Smoke is more dangerous than fire. In California, we can’t breathe: smoke from forest fires has become a health hazard

Burning plastic - a chemical warfare agent of the First World War

When PVC burns, it releases phosgene (a chemical warfare agent with a suffocating effect that was used against enemy infantry during the First World War). In total, when PVC burns, at least 75 hazardous substances are formed. The dense black smoke from burning plastic waste contains carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons. When burning rubber, in addition to what is mentioned, carcinogenic soot and sulfur oxides are formed, which cause respiratory diseases. Constantly irritated by smoke, the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is not able to resist microbes. It is especially difficult for those who have frequent bronchitis, rhinitis or tonsillitis, or bronchial asthma. Fiberboard, chipboard, and plywood often end up in a fire. These materials contain formaldehyde resins and may be painted with oil-based paints that contain lead. The terrible thing is that children of preschool and younger school age can most often be seen near fires, the influence of smoke on whose bodies is most dangerous. In addition to the immediate threat to human health, burning leaves and dry grass leads to the death of beneficial insects. The fertile layer is destroyed, because plant residues burn out and soil-forming microorganisms die. In natural areas and lawns, fire destroys the seeds and roots of herbaceous plants and damages the lower parts of trees and shrubs. A fire burns out the upper parts of the roots, which can destroy the entire tree.

Have any of you ever thought about how dangerous the smoke from a fire that we all have to breathe is? After all, it has been scientifically proven that smoke from burning trees and foliage contains many carcinogenic substances that cause irreparable harm to human health.

People believe that they are doing a good deed by burning garbage in bonfires built right on their lawns, under the windows of their houses. After all, no one explained to them that the residents of neighboring houses most of the time sit with their windows and vents closed.

“The particles in smoke are harmful to your lungs,” says Dr. James Mamary of the Temple Lung Center in Philadelphia. By inhaling smoke, we increase the risk of developing cancer. Moreover, according to information published on the website of the Clean Air Revival corporation, specialists from the American Environmental Protection Administration claim that the smoke of burning logs contains 12 times more carcinogens than cigarette smoke. And the staff of the American Canter Association, based on a study by scientists from the University of Minnesota, reminds: “When we inhale smoke from a fire, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases by 60%.

When scorched leaves and grass burn: only the topmost part receives enough oxygen, while the middle layers smolder and smoke, releasing toxic and simply unhealthy chemicals. A ton of smoldering leaves releases about 30 kilograms of hazardous substances.

Trees, plants and leaves are biological filters that absorb all harmful substances from the atmosphere, soil, water, as well as heavy metals, exhaust gases, and sewage carried along the street. The concentration of harmful substances in smoke is very high. And just imagine how many of them our lungs can pick up if the inner surface of the alveoli is 100 square meters! Do not burn leaves - the best protection of the population from the harmful effects of the environment.

Research materials conducted by the National Ecological Center of Ukraine indicate that when one ton of plant residues is burned, about 9 kilograms of smoke microparticles are released into the air. They contain dust, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, heavy metals and a number of carcinogenic compounds.

What substances actually come out of burned leaves and trees? A large number of lead compounds, mercury, formaldehyde, benzopyrene, as well as thousands of toxic compounds, many of which have not yet been studied. All these substances, as you understand, will not add health. But they can contribute to the development of allergies, asthma, cancer and other diseases. One hour spent near a fire is equivalent to a five-hour stay on a city highway in terms of damage to health.

Burning trash and fallen leaves can cause suffocation.

When leaves smolder without access to oxygen, benzopyrene is released, which contributes to the development of cancer in humans. In addition, dioxins, one of the most toxic substances to humans, are released into the air with smoke. Substances released such as irritants irritate the sensory nerve endings in the bronchi, which causes bronchospasm - a sharp compression of the bronchi, followed by suffocation. In garden plots, plants are often sprayed with pesticides, which are also released into the air when leaves and grass burn. Most pesticides are contained in potato tops, which are so diligently sprayed against the Colorado potato beetle. When a plastic bag burns, up to 70 different chemical compounds are released into the air, most of which are toxic to humans. They are the cause of sore throat and cough.

