It silently surrounds its victims, closing in on them without their noticing, leaving them dead or suffering from brain damage. It is the silent killer, which sneaks up on its victims without color or smell, affecting brain cells and leading to lethargy and sluggishness in which the carbon monoxide inhaler is unable to get up, stand, or even call for help... He falls dead within minutes.

Every year, as the winter cold intensifies, warnings about the silent killer escalate, and cautions are issued about the drop in temperatures, prompting many to use firewood and coal for heating, and others to enjoy its appearance, without realizing that what it produces is carbon monoxide gas, a "toxic, invisible, and odorless gas" that may cause death to those sleeping.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is common around the world, especially in winter when ventilation outlets in homes are closed. This calls for more awareness and attention to how to use them and dispose of what is produced from them. Carbon monoxide is a chemical substance produced from the incomplete combustion of natural gas or other carbon-containing products such as firewood or coal.

Civil defense experts described carbon monoxide gas as a toxic, odorless, and colorless gas. It is impossible to see, taste, or smell the toxic fumes. It can kill a person exposed to it before they realize or feel its presence in the house. The effects of carbon monoxide exposure vary among people depending on the age of the victim, their health condition, and the duration of exposure to the gas.

Electric heaters don't kill

Dr. Khaled Al-Nimr, a consultant cardiologist specializing in catheterization, nuclear imaging, and CT scans, stated that electric heaters and air conditioners do not release carbon monoxide and do not cause death. He clarified that poisoning only occurs from burning firewood in an enclosed space without ventilation. He further explained that wood-burning heating is safe if the space is open to the outside air, or if it is enclosed but equipped with effective exhaust ventilation. Ideally, the space should be insulated to maximize heat retention and prevent smoke exposure.

Doctors warn that when carbon monoxide is inhaled, it displaces oxygen in the bloodstream. Symptoms vary from person to person; those at highest risk include children, the elderly, people with lung or heart conditions, people at high altitudes, and smokers.

No color... no smell

The General Directorate of Civil Defense stressed the need to follow safety guidelines and instructions when using coal and firewood for heating, and emphasized the importance of extinguishing the fire resulting from coal and firewood when leaving the house and being careful not to sleep while it is burning; as its burning produces carbon monoxide gas, which causes suffocation and death when lit in closed places. The Civil Defense called for monitoring children and preventing them from approaching or tampering with it.

The directorate revealed that health reports confirm that carbon monoxide gas is produced from coal when it is lit. It is colorless and odorless, and it affects human brain cells after inhalation, leading to lethargy and sluggishness in which the inhaler is unable to get up, stand, or even call for help, and may fall dead within minutes.

Keep him away from the mattresses

The Civil Defense explained that charcoal or firewood should be lit outdoors, away from flammable materials such as bedding, clothing, or tents, and should not be lit indoors, especially in windy conditions, to avoid the risk of sparks spreading, flames escalating, and fires breaking out. They further stated that if charcoal or firewood is brought indoors for heating, windows and doors should be opened to allow fresh air to circulate and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. They also stressed the importance of ensuring that the fire is completely extinguished before going to sleep. Finally, they emphasized the need to ensure that any remaining charcoal or firewood is completely out before disposing of it in trash cans and to keep children away from it.

Civil Defense: Follow the instructions

The General Directorate of Civil Defense called for following the safety guidelines and instructions announced through various media outlets and social media sites, and for contacting the numbers (911) in the Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern regions, and (998) in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions to request assistance in emergency cases.

Diesel generator warning

Security expert and former Director of Civil Defense in Jeddah Governorate, retired Major General Abdullah Jadawi, warned against the use of firewood and charcoal in homes, tents, Bedouin tents, or enclosed spaces, noting that deadly levels of carbon monoxide gas accumulate in these areas and may remain for hours, even after they are extinguished, harming those who inhale them. Therefore, attention must be paid to ventilation, and windows and doors should not be closed when lighting them or after they are extinguished.

He explained that the fire appears in winter, as it is the fruit of winter, and one of the customs that people love, which requires knowing how to enjoy it without danger or consequences that may be fatal. The process of burning firewood and coal produces carbon monoxide that rises from the wood and coal, and symptoms appear that some believe are the result of a disease that the person suffers from, but the truth is that he suffers from headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pains and loss of consciousness, and it may lead to death without prior symptoms.

Retired Major General Jadawi concluded that the danger is not limited to coal and firewood, but one must be wary of generators that run on petroleum products such as diesel and gasoline, as they are among the most prominent sources of carbon monoxide gas; therefore, it is always advised to keep them away from seating areas and place them in the open air.

How do you provide first aid to the injured person?

The Ministry of Health issued a warning on how to provide first aid to a victim, emphasizing the need to remove them from the source of the gas and call for an ambulance. They also stressed the importance of ensuring a proper ventilation system and keeping all other sources of airflow clear to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Ministry explained that carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless toxic gas, as its fumes are impossible to see, taste, or smell. The effects of carbon monoxide exposure vary significantly from person to person depending on age, overall health, concentration, and duration of exposure.

The Ministry of Health explained that the acute effects occur as a result of the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which hinders the inhalation of oxygen. At low concentrations, it causes fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At high concentrations, it causes blurred vision, impaired eye coordination, headache, dizziness, confusion, and nausea. It can cause flu-like symptoms that disappear after leaving the house. It is also fatal at very high concentrations.