Early and late effects of poisoning

Carbon monoxide is insidious, and the symptoms that will show themselves after poisoning will disturb the victim for a long time. First of all, as we found out, the nervous and cardiovascular systems suffer. So, from the side of the nervous system in the first days after poisoning, there will be:

headache and dizziness;
decreased sensitivity in the limbs (associated with damage to peripheral nerve fibers);
disorders of visual and auditory analyzers;
exacerbation of existing mental illness.

Late complications that appear a week or even a month after intoxication include:

The occurrence of both early and late complications are due to a single mechanism. The cells of the nervous system are most susceptible to a lack of oxygen supply to them. So, during hypoxia, damage to the white and gray matter of the brain and spinal cord occurs. There is also a direct toxic effect. Violation of the peripheral nervous system due to the binding of CO to the proteins that form the myelin sheath of the nerve fiber, which leads to a violation of the conduction of the nerve impulse.

The consequences of the heart and blood vessels are also divided into early and late.

Early	Late
Sudden death, violation of the heart rhythm and blood circulation in the coronary vessels	Myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiac asthma, angina.

The mechanism of occurrence lies both in the hypoxia of the cardiac muscle tissue when carbon monoxide binds to the muscle protein - myoglobin, and in the direct poisoning effect of carbon monoxide on the heart tissue.

On the part of the respiratory system, toxic pulmonary edema may occur, and in long term the susceptibility of a person to pneumonia of various origins will increase. This is caused by the weakening of the body's natural barriers due to the poisoning effects of CO.

Help with poisoning

The outcome of intoxication depends on many factors, but the correct and timely measures taken can save a person's life. The first thing to do when you see an injured person is to call an ambulance. This must be done because, firstly, only a specialist is able to assess the severity of poisoning, and secondly, external signs can mislead you that the victim has mild form intoxication, thirdly, timely drug therapy can save a person's life and prevent his disability.

In need of hospitalization:

people with moderate and severe severity, poisoning;
pregnant women (because of the risk of fetal death);
victims with a history of cardiovascular disease;
victims with body temperature below normal;
poisoned with loss of consciousness and other disorders of the nervous system.

After calling an ambulance, it is necessary to ensure the flow of fresh air to the victim. To do this, you need to get rid of the source of CO or leave the dangerous place yourself. Also, the poisoned person can wear an oxygen mask (if available) or a gas mask (NOT a filter type). This will ensure that the toxin does not enter the body.

Then you need to ensure the free circulation of air in the upper respiratory tract. To do this, open all the windows in the room, the patient is freed from restrictive clothing and laid on his side. On the fresh air there is a decrease in the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, and the position of the body on its side will prevent the tongue from sinking in case of loss of consciousness.

In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to give the patient a sniff of ammonia, which stimulates the respiratory centers in the brain. You can rub the chest and back of the victim, put mustard plasters. These measures will increase blood circulation in the thoracic and cerebral arteries. After a person has been brought to consciousness, he can be offered tonic drinks (tea, coffee), which contain substances that stimulate the central nervous system.

If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures - artificial respiration and indirect heart massage with a cycle of 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions in the heart area in one approach. This will help maintain basic bodily functions until the doctors arrive.

If the poisoned person is in a stable condition, it is necessary to protect him from extra costs energy. To do this, he needs to ensure peace, wrap him in blankets, lay him on his side on the bed.

Arriving doctors will begin treatment activities:

oxygen therapy. 12-15 liters per minute for 6-7 hours. The procedure is carried out using an oxygen mask, an oxygen tent or a ventilator. Oxygen, as it were, competes with poisonous gas for a place on hemoglobin. Therefore, the more oxygen molecules in the inhaled air, the more red blood cells will connect with it.
Administration of an antidote. In this case, the antidote is acyzol (6% ampoules, 1 ml or 120 mg capsules). 1 ml is administered intramuscularly as early as possible. Re-introduction - after 60 minutes. The drug is also used for prevention. It is taken 20-30 minutes before entering a potentially dangerous area.

Azizol is a remedy for CO poisoning. The drug accelerates the breakdown of carboxyhemoglobin, helping to remove it from the body, increases the affinity of hemoglobin with oxygen, and reduces the toxic effect of gas on tissues and organs of the body.

Carbon monoxide poisoning (from the colloquial "to burn") is an extremely dangerous human condition that can even lead to death. According to statistics, among the main causes of domestic accidents, CO poisoning is one of the most common. And since first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning can be decisive, everyone needs to know the basic rules for its provision.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur:

during a fire;
under production conditions in which CO is used for synthesis organic matter: acetone, methyl alcohol, phenol, etc.;
in garages, tunnels, other rooms with poor ventilation - from a running internal combustion engine;
when staying near a busy highway for a long time;
in case of premature closing of the stove damper, clogging of the chimney or if there are cracks in the stove;
when using a breathing apparatus with poor air quality.

That insidious carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is indeed very insidious: it is odorless and at the same time is formed wherever the combustion process can occur in conditions of lack of oxygen. Carbon monoxide replaces carbon dioxide gas, so poisoning occurs completely unnoticed.

