Mother and child in Quang Nam poisoned by lying on coal

(NLDO) – A woman who had just given birth in Quang Nam province had to be hospitalized for poisoning while fanning a charcoal fire in her room to keep warm.

On January 5, Vinh Duc General Hospital (Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province) announced that it had just received and treated a mother and child who were poisoned by lying on coal.

Previously, at around 6:50 a.m. the same day, the Emergency Room of Vinh Duc General Hospital received a mother and child, Ms. NTAL (born in 1997; residing in Hoi An City) in a state of fatigue and mild difficulty breathing.

Doctor treats poisoned patient Photo: NBT

According to her family, Ms. L. had just given birth a few days ago. Due to the cold weather, around 3:00 a.m. on January 5, the family brought a pot of coal into the room to warm it up. However, around 6:00 a.m., the family discovered that Ms. L.'s mother and Ms. L. were tired, had ringing in their ears, and had difficulty breathing.

The family took Ms. L's mother to a medical facility for treatment, while Ms. L and her child were taken by ambulance to Vinh Duc General Hospital.

After being examined by doctors, given oxygen, IV fluids..., Ms. L. overcame her shortness of breath, became alert, and had a normal pulse and blood pressure. Ms. L.'s newborn daughter was healthy, with no signs of respiratory failure.

According to family information, Ms. L's mother is being treated at another hospital and her difficulty breathing has also improved.

Doctors at Vinh Duc Hospital said these could be patients with gas poisoning from lying on coal.

In recent years, many unfortunate incidents have occurred due to coal gas poisoning in the cold season, even resulting in deaths.

According to doctors, using fuel burning devices in closed rooms such as generators, coal stoves, coal furnaces, etc. will consume oxygen very quickly, and at the same time produce _CO2 and CO. _CO2 causes suffocation and CO causes poisoning, both gases form a dangerous mixture. In a very short time, people in closed rooms will feel suffocated, tired and fall into a coma, which is dangerous.

Victims of CO poisoning have symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and loss of consciousness. For people who are sleeping or drunk, the victim can die without any symptoms.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hai-me-con-o-quang-nam-ngo-doc-do-nam-than-196250105161443146.htm