What is carbon monoxide? Its properties and formula. Why is carbon monoxide dangerous to humans? Carbon monoxide. How to recognize danger

Let's try to understand and remember the knowledge of physics and chemistry.

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, chemical formula CO) is a gaseous compound formed during combustion of any kind.

What happens when this substance enters the body?

After entering the respiratory tract, carbon monoxide molecules immediately appear in the blood and bind to hemoglobin molecules. A completely new substance is formed - carboxyhemoglobin, which prevents the transport of oxygen. For this reason, oxygen deficiency develops very quickly.

The biggest danger is carbon monoxide invisible and not perceptible in any way, it has neither smell nor color, that is, the cause of the ailment is not obvious, it is not always possible to detect it immediately. Carbon monoxide cannot be felt in any way, which is why its second name is a silent killer.

Feeling fatigue, loss of strength and dizziness, a person makes a fatal mistake - he decides to lie down. And, even if he then understands the reason and the need to go out into the air, as a rule, he is not able to do anything. Many could be saved by knowledge of the symptoms of CO poisoning - knowing them, it is possible to suspect the cause of the ailment in time and take the necessary measures to save.

What are the symptoms and signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The severity of the injury depends on several factors:

- the state of health and physiological characteristics of a person. Weakened, with chronic diseases, especially those accompanied by anemia, the elderly, pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the effects of CO;

- the duration of the effect of the CO compound on the body;

is the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air;

– physical activity during poisoning. The higher the activity, the faster the poisoning occurs.

Three degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning by symptoms

Light degree severity is characterized by the following symptoms: general weakness; headaches, mainly in the frontal and temporal regions; knocking in the temples; noise in ears; dizziness; blurred vision - flickering, dots before the eyes; unproductive, i.e. dry cough; rapid breathing; shortness of breath, shortness of breath; lacrimation; nausea; hyperemia (redness) of the skin and mucous membranes; tachycardia; increase in blood pressure.

Symptoms medium degree severity is the preservation of all the symptoms of the previous stage and their more severe form: clouding of consciousness, loss of consciousness on a short time; vomit; hallucinations, both visual and auditory; violation of the vestibular apparatus, uncoordinated movements; pressing chest pains.

A severe degree of poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms: paralysis; long-term loss of consciousness, coma; convulsions; pupil dilation; involuntary emptying of the bladder and intestines; increased heart rate up to 130 beats per minute, but at the same time it is weakly palpable; cyanosis (blue) of the skin and mucous membranes; breathing disorders - it becomes superficial and intermittent.

Atypical forms of carbon monoxide poisoning

There are two of them - fainting and euphoric.

Symptoms of fainting form: pallor of the skin and mucous membranes; lowering blood pressure; loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of the euphoric form: psychomotor agitation; violation of mental functions: delirium, hallucinations, laughter, oddities in behavior; loss of consciousness; respiratory and heart failure.

How to give first aid to victims of carbon monoxide poisoning

It is very important to provide first aid promptly, as irreversible consequences occur very quickly.

First, it is necessary to take the victim to fresh air as soon as possible. In cases where this is difficult, then the victim should be put on a gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge as soon as possible, and given an oxygen cushion.

Secondly, it is necessary to facilitate breathing - to clear the airways, if necessary, unbutton the clothes, lay the victim on his side in order to prevent a possible sinking of the tongue.

Thirdly, stimulate breathing. Bring ammonia, rub the chest, warm the limbs. And most importantly, you need to call ambulance. Even if a person at first glance is in a satisfactory condition, it is necessary that he be examined by a doctor, since it is not always possible to determine the true degree of poisoning only by symptoms. In addition, timely initiated therapeutic measures will reduce the risk of complications and mortality from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the victim is in a serious condition, it is necessary to carry out resuscitation measures before the arrival of doctors.

When is there a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?

In our time, cases of poisoning happen a little less often than in those days when residential heating was predominantly stove, but there are still enough sources of increased risk now. Potential carbon monoxide poisoning hazards: Homes with furnace heating, fireplaces. Improper operation increases the risk of carbon monoxide penetration into the room, thus fading away in houses with entire families; baths, saunas, especially those that heat “on black”; garages; in industries using carbon monoxide; long stay near major roads; fire in a closed room (elevator, shaft, etc. rooms, leaving which without outside help impossible).

Only numbers

• A mild degree of poisoning occurs already at a carbon monoxide concentration of 0.08% - there is headache, dizziness, suffocation, general weakness.
• An increase in CO concentration to 0.32% causes motor paralysis and fainting. Death occurs in about half an hour.

