Burning charcoal with perilla leaves in a closed room, a couple was poisoned by CO gas

Before that, around 11pm on March 17, the patient's family saw that his health was still normal. Before going to bed, the couple burned charcoal in a closed room with perilla leaves under their backs because they thought it would help relieve back pain.

At 6am on March 18, the family discovered the couple in a coma, and they did not respond to calls, so they were taken to Thanh Hoa General Hospital for emergency treatment. Upon admission, the patient was in a lethargic state, was placed on a ventilator, and then transferred to the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital.

At the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, the couple continued to receive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube, sedation, and brain edema reduction...

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A patient with CO poisoning is treated at the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital. Photo: Quynh Mai.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said that nowadays people build closed houses to live in, which are not as airy as wooden or thatched houses like before, so burning charcoal is very dangerous.

In a closed environment, CO gas from burning charcoal cannot escape, and will quickly be inhaled by humans and cause poisoning. Treatment is very difficult and expensive.

"Not understanding the harmful effects of burning charcoal in a closed room causes many people to fall into the situation of CO poisoning. Therefore, people need to raise awareness. Remember, burning charcoal to keep warm in a closed room is extremely dangerous," emphasized Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen.

The anti-poison expert further instructed that when discovering a person suffering from CO gas suffocation, it is necessary to quickly open all the doors to let air into the house and take the victim away from the toxic gas area. If the victim is breathing weakly or has stopped breathing, perform artificial respiration according to local conditions; if the circulation has stopped, perform CPR. After first aid, the victim must be taken to the nearest medical facility for emergency care and further treatment.

"People absolutely must not burn fuels such as honeycomb coal, firewood, charcoal, gas... for heating or cooking in closed spaces. If using these fuels, it is necessary to open the door wide enough to let air and oxygen from the outside in or it is best to cook in open spaces or outdoors. In rooms with limited ventilation, it is recommended to cook or heat with electricity," the Director of the Poison Control Center advised.