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During the cold winter months, when temperatures are very low, most people keep their doors and windows closed to maintain a warm indoor temperature, which creates a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It should be understood that carbon monoxide poisoning is even more dangerous than hazardous materials, as many hazardous materials are far away from us, while carbon monoxide poisoning is close at hand; many carelessness in daily life are the causes of such poisoning. So how can we prevent gas poisoning? What are the first aid measures in case of gas poisoning? Let’s take a look together. http://p0.itc.cn/images01/20210107/6cf1520aeb464616b766f79d538f32c0.jpeg I. What is gas and gas poisoning? In everyday language, “gas” refers to the gases produced by the incomplete combustion of coal, with carbon monoxide (CO) being its main component. The main culprit behind carbon monoxide poisoning is carbon monoxide itself, a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas. Inhalation can cause oxygen deficiency in the body, leading to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness in the limbs, and difficulty breathing. II. Gas poisoning mainly occurs in the following situations: using coal stoves for heating and cooking with doors and windows closed, with no ventilation. The chimney is not installed properly, preventing the gas inside from being discharged in a timely manner. Gas leaks from the pipelines and loose switches cause a large amount of gas to escape. Gas water heater, poor ventilation, prolonged bathing time. Sleeping in a car with the air conditioner on can lead to poisoning due to Co in the exhaust fumes trapped inside the vehicle. III. How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: Purchase qualified coal stoves, keep the air vents in the room open, and learn the relevant prevention knowledge. IV. What to do if someone suffers from carbon monoxide poisoning: 1. Move them to a well-ventilated area to ensure smooth breathing, and provide them with an effective protective mask. 2. Apply an ice pack to the head to reduce cerebral edema. Patients with carbon monoxide poisoning are often in a comatose state; in such cases, they should be kept lying flat with their head turned to one side to prevent vomit from entering the trachea and causing suffocation. The patient’s collar should be loosened slightly to avoid constriction around the trachea. 3. Call the emergency services at http://p1.itc.cn/images01/20210107/9a5bc0ea36dc4656bb1b7343f9020108.jpeg V. Three common misconceptions about gas poisoning Misconception 1: Cooling a person suffering from gas poisoning will wake them up. Cold exposure not only worsens the oxygen deficiency but can also lead to problems with blood circulation in the extremities, potentially causing shock and death. Myth 2: Believing that a foul, rotten smell indicates gas. Carbon monoxide, the main component of gas, is colorless and odorless; it has no such foul smell. Myth 3: Patients with gas poisoning are fine once they wake up. Patients with gas poisoning must receive systematic treatment in a hospital before they can be discharged; those who have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning should also rest and be under observation for 2 weeks to prevent late-onset brain damage and other complications such as those affecting the heart. “There are many cases of \"gas\" poisoning; sometimes, minor oversights can lead to accidents. Therefore, we need to be vigilant about gas in our daily lives in order to prevent gas poisoning. This article is reprinted from China Fire.