First Aid Treatment for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas. It often goes unnoticed and causes serious poisoning due to this. The good news is that there's a simple effective treatment for it if detected early.

Reviewed and approved by the doctor Leonardo Biolatto.

Written by Leonardo Biolatto

Last update: 27 May, 2022

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, highly toxic gas produced by the combustion of gasoline, wood, and coal, among other fuels. This combustion powers cars, gas stoves, and heating systems, among others.

This kind of gas is a silent killer that poisons about 1,500 people every year; up to 200 of them die. Most of the cases could be avoided as they’re mainly due to the misuse of equipment. Either that or the poor operation of gas appliances that are in unsuitable, poorly ventilated environments.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a medical emergency that can go unnoticed. Continue reading to find out everything you should know about it and what to do if it happens around you.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

People accidentally inhale this gas in their homes or during some of their daily activities such as cooking or heating a room. This is because the machines they’re using may either be malfunctioning or haven’t been properly maintained. Similarly, there are times when people use it as a suicide method.

What does carbon monoxide do to our bodies?

Cells called erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, usually circulate in our blood. These blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin, responsible for transporting oxygen. This protein is in charge of collecting the oxygen breathed into the lungs and then sending it to the tissues where the blood circulates.

Carbon monoxide toxicity is due to its higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen. Because of this, carbon monoxide binds strongly to hemoglobin and doesn’t allow oxygen to enter the blood. Thus, the tissues run out of oxygen, causing what’s technically referred to as tissue hypoxia.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of carbon monoxide inhaled and the time of exposure. There are two types of carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Acute poisoning happens when a person inhales this gas in large quantities
• There’s chronic poisoning when people inhale low concentrations of carbon monoxide continuously

The symptoms are caused by a lack of oxygen in the tissues, and these are some of the most common:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Respiratory problems
• Confusion
• Drowsiness

If not treated in time, carbon monoxide poisoning will lead to a coma. Therefore, it’s dangerous for people who are exposed to it, especially while sleeping. This is because they can suffer irreversible brain damage or even die before someone notices there’s a problem.

The symptoms may not be so obvious in chronic poisonings and serious long-term damage may occur. These occur in the brain level, and are mainly:

• Difficulty learning and retaining data in memory
• Emotional disturbances that could lead to depression
• Sensory and motor disorders such as difficulty moving and loss of sensation, among others

In most cases, these symptoms occur without a person realizing the cause is gas. This is because, as we mentioned above, it’s odorless, colorless, and tasteless.

What to do in case of poisoning

Do the following if you think you may have been poisoned by carbon monoxide:

• Leave any room where there’s a gas leak
• Open doors and windows to get fresh air and allow carbon monoxide to dissipate
• Turn off stoves, ovens, heaters, and any appliances of this type

Once you’re away from the source of the poisoning, contact your nearest emergency room. Medical personnel can perform tests to check the carbon monoxide levels in your blood and suggest treatment immediately.

Hospital treatment

Treatment consists of injecting oxygen into the blood system to flush out the carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin and replacing it with O2. They usually administer this oxygen through a mask placed over the nose and mouth. Thanks to this, oxygen reaches the tissues.

Hyperbaric chamber

In some cases, doctors will place an affected person in a hyperbaric chamber. This treatment involves breathing oxygen in a chamber at a much higher pressure than normal. It accelerates the replacement of carbon monoxide with oxygen.

How to prevent poisoning

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can take the following precautions:

• Properly install and maintain all fuel-consuming household appliances
• Inspect and clean household fireplaces and chimneys every year
• Get a competent service technician to inspect your ovens, water heaters, and gas dryers annually
• Only use room heaters that consume fuel but have no ventilation outlet when you’re awake, monitor them and try to maintain proper ventilation
• You must regularly inspect your vehicle’s exhaust system for defects and blockages, especially during winter

Lastly, and most importantly, you should install a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector in your home. Don’t forget to check the batteries every daylight saving time change — spring and fall. Leave your home and call the emergency services if the detector alarm goes off.