Why is smoke in a fire so deadly?

Smoke from a fire quickly spreads and contains many types of particles, vapors, and toxic gases. When inhaled, the body will lack oxygen and damage the nervous system.

Most people die in fires from smoke inhalation, not burns. Smoke spreads easily, leading to disorientation and poor visibility, making it even harder for victims to escape. Synthetic materials commonly used today make smoke more toxic by releasing dangerous substances. In addition, damage to the lungs and respiratory tract from inhaling toxic gases sometimes only appears after 24-36 hours of exposure, leaving victims complacent and unable to respond in time.

Photo: fireco.uk.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke from a fire is deadly because it contains the following components:

- Unburned, partially burned or fully burned particles are so small that they pass through the respiratory system's filters to reach the lungs. Some particles are very toxic while others are irritating to the eyes and digestive system.

- Mist-like vapors are toxic to the body if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

- The most common toxic gas is carbon monoxide (CO), which causes the body to lack oxygen, damages the nervous system, and pushes the victim into a coma, unconsciousness, or worse, death. Just 0.1% CO in the air is life-threatening. In addition, hydrogen cyanide appears when plastic is burned, blocking respiratory cells. Household appliances using vinyl materials, when burned, produce phosgene; at low levels, it causes eye irritation and sore throat, and at high levels, it causes pneumonia and death.

In addition to toxic smoke, fires reduce the oxygen in the air by consuming it or replacing it with another gas. Oxygen falling below the standard concentration of 21% results in the following harmful effects:

Heat is also a threat to the respiratory system. Air reaching a certain temperature is capable of killing a person with just one breath.

To avoid the risk of death from smoke, in case of fire, quickly escape by crawling close to the ground, covering your mouth and nose with a wet towel or cloth, thenMove to a place with fresh air and check your breathing for timely intervention. Pay attention to signs such as hoarseness, voice changes, shortness of breath, and black phlegm because they warn of serious problems.Victims of suffocation should be taken to a medical facility immediately.

According to VNE