Burning plastic is a chemical warfare agent of the First World War. When PVC burns, it releases phosgene (a chemical warfare agent with a suffocating effect that was used against enemy infantry during the First World War). In total, when PVC burns, at least 75 hazardous substances are formed. The dense black smoke from burning plastic waste contains carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons. When burning rubber, in addition to what is mentioned, carcinogenic soot and sulfur oxides are formed, which cause respiratory diseases. Constantly irritated by smoke, the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is not able to resist microbes. It is especially difficult for those who have frequent bronchitis, rhinitis or tonsillitis, or bronchial asthma. Fiberboard, chipboard, and plywood often end up in a fire. These materials contain formaldehyde resins and may be painted with oil-based paints that contain lead.

The terrible thing is that children of preschool and younger school age can most often be seen near fires, the influence of smoke on whose bodies is most dangerous. In addition to the immediate threat to human health, burning leaves and dry grass leads to the death of beneficial insects. The fertile layer is destroyed, because plant residues burn out and soil-forming microorganisms die. In natural areas and lawns, fire destroys the seeds and roots of herbaceous plants and damages the lower parts of trees and shrubs. A fire burns out the upper parts of the roots, which can destroy the entire tree.

Those people who light fires endanger their health and the health of others. What to do then with plant residues? For example, you can make a compost heap, and use the compost to fertilize the same lawns and trees. Or dig it up, leaving the leaves in the ground, then the soil organisms themselves will process the leaves into fertile humus, just don’t disturb them.

AIR COMPOSITION

SMOKE COMPOSITION IN A FIRE

Average air composition:

Nitrogen (N2) - by volume about 78.09%

Oxygen (O2) - 20.95%

Argon (Ar) - 0.933%

Carbon dioxide (CO2) - 0.031%

Neon (Ne) - 0.002%

Methane (CH4) - 0.0002%

Helium (He) - 0.000524%

Krypton (Kr) - 0.000114%

Hydrogen (H2) - 0.00005%

Xenon (Xe) - 0.0000087%

The air also contains small amounts of ozone (O3) and radon ( Rn)

Air composition can vary markedly depending on conditions.

About the combustion process

Combustion is the process of oxidation of combustion products with air oxygen, releasing heat and producing smoke.

As a result of combustion, the chemical composition of the air changes dramatically.

At Complete combustion of organic substances usually releases carbon dioxide and water.

With incomplete combustion (accompanied by a lack of oxygen), in addition to carbon dioxide and water vapor, other compounds such as carbon monoxide (CO) and complex organic substances are released: alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acids and others.

About smoke

Smoke is a dispersed system consisting of small unburned solid, liquid, or gaseous parts of a substance with a size of 0.1 microns or less.

Smoke is capable of adsorbing on its surface not only gases but also liquid vapors: at the same time, it complicates visibility and acts suffocating on the human respiratory system.

The smoke has great persistence. This is explained by the fact that smoke particles, due to friction among themselves, carry electrical charges.

The characteristics of smoke products and the degree of smoke depend on the temperature of the smoke. As the temperature rises, the toxicity of the flue gases increases.

Smoke generated from house fires canspread from room to room through slits, cracks and small gaps in structures.

A great danger of smoke in premises is created if stairwells, corridors, ventilation ducts and elevator shafts are filled with smoke.

Smoke composition

The chemical composition of smoke is determined by the composition, ratio and type of burning products.

The color of the smoke can determine the main type of materials that are burning. This is essential when assessing the fire situation and organizing its extinguishing.

Effect of smoke on the body

Based on the nature of their effect on the human body, all chemicals that make up smoke are divided into five groups:

1) Substances that have a burn effect and damage the skin and mucous membranes.

The consequences of such influences are coughing, burning, scabies. Among the substances that make up the smoke, this group includes: sulfur dioxide, vapors of many organic compounds - products of incomplete combustion (formic and acetic acids, formaldehyde, tar vapors, etc.).

2) Substances that damage the respiratory system: chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric anhydride, chloropicrin, nitrogen oxides, phosgene, etc. They cause breathing problems, paralysis of the respiratory muscles, and damage to the respiratory system. Such disturbances are also caused by an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air above 8-10%.