Getting into the human blood during respiration, CO binds hemoglobin cells and forms carboxyhemoglobin. Bound hemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen to tissue cells.

With a decrease in the amount of “workable” hemoglobin in the blood, the amount of oxygen required by the body for normal functioning also decreases. Hypoxia, or suffocation, occurs, a headache occurs, blackout or loss of consciousness occurs. If first aid is not provided to a person in a timely manner, death from carbon monoxide poisoning is inevitable.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes the following symptoms in sequence:

muscle weakness;
tinnitus and pounding in the temples;
dizziness;
chest pain, nausea and vomiting;
drowsiness or, conversely, increased motor activity;
disorder of coordination of movements;
delirium, auditory and visual hallucinations;
loss of consciousness;
convulsions;
dilated pupils with a weakened reaction to a light source;
involuntary discharge of urine and feces;
coma and death due to respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest.

The degree of harm caused to the body directly depends on the concentration of CO in the inhaled air:

0.08% cause choking and headache;
0.32% lead to paralysis and loss of consciousness;
1.2% loss of consciousness occurs after only 2-3 breaths, death - after 2-3 minutes.

In the event of an exit from a coma, serious complications are possible, since hemoglobin cells are restored and cleared for quite a long time. That is why it is extremely important to provide first aid in case of carbon monoxide poisoning in a timely and correct manner.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning involves the following measures:

it is necessary to eliminate the flow of CO (turn off the source), while breathing through gauze or a handkerchief yourself, so as not to become a victim of poisoning;
the victim should be urgently withdrawn or taken out to clean air;
if the degree of poisoning is not great - wipe whiskey, face and chest with vinegar, give a solution baking soda(1 teaspoon to 1 glass of water), offer hot coffee or tea;
if the victim received a large dose of CO, but is conscious, he must be laid down and provided with peace;
the victim in an unconscious state must be brought to the nose (distance - no more than 1 cm!) ammonia, on the chest and head you need to put a container with cold water or ice, and feet, on the contrary, warm;
if a person does not recover, then before the ambulance arrives, it may be necessary to give the victim a closed heart massage and artificial respiration.

Remember: the effects of CO on the human body can have irreversible consequences, so proper first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning can save someone's life.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a chemical that causes acute poisoning. It is dangerous to health and life. Negative influence carbon monoxide on the human body is based on the transformation of blood composition and damage to the respiratory system. The consequences of poisoning are very severe, often fatal.

Physical and chemical properties of CO (carbon monoxide)

Carbon monoxide is a colorless gaseous substance without a specific odor, lighter in density than air. Easily ignited.

The substance is very toxic. Because it has no smell. Fatal cases of poisoning are recorded frequently. CO is formed during the combustion of any material and is concentrated in the air. Once in the body, the substance enters into a relationship with hemoglobin and forms a strong complex - carboxyhemoglobin. Such a compound disrupts the physiological functions of the blood, blocks the transport of oxygen to the tissues. As a result of oxygen starvation, biochemical processes are disturbed.

When a person breathes polluted air, carbon monoxide enters into chemical reaction with hemoglobin faster than oxygen. With each breath, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin increases.

Signs of poisoning appear when hemoglobin is replaced:

20% - mild degree of general intoxication;
30% - poisoning of moderate severity;
40-50% - loss of consciousness;
60-70% is a lethal dose.

The higher the CO content in the air, the faster it accumulates in the body. The lethal dose is 0.1% in the inhaled air (lethal outcome occurs within an hour). Carbon monoxide is a poisonous substance that belongs to the 2nd and 3rd hazard classes (medium and high). Indoors, signs of intoxication appear faster than in open areas. Capable of physical activity the time of poisoning a person is reduced, at rest the degree of poisoning increases slowly. This is due to the fact that the load on the body increases the respiratory rate and lung capacity.

Conditions under which a person can be poisoned by carbon monoxide

Most often, CO poisoning occurs indoors during household fires. The risk group includes residents of private houses with gas or furnace heating. An improperly designed air exchange system (ventilation, draft in chimneys) contributes to the accumulation of substances in the room.

For industrial purposes, carbon monoxide is used for the synthesis of organic compounds. In case of non-compliance and gross violation of safety regulations, the risk of poisoning among employees increases.

Carbon monoxide is a component of car exhaust. Therefore, you can get poisoned by the substance in a garage with insufficient ventilation, poor ventilation, in long tunnels, when you stay near highways and overloaded roads for a long time.

At home, you can get poisoned with open stove dampers, with a leak of lighting gas, which is used in heating systems private buildings. There have been cases of intoxication in the abuse of hookah.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body depends on the level of its concentration in the air. A mild degree of damage to the body quickly turns into a medium one and is manifested by suffocation and headache. The first to react to a lack of oxygen nervous system. Signs of her defeat:

pain in the craniocerebral box of a pulsating nature, knocking in the temples, dizziness, nausea not associated with food intake, single vomiting;
visual disturbances, lacrimation;
mental instability irritability, emotional outbursts, impaired coordination of movements, especially fine motor skills, memory instability, auditory and visual hallucinations;
decreased mental and physical activity, shortness of breath, chest pain with any movement;
heart rate increases, blood pressure rises slightly;
skin and mucous membranes acquire a bright scarlet color.

Carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy, even at low concentrations, leads to the death of the embryo on early dates and fetus in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. A mild degree of intoxication is deadly for people with severe heart and vascular diseases.

In severe poisoning, the victim develops drowsiness, apathy, constant tinnitus, and headaches become more intense. Due to damage to the nasal mucosa, a runny nose appears. Nausea intensifies, vomiting becomes more frequent. The motor muscles are affected by paralysis against the background of ataxia - destabilization of the coordination of motor activity. Breathing becomes frequent and superficial. The person is conscious, but it is confused.

The impact of carbon monoxide on the human body at high concentrations is characterized by the following symptoms, which indicates extremely severe poisoning:

fainting, unconsciousness;
breathing is periodic, cyclic, rare superficial breaths gradually become more frequent and become deep;
heart rhythms are depressed, the pulse is weak;
convulsions, convulsions;
pupils are weakly responsive to light;
sharp blueness of the skin;
involuntary urination and uncontrolled defecation;
lack of reflexes, a state of deep coma;
cessation of breathing and heartbeat, death.

First aid to the victim

Before the ambulance arrives, it is important to properly provide the person with first aid. When entering the room, open the door wide open, support it with any heavy object so that it does not close. Then you should stop the supply of carbon monoxide - close the damper on the stove, turn off the heating system. After that, open all the windows in the room. The air flow will immediately reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide.

The victim should be taken outside as soon as possible, freed from restrictive clothing, covered with a warm blanket or blanket. If the weather is clear outside, it is better to place a person in the sun, and not in the shade. Direct sunlight destroys carboxyhemoglobin.

If the victim is not breathing, start resuscitation - heart massage and artificial respiration.

Medical care for CO poisoning

Upon arrival of the ambulance, the patient is immediately connected to an oxygen bag. The supply of O 2 must be continuous and powerful for 3 hours. An ambulance doctor is obliged to introduce a person atsizol - an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Pharmacological action of the drug:

prevents the formation of a carboxyhemoglobin complex;
promotes the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin;
stabilizes the delivery of oxygen to tissues;
reduces intoxication of the body;
biotransforms carboxyhemoglobin and removes it from the bloodstream;
increases stability internal organs to oxygen starvation, reducing the need for tissues in O2;
replenishes zinc deficiency.

Acizol as an antidote for carbon monoxide is administered intramuscularly in 1 ml. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 4 ml. The course of treatment with the drug is from 7 to 10 days. side effects no antidote has been found. Sometimes there may be a painful infiltrate in the area of administration of the drug. In case of an overdose, the patient develops a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, and headaches.

To stimulate respiration, the nervous and vascular systems, caffeine is prescribed subcutaneously. The action of the drug:

enhances the work of the heart;
dilates blood vessels;
speeds up the pulse;
promotes the separation of urine;
relieves headache.

Partially remove carbon monoxide from the body helps carboxylase (enzyme). It contributes to the rupture of the carboxyhemoglobin complex, the cleavage of CO molecules from hemoglobin. The drug is administered intravenously.

Complications

Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic substance. Therefore, human poisoning in rare cases passes without a trace. Intoxication of the body leads to consequences of varying severity.

Possible complications:

damage to the sense organs - hearing, vision;
trophic skin lesions - swelling, blisters, necrosis;
circulatory disorders in the brain;
hemorrhages in the space between the meninges and the web;
numerous toxic lesions of the nerves;
signs of cerebral edema;
myocardial infarction;
myoglobinuric nephrosis - acute kidney failure, which develops with toxic damage to the organ;
severe pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs that occurs in a patient with a long stay in a coma.

People who have suffered CO poisoning often develop late complications, months or even years later. The psyche and nervous system suffer the most.

Patients complain of memory loss, decreased concentration and intelligence. A person does not perceive new information well, loses the ability to learn. Psychoses gradually develop - the reaction and mental activity of a person contradicts reality. The perception of the surrounding world is disturbed, the behavior is disorganized.

Long-term effects of damage to the nervous system:

development of blindness;
paralysis;
violation of the functionality of the organs of the large and small pelvis;
parkinsonism.

From the side of the heart, such pathologies appear over time;

cardiac asthma;
inflammation of the membranes of the heart;
angina;
myocardial infarction.

On the part of the respiratory system - frequent outbreaks of pneumonia.

To reduce the likelihood of severe complications, it is important to provide emergency medical care in time and administer an antidote.

The health effects of carbon monoxide always contribute to a serious malfunction internal systems and organs. In most cases, it leads to the death of a person. Therefore, precaution in the operation of heating devices should be paramount. Do not neglect the rules of safety and labor protection. In rooms where there is a risk of increasing the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, you need to install a special sensor to monitor the situation. This device is battery operated or mains operated and requires no special maintenance. When a toxic substance rises in the air, it gives an audible signal.