At a CO concentration of 1.2% or more, a lightning-fast form of poisoning develops - in a couple of breaths a person receives a lethal dose, a lethal outcome occurs after a maximum of 3 minutes.

In the exhaust passenger car contains from 1.5 to 3% carbon monoxide. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get poisoned while the engine is running not only indoors, but also outdoors.

• About two and a half thousand people in Russia are annually hospitalized with varying degrees severity of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Prevention measures

In order to minimize the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is enough to observe the following rules:

Operate stoves and fireplaces in accordance with the rules, regularly check the operation ventilation system and clean the chimney in a timely manner, and trust the laying of stoves and fireplaces only to professionals;

Not to be long time close to busy roads;

Always turn off the car engine in a closed garage. In order for the concentration of carbon monoxide to become lethal, only five minutes of engine operation is enough - remember this;

When you stay in the car for a long time, and even more so when you sleep in the car, always turn off the engine

Make it a rule - if you experience symptoms that may suggest carbon monoxide poisoning, provide an inflow as soon as possible fresh air by opening the windows, but rather leave the room.

Do not lie down if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or weak.

Remember - carbon monoxide is insidious, it acts quickly and imperceptibly, so life and health depend on the speed of the measures taken. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!

In case of emergencies, you can call one emergency operational service using a separate number of any mobile operator: these are numbers 101 (fire and emergency response service), 102 (police service), 103 (ambulance service medical care), 104 (gas network service)

Unified hotline of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Orenburg region

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, very light gas (lighter than air) and odorless. But the "smell of carbon monoxide" is felt due to impurities of organic elements in the fuel. Carbon monoxide at home appears every time when wood is burned. The main cause of carbon monoxide is the lack of oxygen in the combustion area.

The occurrence of intoxication

Carbon monoxide at home occurs when carbon is burned due to a lack of oxygen. Combustion in furnaces of fuel occurs in several stages:

1. First, the carbon burns, releasing carbon dioxide CO2
2. The carbon dioxide then comes into contact with the red-hot residue of coke or coal, creating carbon monoxide;
3. Then, the carbon monoxide burns (blue flame) to form carbon dioxide, which escapes through the chimney.

No draft in the stove (chimney clogged, no combustion supply air damper is closed prematurely), the coals continue to smolder without a weak supply of oxygen, so carbon monoxide does not burn and can be dispersed throughout the heated room, causing a toxic effect on the body and poisoning (waste).

Factors of fumes poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisonous gas is odorless and colorless, making it very dangerous. Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning can be:

• Faulty operation of the fireplace stove and chimney (clogged chimney, cracks in the stove).
• Violation (closing of the furnace damper untimely, bad traction, insufficient access to the firebox for fresh air).
• The presence of a person in the very heart of the fire.
• Maintenance of a car in a room with low ventilation.
• The use of low-quality air in breathing apparatus and scuba gear.
• Sleeping in a car with the engine running.
• Using a grill with low ventilation.

Signals and signs of poisoning

At a low concentration of gas, the first signs of toxic effects and poisoning may form: lacrimation, dizziness and pain, nausea and weakness, confusion, dry cough, there are auditory and visual hallucinations. Feeling the symptoms of poisoning, you need to get out into fresh air as soon as possible.

With a long period of time in a room with a low density of carbon monoxide, symptoms of poisoning occur: tachycardia, respiratory failure, impaired coordination, drowsiness, visual hallucinations, blue skin of the face and mucous membranes, vomiting, loss of consciousness, there may be convulsions.

With increased concentration - there is a loss of consciousness and coma with convulsions. Without first aid, the victim may die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The impact of carbon monoxide in the home on the human body

Carbon monoxide enters through the lungs, contacts hemoglobin in the blood and prevents the transfer of oxygen to organs and tissues. Disturbed by oxygen starvation nervous system and brain function. The higher the concentration of carbon monoxide and the longer the period of stay in the room, the stronger the poisoning and the greater the likelihood of death.

After poisoning, medical supervision within a few days, because complications are often observed. Severely poisoned victims should be hospitalized. Problems with the nervous system and lungs are possible even weeks after the incident. Curiously, women are less affected by carbon monoxide than men.

Carbon monoxide detector for home

Poisoning or fumes can be prevented by using a stand-alone carbon monoxide alarm or sensor. If the amount of carbon monoxide in a residential or technical room will pass allowable level, the sensor will signal, warning of the threat. Carbon monoxide detectors are electrochemical sensors designed to continuously monitor the level of CO in a room and react with light and sound signals on the high level concentration of carbon monoxide in the air.

