To give first aid to someone suffering from smoke inhalation in a fire, first take the victim to a safe, well-ventilated place, perform CPR if breathing stops, then treat serious injuries.
This article was professionally consulted by Dr. Diep Que Trinh, Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC).
There are many types of toxic gases produced from the smoke of a fire such as CO, CO2, ammonia, organic acids..., causing suffocation and gas poisoning for those who inhale it. Most of the causes of death in fires are suffocation and gas poisoning, such as most of the victims of the mini apartment fire in Khuong Dinh, Hanoi , suffered from smoke inhalation, CO poisoning, and multiple injuries.
Symptoms of smoke inhalation
Smoke inhalation victims may experience a number of symptoms of varying severity.
- Cough.
- Out of breath.
- Hoarseness
- Headache.
- Chest pain.
- Skin may be pale and sallow.
- There may be burns on the skin.
- May cause eye irritation and redness; cornea may burn.
- Confusion, fainting, and decreased alertness may occur.
- Seizures and coma may also occur.
First aid principles
- The rescuer must ensure his own safety throughout the rescue process.
- If you do not have expertise, experience and perceive a high risk of safety, you should provide first aid to the victims once they have been taken away from the scene of the fire by the rescue team.
- Take the victim to a cool place with enough oxygen.
- Depending on each person's injury condition to have appropriate treatment.
+ Call an ambulance.
+ Prioritize serious problems first, especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation for people who have stopped breathing.
+ Take the victim to the nearest hospital for timely treatment.
First aid steps for choking people
- For people who are still conscious and breathing:
+ Let them lie down and rest in a cool, airy place.
+ They should drink water to reduce body temperature and compensate for lost water.
- For people who are unconscious but still breathing:
+ Have them lie on their side so that phlegm does not block the airway.
+ If there is an oxygen tank, let them breathe immediately.
Manual CPR instructions.
- For people who are unconscious, have stopped breathing, or have abnormal breathing:
+ Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (chest compressions, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) first.
+ Before operating, place the victim on a hard surface.
+ The first aid person clasps their hands together and places the cuffs right in the middle of the chest (between the nipples), then presses down quickly and strongly.
+ Each beat the chest sinks down about 5-6 cm.
+ After every 30 chest compressions, perform two rescue breaths.
+ When giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the first aid person uses his mouth to blow his breath into the victim's mouth, while using his hand to cover the nose and vice versa (that is, when blowing into the nose, cover the mouth), so that the breath does not escape.
+ Repeat the steps continuously until the victim is alive or professional emergency personnel arrive to assist.
+ The victim has foreign objects or mucus in their nose or mouth. It needs to be removed to clear their airway.
Instructions for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions to save people who have stopped breathing.
- First aid for burn victims:
+ Gently rinse the burn area with clean water to soothe the pain and help body heat escape quickly.
+ Depending on the severity of the burn, cooling time should be at least 20 minutes or longer, until the victim feels less pain and burning.
+ Absolutely do not use ice or very cold water to pour or apply directly on the victim to avoid frostbite.
+ You should take off clothes, jewelry, accessories... in the burned skin area to avoid them sticking to the wound, which is difficult to remove and causes pain and skin abrasion.
+ Clean plastic wrap can be used to cover the wound to protect it from dirt and prevent infection.
+ If the victim is still in a lot of pain, you can use ice to relieve the pain and take them to the hospital.
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