Risk of death from suffocation and poisoning in fire

Most deaths in fires are caused by suffocation and gas poisoning, especially in high-rise buildings.

This article was professionally consulted by Dr. Ngo Duc Hiep, Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC).

Risk of death from suffocation and gas poisoning

- In a fire, there are many types of toxic gases produced from the smoke of the fire such as CO, CO2, ammonia, organic acids...

- CO and CO2 are the main causes of death. Specifically, gas poisoning leads to respiratory failure, neurological disorders, and loss of control.

- These gases also cause the body to consume a lot of energy due to lack of oxygen.

- In addition, toxic smoke and gas produced in fires obstruct vision, irritate eyes, disorient victims, and make escape and rescue difficult.

Prevention skills

- Use a wet towel to cover your mouth and nose to filter the air when breathing. You can use a smoke mask if equipped in advance.

- To escape from a fire, use a wet blanket or quilt to cover your entire body and run quickly through the fire to avoid burning your clothes and skin.

- When a lot of smoke is generated, escapees must bend down, kneel, crawl or slither out of the fire.

- Try to stay calm, quickly call the fire police force immediately for timely rescue.

- On the way to the hospital, if the victim is breathing weakly or unconscious, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is required.

Steps to handle burn accidents

- Eliminate contact with the burning agent as soon as possible.

+ Quickly get the victim out of the fire, put out the fire, cut off the power...

+ Take off or cut off burned or soaked clothing, rings or watches before the burned area swells.

+ Avoid breaking or rupturing the blister.

+ Place the victim in a safe, airy, high place so that initial first aid can be performed effectively.

- Initial assessment, ensuring vital functions

+ Quick examination to promptly assess the victim's overall condition.

+ Preliminary assessment of the extent of damage.

+ CPR and chest compressions if there is respiratory or cardiac arrest, fix broken bones (if any)...

- Quickly soak the burned body area in clean water.

+ Soak in cool water as soon as possible, preferably within 30-60 minutes after the burn.

+ Standard water temperature from 16-20 degrees Celsius.

+ Soaking time lasts from 15-45 minutes, can soak until the pain is gone.

+ It is necessary to take advantage of available water sources at the accident site: boiled and cooled water, tap water, rainwater, well water...

+ If you have sterile water, it's even better.

+ Pay attention to keep warm and avoid drafts after soaking and washing, especially in winter. Do not use ice water to avoid chilling the victim.

- Temporarily cover burns

+ Cover the burn area with clean materials such as medical gauze, even clean towels, handkerchiefs, gauze... to wrap up.

+ For burns to the face and genital area, just cover with a layer of gauze.

+ Compression bandage should be applied early, avoid bandaging too tightly causing compression of the burn area.

+ Do not apply any substance to the burned area without cleaning it and without the guidance of a medical professional.

- Warm, rehydrate and salt after burns

+ Keep the victim warm, especially in winter.

+ Give the victim oral rehydration solution (ORS), warm sweet tea, thin rice porridge, instant noodle water, fruit juice.

+ If the victim is a breastfeeding child, continue breastfeeding normally.

- Quickly transfer the victim to the nearest medical facility

+ After completing first aid, quickly transport the victim to the nearest medical facility.

+ Burns combined with trauma and fractures: temporarily immobilize the trauma area and fractured bones before transport.

+ Pay attention to keep warm during transportation.

+ Depending on the specific circumstances, transport by stretcher, hammock, bicycle, motorbike, car...

+ In case of severe burns, it is best to transport the victim by ambulance. During the transport, continue to monitor vital functions, give water and pain relief (if medicine is available in the vehicle).

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