When you decide to buy a carbon monoxide detector for your home, pay attention to the features (with external similarity) of the devices: open fire and a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detector responds to different elements in the air of the room. Carbon monoxide sensors for the home are installed at a height of one and a half meters from the floor (some recommend placing 15-20 cm from the ceiling). The carbon dioxide detector is placed near the instrument panel or at floor level (carbon dioxide is much heavier than air), and the smoke detector should be on the ceiling.

In many countries, the use of the above sensors is a mandatory condition provided by law to ensure the safety and health of the population. In Europe, only a smoke detector is required. With us, the installation of a carbon monoxide sensor is still a voluntary matter. Such sensors are generally an inexpensive device, so it is better not to risk your life and buy a carbon monoxide alarm for your home.

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in the house

By following safety rules, carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented:

— Do not use appliances that burn fuel without sufficient skills, knowledge and tools.

- Don't burn charcoal in a room with poor ventilation.

— Check that the oven, exhaust and supply ventilation and chimney.

- On the smoke channels wood stoves, it is necessary to provide for the installation of 2 tight valves in series, and on the channels of stoves operating on coal or peat, only one valve with a hole of 15 mm.

- Do not leave a car with a running engine in the garage.

Sensors that indicate an increase in carbon monoxide concentration can provide additional protection against poisoning, but they should not replace other preventive measures.

Carbon monoxide in stove heating

A fireplace or stove with a closed valve and the remains of unburned fuel is a source of carbon monoxide and an invisible poisoner. Assuming that the fuel has completely burned out, the owners of the stoves close the chimney damper to keep the heat. Smoldering embers with a lack of air create carbon monoxide, which penetrates into the room through leaky zones of the furnace system.

Also in the chimney, with weak draft and no air supply, chemical underburning of the fuel occurs, and as a result, the appearance and accumulation of carbon monoxide at home.

Here, for a long time I have had a "manual for furnace furnaces"

Correct, colleagues, if something is wrong ...

Furnace furnace
The heating of stoves depends on the state of the stove, fuel, and the ability to heat the stove correctly. The stove should be systematically looked after, i.e. cleaned, covered over even the smallest cracks that can lead to the formation of condensate. For example, up to 15 m3 of air seeps through a 2-mm crack around the perimeter of the valve frame within an hour, which, heating up to 80 ... 100 ° C, will carry away heat, and this is 10% of its loss.
When excess air is supplied through the blower, heat loss is 15-25%, and if combustion occurs with the furnace door open, then heat loss reaches 40%. The oven is cleaned and repaired once or twice a year. summer time. Chimneys cleaned two or three times during the heating season.
The heating of the furnace walls primarily depends on the state in which they are located. If there is a lot of soot and ash on the walls of the furnace or in the chimneys, then they heat up weakly and much more fuel and time have to be spent on the furnace. A layer thickness of 1-2 mm significantly impairs the perception of heat by the walls.
Before the firebox, the grate is cleaned, all ash is removed. This ensures free passage of air to the burning fuel. Fuel is harvested in advance so that it is dry. chopped firewood are considered dry only one year after they were laid in a cage and were outdoors under a canopy.
Only dry fuel should be used. During the combustion of raw fuel, the moisture present in it turns into steam, which, passing through the channels of the furnace, cools them, and falling on the cold walls of the pipe, settles on them, turning into drops, which, draining, mix with soot, forming condensate.
The calorific value of the fuel is different. Take, for example, dry firewood of different species. For example, 3/4 m3 of oak firewood is equivalent to 1 m3 of birch, 1.2 - alder, 1.2 - pine, 1.3 - spruce, 1.5 - aspen. Firewood should be chopped into logs with an average thickness of 8-10 cm. Logs of the same thickness should be selected for the firebox, which is important for uniform heating of the furnace.
Peat can burn in almost any furnace, but for this it is necessary to increase the draft. For peat, it is best to lay stoves with an appropriate firebox.
The duration of furnace burning is on average 1-1.5 hours. After burning, the furnace surface must be heated to a temperature of 70 ... With more high temperature dust on the surface of the oven burns, releasing bad smell. Therefore, the front walls of the oven should be systematically cleaned by wiping the collected dust with a dry cloth. This must be done especially carefully at the beginning. heating season. The oven should not be overheated. This can lead to cracking and breakdown. kiln masonry. Large stoves that are heated in 1-2 days are not always good: firstly, they take up a lot of space in the room, and secondly, due to the strong heating of the room, it is often necessary to open the windows for ventilation, which leads to excessive fuel consumption.
The amount of firewood that is necessary for the normal heating of the furnace is immediately laid in the firebox. Firewood is laid in a cage or in rows with gaps between logs up to 10 mm, so that all logs begin to light up immediately from all sides, creating as much heat as possible. In this case, the wood masonry should not reach the top of the firebox by at least 20 cm. Under such conditions small particles fuels and various combustible substances are burned in the firebox before they enter the chimneys. First, it raises the oven temperature. Secondly, getting into the chimneys, unburned particles clog them, and they absorb less heat. For kindling, the driest logs are placed under the bottom row, and dry chips, torches, and paper under them. It is strictly forbidden to use kerosene, gasoline, acetone and similar explosive substances.
In order for the furnace not to smoke, paper, thin splinter, shavings are first burned, filling the chimneys warm air and then fire up the oven. Firewood (or peat) is laid so that they lie evenly on the grate or on the hearth of the furnace, closer to the furnace door.
When melting the furnace, the furnace door, dampers, valve and view are fully opened. After kindling, as soon as the firewood flares up, the furnace door is closed, and the blower is opened. Draft in the furnace is regulated blower door, valve or view.
Usually, the thrust force is determined by the color of the flame: if the flame is red with dark stripes, and from pipe goes brown or black smoke, it means there is not enough air and its supply must be increased; if the flame is golden yellow, the air supply is considered normal; if it is bright white, and a buzz is heard in the furnace channels, this indicates that there is an excess of air and its supply must be reduced.
In the process of burning fuel, open furnace doors it is impossible, since entering the furnace cold air cools the furnace channels.

