Inhale smoke causes suffocation and burns

• April 18, 2024

According to information from the National Emergency Office of Chile (Onemi), more than twenty fires They have spread in the center and south of the country, consuming around 38 thousand hectares and causing the death, so far, of a person in the region of Bío Bío.

The smoke is the main cause of deaths related by fires , well above the Burns . It is estimated that poisoning during a fire is responsible for more than 75% of deaths related to these incidents, according to Civil Protection data.

Intoxication occurs when breathing the products of combustion during the fire, which can cause minor respiratory problems such as mucosal irritation and even death.

The smoke It damages the organism in three different ways: suffocation (combustion consumes available oxygen, which drops to concentrations below 15%); Burns in the respiratory tract (rapid inflammation of tissues burned can obstruct the flow of air to the lungs), and cell-level damage caused by burning toxics. In addition to eliminating available oxygen, it also reduces the body's ability to transport oxygen to the body. blood .

Death by inhalation of smoke It is usually fast. Some of the symptoms of this poisoning are: cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness, Headaches , eye irritation, presence of soot in the nostrils and throat , acute changes in mental state (confusion and dizziness ) and loss of knowledge.

Therefore, remember that in case of fire you should remain calm, give notice to the authorities, withdraw from the risk zone and, if there is smoke, bend down to leave, trying to cover nose and mouth preferably with a damp handkerchief. Be alert and follow the instructions of emergency bodies.

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