Substances (chlorine, ammonia, sulfur dioxide), soluble in water and also in mucus, affect the upper section of the respiratory tract, which is covered with mucus. This leads to the development of laryngitis, tracheitis, and bronchitis. Gases that are poorly soluble in water (phosgene, nitric oxide) are not retained by the moisture in the mucus of the upper respiratory tract and reach the alveoli. They contribute to the development of pneumonia and the complication of the entire disease - pulmonary edema, the formation of which is associated with the retention of tissue fluid in the body and stagnation of blood in the lungs. With edema, shortness of breath appears, coughing, in severe cases, death from suffocation occurs. It is worth considering that the effect of some toxic substances (phosgene, arsenic hydrogen) is not detected immediately, but after a certain period (from 2 to 8-10 hours) from the moment the toxic substances enter the body:

3) Toxic substances that act mainly on the blood. This group includes: benzene and its derivatives - xylene, toluene, amino and nitro compounds, as well as arsenic hydrogen, lead, carbon monoxide and others, which, when released into the blood, cause damage or death of red blood cells (erythrocytes), which leads to rapid development of severe anemia, decreased oxygen delivery and oxygen starvation;

4) Poisons that affect the nervous system (benzene and its components, hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, methyl alcohol, aniline, tetraethyl lead, etc.);

5) Enzymes or metabolic poisons (hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide, etc.) acting on the respiratory function. As a result, tissues lose the ability to use oxygen delivered by blood.

Hazard classes of smoke components

• INDuring fires, the most dangerous gas is carbon monoxide (CO) – a gas without color, taste and smell. Easily combining with hemoglobin in the blood (250-300 times more active than oxygen), carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, resulting in oxygen starvation of the body. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is colorless, has a pungent taste and odor, is quite poisonous, and is formed when explosives or flammable substances contain sulfur. This gas affects the respiratory tract and eyes, forming sulfuric acid on their surface, and in severe cases causes inflammation of the bronchi, swelling of the larynx and lungs. A volume concentration of already 0.05% is life-threatening even with short-term breathing.
• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)- a colorless gas with a sweetish taste and odor. It is formed both during fires and in cases of rotting organic matter. Very poisonous, affecting the eyes and respiratory tract. The concentration of H2S, which is 0.1%, is deadly, even with short-term exposure.
• Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O4, N2O5)– poisonous red-brown gases with a pungent odor. Formed during explosions. They affect the respiratory tract and eyes, resulting in pulmonary edema. The lethal concentration of nitrogen oxides during short-term breathing is 0.025%.

About oxygen in smoke

The composition of oxygen in the air decreases during a fire. This is especially true for fires in enclosed spaces.

Breathing air with a low oxygen content leads to incomplete enrichment of the blood in the pulmonary capillaries. A decrease in oxygen content causes hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the blood), which leads to oxygen starvation. Signs of hypoxia are: increased breathing and heart rate, decreased ability to think productively, impaired clarity in the work of some muscles. The main danger lies in its subjective asymptomatic nature. At the same time, the person does not feel any danger threatening him and does not take steps to take care of his well-being.

The abnormal heat, which has not abated for several weeks, has been joined by another scourge - fires. High fire danger remains throughout the European territory of the country; peat bogs are burning in the Moscow region. YOU ASKED TO TELL: How dangerous is the smoke of peat fires for people, especially in combination with unusual heat, and how to escape from it? We asked Svetlana Novichkova, head of the “Ecologically Clean Territories” project of the International Environmental Fund, to clarify the situation:

– Peat fires, as a rule, occur with human participation - in dry weather, it is enough to throw a match or an unextinguished cigarette for the peat bog to catch fire. In principle, its spontaneous combustion is also possible - for example, at a temperature of +50 degrees (in the sun it can easily reach such levels), but still, in four cases out of five, the cause of the fire is the human factor. This problem occurs every summer, but now the situation is aggravated by very hot weather.

What is released into the air when peat burns? This depends on the specific peat bog and the location where it is located. The peat bog itself is structured like a sponge, it has a porous structure and contains everything that was in the air while it matured (this is a long process that takes hundreds of years). Accordingly, everything that a particular peat bog has accumulated is released into the air when it burns. These are always oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, soot, dust and residues of organic substances, but dust particles can also contain metal oxides, and generally anything - even benzopyrene, a very dangerous substance with carcinogenic properties.

Even if the peat bog is not polluted, when it burns, the amount of dust in the air increases many times over. If a person is far from the site of a peat fire, as with any dust particles, he may experience an exacerbation of bronchopulmonary diseases and asthma, and if close, the dust can cause burns of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Therefore, residents of areas where peat bogs are burning are advised to keep their windows closed and breathe through a wet cloth outside.

The situation is worse with the smoke from peat fires in large cities, in particular in Moscow. The capital already has a tense environmental background due to vehicle emissions, and now, in the heat, the oxygen content in the air is greatly reduced and gas emissions from asphalt, building structures, finishing materials, etc. are increased. Plus smoke from burning peat bogs. All this together creates conditions for the formation of so-called photochemical smog, from which neither a wet cloth nor a protective bandage can help, and in which the most unpredictable compounds and substances can be present in the air, including very dangerous ones that have carcinogenic properties that affect circulatory system. Muscovites encountered similar smog in the summer of 2002. In this case, nothing significant can be done at the everyday level - just lock yourself at home or go for a while to a place where the environmental situation is better.