So, based on the above, we can formulate the following rules.
1. As the fuel burns out, it is necessary to cover not only the firebox door, but also partially the view or valve.
2. Stirring (stirring) the firewood is possible only after they burn well and large voids form between the logs, through which air begins to flow in excess, cooling the stove.
3. If firebrands remain, they are collected in the center of the firebox (furnace bottom) or grate and surrounded by brightly burning coals. Burning coals and firebrands should lie in the path of air movement to the firebox. The influx of excess air is undesirable.
4. When the coals burn out (that is, the blue flame disappears, indicating that carbon monoxide is being released), they must be leveled along the grate or hearth of the firebox, closer to the door, and cover it tightly. It is recommended to leave the pipe open for another 5-10 minutes so that carbon monoxide residues do not penetrate into the room, which can lead to poisoning and even death. (With)

Everything ingenious is simple!

Throwing is simple. Get half a bucket of water and shovel the coals out of the firebox into a bucket until the firebox is clean. If there is a stubborn firebrand left unburned, then hers too. Do the same with the blower. And quietly close the valve.

It has no color or smell. But he is deadly.

Experts

Sergei Musselius
doctor of medical sciences, professor, toxicologist, lecturer at the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine

A survey of homeowners in 6 cities by the Romir-Monitoring agency showed:

81% of respondents - do not realize the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning;

60% - do not know that such poisoning can lead to death;

27% believe they will smell carbon monoxide if it leaks;

94% do not have carbon monoxide detectors;

52% - believe that when carbon monoxide appears, it is enough to simply ventilate the room so as not to get poisoned.

How is carbon monoxide formed?

From the school curriculum, we know that oxygen is needed for combustion. Carbon monoxide is formed when there is not enough oxygen and carbon-containing fuels (wood, peat, paper, coal, briquettes, gasoline, natural gas) do not burn completely. Poisoning on the street, for example, by the fire, is impossible. There is a lot of oxygen around, as a result, low-toxic carbon dioxide CO2 is formed during combustion. And even if the fuel burns badly or smolders (coals in the grill), carbon monoxide instantly dissolves in the air. Dangerous carbon monoxide CO is formed in the room with a lack of oxygen (fuel smolders, but does not burn actively). Many believe that carbon monoxide can be felt through the nose, like the one that burns in the burners of gas stoves. As you know, it is specially “flavored” with the so-called mercaptan, a strong-smelling substance that is added to natural gas in gas storage facilities in order to detect a leak by smell. It is impossible to do this with carbon monoxide - because it forms itself.

Pity the bird!

The very first indicator of carbon monoxide were ... canaries. At the slightest increase in CO concentration, they immediately fell silent and fell off the perch.

