Carbon monoxide-related fatalities: A fifteen-year single institution experience

IF 1.1 Q4 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Rajesh Kumar, N. Sheikh, Abhimanyu Vasudeva, Adarsh Kumar, Abhishek Yadav, Sudhir. K. Gupta
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Abstract

ABSTRACT The winter climate in Delhi is severe, with temperatures dropping below 10°C. As a result, individuals often resort to utilizing diverse heat sources such as electrical heating appliances, coal and gas geysers. Unfortunately, these sources are commonly associated with the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) which can accumulate in inadequately ventilated spaces. Exposure to this noxious gas can lead to acute lethargy and debilitation, leaving individuals in a state of helpless distress. The present study utilized a retrospective descriptive analysis to examine cases of fatal carbon monoxide exposure retrieved from the Department of Forensic Medicine archives at the esteemed All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Autopsy records were thoroughly examined with respect to various parameters including age, gender, seasonality of the incident, circumstances surrounding the death, source of carbon monoxide generation, post mortem observations, as well as toxicological analysis reports. This study entailed an analysis of 56 individuals who fell victim to carbon monoxide poisoning, with a staggering 95% of fatalities occurring during the winter season. The majority of the individuals affected belonged to the age bracket of 21–30 years. The most common sources of carbon monoxide exposure were linked to the use of coal-burning earthen or iron vessels for room heating, as well as structural fires. With the exception of one case, all incidents were accidental in nature. Additionally, nearly all of the victims were discovered in enclosed spaces with heating equipment in close proximity, and evidence of a struggle was noted on the crime scene or with the deceased. The findings of this study indicate that the principal contributor to the inadvertent build-up of lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide gas is the utilization of heating appliances within inadequately ventilated, enclosed spaces. Due to the scentless and non-irritating properties of this gas, individuals who are asleep may be unable to detect its presence in their surroundings, thereby leading to a silent death. To mitigate such risks, the installation of carbon monoxide detectors is crucial. Additionally, it is of utmost importance to raise public awareness regarding the perils associated with using fire pots, coal burning and electrical heating appliances in areas with insufficient ventilation.
与一氧化碳有关的死亡事故:十五年的单一机构经验
摘要 德里冬季气候恶劣,气温降至 10°C 以下。因此,人们通常会使用各种热源,如电热设备、煤炭和燃气喷泉。不幸的是,这些热源通常会排放一氧化碳(CO),而一氧化碳会在通风不足的空间中积聚。接触这种有毒气体会导致急性嗜睡和衰弱,使人处于无助的痛苦状态。 本研究采用回顾性描述分析法,研究了从新德里著名的全印度医学科学研究所法医学系档案中检索到的一氧化碳致死病例。对尸检记录中的各种参数进行了全面检查,包括年龄、性别、事件发生的季节性、死亡环境、一氧化碳产生的来源、尸检观察结果以及毒理学分析报告。 这项研究分析了 56 名一氧化碳中毒的受害者,其中 95% 的死亡事件发生在冬季。大多数中毒者的年龄在 21-30 岁之间。最常见的一氧化碳接触源与使用烧煤的陶器或铁器取暖以及结构性火灾有关。除一例外,所有事件均为意外事故。此外,几乎所有的受害者都是在密闭空间中被发现的,附近有取暖设备,而且在犯罪现场或死者身边都有搏斗的证据。 这项研究结果表明,造成一氧化碳气体无意中积累到致命浓度的主要原因是在通风不足的封闭空间内使用取暖设备。由于这种气体无味、无刺激性,熟睡中的人可能无法察觉到周围环境中存在这种气体,从而导致无声死亡。为了降低这种风险,安装一氧化碳探测器至关重要。此外,最重要的是提高公众对在通风不足的地方使用火盆、燃煤和电热器具的危险性的认识。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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自引率
7.10%
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884
审稿时长
40 weeks
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