By the way, when going to the forest, for example, to pick mushrooms, it is better to find out in advance whether there are peat fires in the area. The peat bog burns deep underground, and it is not always possible to navigate by the smoke. Of course, in areas where there are burning peat bogs, extinguishing measures are carried out, dangerous areas are cordoned off, but personal vigilance will not hurt in any case.

Lesson topic: “What is the danger of smoke”

(for students in grades 2-3)

Program: “Security Levels 3”

Target:teach childrenact correctly in the event of a fire, consolidate children’s knowledge of fire safety rules, and develop skills in their application in the event of a fire.

Tasks:

Educational:

Introduce children to the basic rules of fire safety and the initial actions to take when a fire is detected.

Educational:

- development of imagination and fantasy;

- development of coherent speech when answering questions;

- development of the ability to analyze and draw conclusions.

Educators:

- instilling in children the need to take care of their safety;

Developing a sense of responsibility for one’s actions;

Fostering a sense of collectivism.

Form: individual-frontal, group.

Type of lesson: combined.

Methods:

Verbal: story, conversation, explanation.

Visual: demonstration using ICT.

Practical: completing assignments.

Material and equipment: multimedia projector, projection screen, presentation “The dangers of smoke,” task cards

Progress of the lesson:

Organizing time.

Target: creating a favorable psychological mood for students.

Content:

Hello guys. I am very glad to see you for class. Tell me, what kind of air is good to breathe?

- Suggested student answers: clean, fresh, light.

- (accompanied by music No. 1) Correct. I’ll ask you to close your eyes, put your hands on your knees, relax and let’s mentally transport ourselves to a magical autumn forest. Let's admire the colors of golden autumn, say hello to the owners and wish them warmth and beauty. Let's stop. Is it so quiet in the autumn forest? Listen to the rustling of falling leaves, the rustling breeze in the branches, and the chickadees whistling merrily. We are calm, kind, friendly, affectionate. What does it smell like in the autumn forest? Inhale deeply this bitter aroma! Forest air is fresh and clean. Take a deep breath and exhale. Exhale yesterday's resentment, anger, anxiety, forget about them. Breathe into yourself the freshness of the autumn morning, the warmth of the sun's rays, and the purity of the rivers. I wish you good health, good mood, success, good attitude towards yourself and each other. The world around you is a big magic mirror. And we will be able to see and feel all the beauty of the surrounding nature.I will count to 5. At the count of 5, you will open your eyes.

Well, guys, we visited the autumn forest, and now we are in our class, I wish you to work together and listen to me carefully.

2. Verification stage.

Target: motivating students to perform activities, updating students’ knowledge.

Method: frontal survey

Content:

Before you and I move on to studying a new topic, I suggest you remember what we talked about in the last lesson.

-Suggested student answers: we talked about fire.

Right. In the last lesson, we talked about fire, what it can be.What could he be like?

-Suggested student answers: he may be a friend, or he may be an enemy.

Right. When is fire our friend?

-Suggested answers from students: when he helps us, for example: to keep warm, to cook a meal, to light up the house.

Right. And when does fire become our enemy?

-Suggested student responses: when, we do not treat him correctly.

Absolutely right. Fire becomes the enemy and turns into a terrible fire. There is a fire in nature - trees, grass, animals die.

And in the last lesson, we learned about substances that extinguish fire, and about substances that, on the contrary, intensify fire. I invite everyone to stand up and play the game:"Fire water".If I name a substance that puts out a fire, you hide your hands behind your back, and if it intensifies the fire, you raise your hands up, depicting a fire (then the teacher reads out the words):

Sand,straw, water, earth,petrol, foam, bmind, cardboard, solvent, hay.

Well done. Today I want to tell you that during a fire, the danger is not only a raging hot flame, but also toxic smoke. Most fire victims die from smoke!

- (slide 1) ANDThe topic of our lesson is “The dangers of smoke.”

3. Main part. Learning new material.

Target: teach children how to act correctly in case of fire or smoke.

Content:

- Today, Dr. Aibolit visited our class, and in his hands is a letter, everyone is probably interested in what is in it (the teacher is holding a letter from Dr. Aibolit in his hands).

- (slide 2) And it contains a diagram of the human respiratory and circulatory system.