To protect yourself and loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning, experts advise keeping the equipment in good working order, ventilating the room, and not being in the garage with the doors closed when the engine is running. And install inexpensive carbon monoxide detectors. If the carbon monoxide content rises, the sensor will start emitting intermittent signals, if the alarm threshold is violated critically - continuous.

What is the danger of carbon monoxide?

When carbon monoxide enters the lungs and then into the blood, it binds very strongly to hemoglobin. This produces the so-called carboxyhemoglobin, a toxic substance that blocks the flow of oxygen into the blood. As a result, oxygen starvation occurs: brain cells suffer, hypoxia increases. The most dangerous thing is that the first signs of poisoning by the person himself and those around him are usually mistaken for fatigue. Subsequently, it appears

Headache and dizziness, shortness of breath. A person can lose consciousness, he can develop heart failure, a heart attack, an ischemic stroke, in severe cases, coma and death. All organs suffer - the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs. Relaxes smooth muscles. As a result, a person, even if he understands that he urgently needs to go out into the air, cannot take a single step due to muscle weakness. Relax, losing elasticity, and arteries. If the victim lies at the same time, the arteries are clamped, which finally blocks the access of blood to the organs.

AFTER POISONING.

With severe poisoning, even if a person survived, he may remain in a vegetative state and never fully recover. In other cases, recovery can take weeks, months, or years. If the poisoning was not very strong, its signs may appear after 1-6 weeks. Approximately a third of the victims partially lose their memory, they develop headaches, movement functions are disturbed, their character worsens, the ability to think abstractly and self-critically worsens. Vision and hearing are impaired.

Who is at risk:

Inhabitants country houses where there are stoves, fireplaces, petrol and diesel water heaters. Often the cause of poisoning is poor draft due to improper laying of the stove or fireplace clogged with soot from the chimney. Recently, cases have become more frequent when adult children buy country houses parents who previously lived in the city and simply do not know how to properly heat;

City residents who came to rest (often New Year holidays!) in rented country cottages and, not really knowing how, decide to heat the house. The stove is kindled, the house becomes warm, cozy. And at this moment, someone decides that all the heat leaves through the pipe, so you need to close the damper of the stove or fireplace and the window.

Couples secluded in a car in a closed garage. Turning on the car stove, they maintain a romantic mood with alcohol and exposure to carbon monoxide is usually mistaken for intoxication. To recover, they decide to take a short nap. Many do not wake up;

Car owners who fix cars themselves at closed doors garage;

Smoking lovers in bed. Falling asleep with an unextinguished cigarette does not necessarily lead to a fire. The blanket and carpet begin to smolder, but there is no flame. If the windows are closed, CO poisoning is guaranteed;

Gas stove owners If the burner blows out during operation, the gas will not burn completely. Carbon monoxide can also be produced if you cook food in a pan with a very wide bottom. . In this case, the flow of oxygen to the burner is disturbed and carbon monoxide is formed. For the same reason, you can not cook on all burners at once or heat the room with a gas stove. In the kitchen, when burning 3 burners for 2 hours, the concentration of CO increases 11 times!

Inhabitants modern apartments, violating redevelopment of natural traction. During repairs, they put interior doors without gaps from below, they destroy air ducts to increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen, put plastic windows that don't let air through.

THE FORM OF POISONING DEPENDS ON THE CONCENTRATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE.

3rd, mild, degree: CO in the air is not more than 0.08%, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is not more than 30%. The victim has headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting.

Help from others: open windows and doors, take the victim outside. Hospitalization is not required.

2nd, middle, degree: CO in the air is not more than 0.32%, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is 30-40%. The victim loses consciousness, his blood pressure rises, his pulse quickens, hallucinations are possible.

Help from others:

Put on an oxygen mask or gas mask with a special hopcalite cartridge on the victim (increases protection against CO).

Connect the victim to an oxygen cylinder for 2-3 hours. Hospitalization is required.

1st, severe, degree: CO in the air is more than 1.2%, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood is 50% - intermittent breathing, lowering blood pressure up to collapse, sharp cyanosis (blanching) of the mucous membranes, convulsions, coma.

If the concentration of CO is very high, 1-2 breaths are enough to die.

Help from others: open windows and doors, take the victim outside, call rescuers and doctors.

It turns out to be rescuers and doctors: put on the victim an oxygen mask or a gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge (increases protection against CO). Connect the victim to an oxygen cylinder for 2-3 hours.

Hospitalization is required. Upon delivery to the clinic, hardware ventilation of the lungs is performed.

