Gas Poisoning: The Silent Death No One is Exempt From

“Sweet death”, “Silent killer”... Death by carbon monoxide poisoning has many names, because it is so sudden and not easily perceived.

00:57 17 February 2023

“Sweet death”, “Silent killer”... Death by carbon monoxide poisoning has many names, because it is so sudden and not easily perceived. 

If the gas has a level of 400 parts per million, death can occur within three hours. If it has a concentration of 0.16%, the person present can die within an hour. If it reaches a concentration of 1% in the air, the environment would be deadly to anyone in minutes. 

Learn more about this silent death to prevent it.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is highly toxic to humans and animals. It is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials (such as naphtha, gas, oil, wood, coal, plastics, etc.) in an oxygen-depleted environment. It can arise from cookers, cookers, grills, ovens, heaters, boilers, engines, among others. Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning increase in winter, as cookers or heaters are often turned on and rooms remain closed. With a good air flow, the mortality rate of gas leaks is greatly reduced.

And why is it called the “silent killer” or “sweet death”? Because it has no taste, colour or smell and does not irritate the nose or eyes. In other words, it is almost imperceptible to people, which is why there are so many deaths: those affected do not notice it until it is too late.

Symptoms of gas leaks

Although difficult to notice, gas leaks cause some symptoms in people that you should be aware of. So if you have a headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea or vomiting, chest pain, loss of consciousness or tiredness for no apparent reason, you may be the victim of a carbon monoxide leak.

The problem is that these symptoms can be confused with those of other illnesses, such as flu, food poisoning or even strokes. In children, symptoms can include crying, not wanting to eat and irritability. Many adults and infants die in their sleep from carbon monoxide because they do not notice it and do not wake up.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you open windows and doors immediately, move out of the room into fresh air and, if symptoms do not pass or worsen, visit the nearest health centre.

How do you protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide?

Besides having good ventilation and avoiding dangerous forms of combustion, the only way to protect a home from a carbon monoxide leak is with a gas detector. It will sense when carbon monoxide is present and alert you with an audible alarm and lights. It can even have a sampling method, where it will suck up to 10 degrees so that you can then take that air for analysis.

Did you know these facts about carbon monoxide?