When it comes to deaths related to
house fires, statistics show that the number one cause is smoke
inhalation. It has been suggested that between 50 and 80 percent of
deaths are from smoke inhalation rather than burns. Smoke inhalation
occurs when individuals breath in the by-products of the fire. There
is no way to identify the exact composition of this substance as
every fire is different, but it is a combination of heated particles
and gases. The exact components will depend on the substances which
are burning and the amount of fuel and oxygen being consumed by the
fire.
The reason why smoke inhalation causes
so much damage to the body is that it triggers asphyxiation. Basic
asphyxiation is a lack of oxygen, but smoke inhalation can also cause
chemical asphyxiation, chemical irritation, or in many cases a
mixture of all of them. In the case of basic asphyxiation, often the
fire simply burns up all of the oxygen leaving none for the
individual to breathe. Fires can also produce chemical compounds
which can damage our ability to use oxygen on a cellular level. Some
of the compounds produced are carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and
hydrogen sulfide. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause
of death in cases of smoke inhalation. Irritant compounds are also
formed during combustion and cause injury on contact with the skin or
membranes. These compounds, which include sulfur dioxide, ammonia,
hydrogen chloride and chlorine, can damage the respiratory tract
causing swelling, airway collapse and other breathing difficulties
when inhaled.
If you are involved in a fire, it is
essential to be checked over by a medical professional even if you do
not feel unwell. Some symptoms of smoke inhalation do not appear
straight away. The symptoms include, but are not limited to, a cough,
difficulties breathing, hoarseness, headaches, discoloration of the
skin and sudden changes in mental health.
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