In all three cases, the victim is given an antidote to carbon monoxide, which was developed in Russia. It reduces intoxication, accelerates the excretion of CO from the body, reduces the need for oxygen, and helps to increase the resistance of the organs most sensitive to hypoxia.

“Everyone can get black, I myself almost got poisoned on a call”

We spoke with an experienced anesthesiologist-resuscitator who dealt with a similar case. While trying to save a now unconscious child, he nearly died from carbon monoxide himself.

It was in 2012,” recalls Konstantin Tolstonogov, an ambulance doctor from Bobruisk. - Parents found their daughter unconscious in the bathroom. When we arrived, she was lying on the sofa - the pupils are wide, there is no breathing and no heartbeat. There is no smell in the apartment, the family is prosperous, it does not look like a suicide. But the suspicion that something is not right arose immediately. The girl's body was not pale, not bluish, but pink, this happens with carbon monoxide poisoning. The apartment had a geyser - branded, serviceable, automatic. According to the girl's parents, she never had any problems, and we somehow ruled out this threat. 28 minutes of resuscitation. There is no result. And then we all swam. Weakness, drowsiness, shortness of breath, throbbing in the head ... It came to us - this is carbon monoxide. Everyone out of the apartment. Personally, I was no longer able to run, I lay down right on the landing ...

At our request, the resuscitator answered our questions about the lethal gas.

The product of incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon - gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, natural gas, coal, firewood ... It can form absolutely everywhere. Complete combustion of organic matter produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. But if there is not enough oxygen during the combustion process, underoxidized carbon monoxide is formed - carbon monoxide (CO).

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

Where is the risk of carbon monoxide exposure the highest?

In apartments with gas water heaters, gas stoves, garages and basements, especially if there were any repair work. In baths and private houses with stove heating, where often, without waiting for the complete combustion of firewood, the damper is closed.

How to recognize carbon monoxide?

It has no color or smell. If you feel weakness, drowsiness, palpitations, consciousness floats - this is a signal. Get out of the room immediately. Carbon monoxide quickly and tightly binds to hemoglobin, and it can no longer carry oxygen. Oxygen starvation sets in. It immediately affects the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.

What to do in order not to get burned?

Monitor the serviceability of equipment and ventilation, check the draft before each use of gas equipment, open windows as often as possible, heat the stove as carefully as possible.

AND AT THIS TIME

"If you use gas equipment that's right, nothing will happen"

- There are more than 100 thousand Belarusians in the apartments geysers. If they are potentially dangerous, why not remove them?

If there are gas water heaters in the houses, most likely the house was built in the 60-80s of the last century, and, therefore, at that time it was impossible to organize a centralized supply hot water, - Sergey Borodavko, deputy chief engineer of UE MINSKOBLGAZ, commented to Komsomolskaya Pravda. - To dismantle the gas water heaters, you need to run water pipes to the house. It is expensive and technically difficult. This is not a task right now. But, believe me, if the column is in good condition and it is properly operated, it does not pose any threat.

- And how to determine for yourself whether there is traction or not?

Each geyser has special windows or slots to which it is necessary to bring a lit match or candle to check for draft in the chimney. If the flame deviates inward, everything is fine, there is thrust. If not, it's a mess. To check the ventilation duct - you can bring a piece of paper to it. If it sticks to the ventilation grill, the ventilation is working.

- Do gas workers have devices that can measure the concentration of carbon monoxide?

Gas workers determine only the concentration of liquefied and natural gas. Devices that can catch carbon monoxide may be available from the Ministry of Emergencies or other organizations that check the health of chimneys and ventilation ducts.

One of possible causes, through which carbon monoxide accumulated in a house in Borisov - a clogged chimney. Are chimneys in every house or only in those where gas equipment is installed?

Chimneys are everywhere where it is necessary to ensure the removal of combustion products, including in houses with gas water heaters and boilers. In most cases, these are private houses, as well as multi-storey residential buildings with apartment heating.

- And who is responsible for the timely inspection and serviceability of chimneys?

According to the Rules for the use of gas in everyday life, the obligation to check the condition of smoke and ventilation ducts is assigned to organizations operating housing stock or providing housing and communal services, as well as gas consumers. At their request, specialized organizations that have the appropriate permits conduct performance checks of chimneys and ventilation ducts. The gas supply organization does not check smoke and ventilation ducts. But it is she who carries out the maintenance of gas water heaters.

BY THE WAY

To detect materials released during smoldering and burning, including carbon monoxide, will help gas detector: he will squeak in time and report the danger. The price is about 200 thousand rubles.