How to prevent smoke inhalation in case of fire

13 people died in Carina apartment building mainly due to smoke inhalation

13 people died, 28 people were injured, 13 cars and 150 motorbikes burned down in a fire at a 20-story apartment building in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City early this morning.

Cause of death by smoke inhalation

When inhaling smoke, people will lack oxygen, leading to rapid, shallow breathing, gradually weakening. At the same time, a large amount of carbon oxide produced from burning materials penetrates and creates great pressure in the respiratory tract, causing respiratory burns. More seriously, smoke inhalation can cause convulsions and unconsciousness.

According to the biochemical effects in the body, when entering the body, CO competes with Oxygen to combine with hemoglobin in the blood to form carboxy hemoglobin (HbCO). This substance is produced to prevent the ability to release oxygen in cells, reducing the blood's ability to transport oxygen, leading to a state of hypoxia.

Toxic gases produced in fires such as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) cause victims to suffocate. Inhaling large amounts can lead to poisoning and death. Photo: Internet

How to recognize smoke inhalation

- Symptoms of asphyxiation are difficulty breathing, disorientation, loss of consciousness, burns, skin, hair, etc. In severe cases, burns to the airways and dysfunction due to gas poisoning.

- If mild, often have symptoms of shortness of breath, nausea, headache.

- At moderate levels, the victim feels severe headache, dizziness, nervous disorders, nausea, fainting.

- Severe cases will cause fainting, coma, convulsions, arrhythmia, circulatory collapse and death.

Death by asphyxiation usually occurs very slowly, like a deep sleep, unpredictable, painless. When they are shocked by lack of oxygen, the body is suffocated, and it is difficult to breathe, they immediately fall into a coma and die from asphyxiation.

First aid for smoke inhalation

- Quickly take the victim out of danger to a place with fresh air and ventilation.

- If the victim is unconscious, check the victim's breathing and pulse and prepare to give artificial respiration if necessary.

- The victim should be taken to the emergency room as quickly as possible to limit complications.

- During the process of getting to the hospital, if the victim is breathing weakly or unconscious, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is required. In more severe cases, an endotracheal tube must be inserted.

First aid for smoke inhalation. Source: Internet

How to prevent smoke inhalation in a fire

Calm:When you see a fire, don't panic. The first thing you should do is stay calm and call the fire department immediately (114). Then, find a way to run out to the balcony or terrace to find help.

Identify the source of smoke:In case of smoke coming from above, or right on your floor, quickly move to the exit and run down to the lower floors. In particular, do not use the elevator to escape when the building is on fire.

If the smoke is coming from the lower floors, the first thing you need to do is move quickly down and escape (if you are on a low floor). But if you are on a high floor, try to move back up to the top floor, because moving in a dense smoke environment for too long will cause you to collapse before escaping.

Determine wind direction:The purpose of determining wind direction is to choose a reasonable refuge angle, reducing the effects of the fire such as heat, blowing smoke...

Use a wet towel to cover your nose to let it out:In case people are surrounded by fire, they must calmly find a way out. Before going out, they must wet themselves and cover their mouth and nose with a wet towel. At this point, the cloth will become a gas mask, helping you filter the air and breathe easier.

Bend low to the floor when moving. Source Internet

Bend low to the floor when moving:Smoke is usually lighter than air so it rises. Therefore, below the floor there is usually enough oxygen for us to breathe and avoid smoke inhalation.

In addition, you can also hold your breath for a few seconds when the toxic smoke comes, be careful not to scream loudly because you will suffocate immediately.