Monday, July 9, 2012

The Facts About Smoke Inhalation


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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