Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 02 : The health experts here have sounded alarm over the use of unvented gas heaters, saying that the people must not use it, especially in the closed spaces as it can even prove fatal as well.
Dr Murtaza Ahmad, a doctor at DHSK told the news agency— said that the heaters emit combustion products like carbon monoxide and once it reaches a particular level inside a room, a person gets “carbon monoxide poisoning”.
He said the best way to prevent deaths due to unvented gas heaters is to discontinue their use and instead, use vented gas heaters.
“If people continue using unvented gas heaters, they should not use them in bedrooms, bathrooms or in any enclosed spaces,” he said, adding these heaters should only be used in rooms with adequate ventilation.
“These heaters are commonly used during winters to keep rooms warm particularly at night. It has no chimney to vent the combustion products like carbon monoxide outside the home, as a result, this toxic pollutant remains in the room and its high level exposure causes death as well,” he said.
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer as you can’t see it; you can’t smell it and you can’t taste it. The individual is rendered completely helpless without feeling the harm, thus becoming unconscious during sleep leading to death,” he added.
He said people, who are particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning, include children, elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions.
Dr Shahid said that people must take precautions and should avoid using unvented gas heaters.
He said that evidence of suffocation may include small red or purple splotches in the eyes and on the face and neck as well as in the lungs (petechial haemorrhages). “Asphyxiation may also produce foam in the airways as the victim struggles to breathe and mucus from the lungs mixes with air,” he said.
Dr Shahid said that other symptoms of suffocation include shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, a slow heart rate, hoarseness, a sore throat, confusion, loss of consciousness, nose bleeding and visual changes.
The health experts said that exposure to CO can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Prolonged exposure can be fatal.
He said that nitrogen dioxide, another byproduct, can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate conditions like asthma.
They while recommending precautionary measures said that ventilation is a must and carbon monoxide detectors can be installed, heaters must be maintained well and limit use of heaters.