Guys, tell me, why does a person need lungs?

-Suggested student answers: to breathe.

It's right to breathe and saturate our body with oxygen. How does this happen? How do we breathe?

-Suggested student answers: inhale through the nose.

- (slide 3) Right. First we inhale through our nose, where the air is purified and warmed. Then oxygen enters the lungs through the bronchi, and then through the circulatory system into all cells of our body. It’s not for nothing that at the beginning of our lesson, I asked you a question, what kind of air is good to breathe, and you answered, clean, fresh.

Thus, during a fire, the danger is posed not only by the raging hot flame, but also by the toxic smoke that enters our body. Most fire victims die from smoke.

When burned, the substance releases volatile combustion products. It is steam or gas containing millions of solid particles, or both. This is the mixture that creates smoke. When any material burns, the oxygen we breathe also burns. It turns into highly poisonous carbon monoxide.

- (slide 4) And thus, this poisonous carbon monoxide enters our lungs through the respiratory tract. Once a person inhales this poisonous carbon monoxide, the person immediately loses consciousness. So how can we escape from this smoke? I propose to consider the situations that are presented on the screen.

- (slide 5) The boy Petya is in the room, and suddenly his room is filled with smoke, and what does he do, he gets scared and hides under the bed. Is Petya doing the right thing?

- Expected student answers: incorrect.

Absolutely right, Petya is doing the wrong thing.

- (slide 6) But Vanya is doing the right thing. If the room is filled with smoke, you need to wet a towel or handkerchief with cold water and breathe through the wet cloth. Why? Because a damp cloth will retain some of the toxic substances. In addition, a cold wet cloth will protect your face, eyes, and respiratory tract from hot air. You need to bend down to the exit and, if possible, wrap your head with a wet cloth, because less toxic gases accumulate below as they rise up.

- (slide 7) But during a starting fire, when smoke “creeps” through the rooms, you really want to open all the windows and doors to ventilate the room. Logic dictates the same thing. Well, don’t choke, really! But this is strictly forbidden, you need to do the opposite - tightly close all the windows and vents, leave the burning room and close the door behind you in order to deprive the fire of drafts that supply it with oxygen. Do you remember?

- Expected student answers: Yes

Guys, in what case do we need to open the windows and doors to ventilate the room?

- Expected answers from students: when there is a smell of household gas and we immediately need to call Gorgaz at number 04.

That's right, we definitely need to ventilate the room and contact the special service at number 04. Well, guys, I suggest you relax and warm up. Let's all get up and have a fun physical education session together.

Physical education minute: "Road".

Target: prevention, fatigue. Relieving muscle tension, activating mental activity in children.

The road is not a path, the road is not a ditch...

Look left first. Then look to the right.

Turn left, smile at the friend next to you,

Stomp your right foot: one - two - three,

Shake your head: one - two - three.

Raise your hands up and clap: one - two - three.

And clap: one-two-three.

- (slide 8, 9) Well done, you and I had a rest, and now we continue our lesson. We have considered 2 situations with you, let's draw a conclusion by looking at the screen and choose the correct answer.

Well done. Guys, I would also like to tell you that depending on the composition of combustible substances, their complete and incomplete combustion, the smoke has a certain color and smell (slide 10,11,12):

- (slide 10) when wood burns, the color of the smoke is gray-black;

- (slide 11) when fabric burns, the color of the smoke is gray-brown;

- (slide 12) when burning rubber, resin, plastic - black smoke;

Oil and oil production – black smoke.

This is how different smoke can be, dangerous or non-dangerous. It all depends on the situation. Smoke is not dangerous for us, for example, when you and I go on a hike and heat food over a fire. The smoke that comes out of the chimney when you and I heat the house.

3. Consolidation.

Target: consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson.

Content:

Guys, today we learned what rules need to be followed if the room is filled with smoke. And let's imagine our class is filled with smoke, what actions will we perform? Tell and show. (the guys show the algorithm of actions, i.e. they cover their nose and mouth with a wet cloth and, keeping close to the floor, moving along the wall one after another, make their way to the exit).

Well done guys, you have learned the fire safety rules. We also told you today that there are different types of smoke. I suggestListen carefully to the poem “The Storyteller is Smoke” and imagine what the smoke might be like:

The light is dozing in my stove.

A light smoke streams into the sky.

Storyteller - the smoke above the roof casts a spell,

Draws a fairytale castle in the sky.

It rests against the clouds like a pillar,

It pretends to be a bird's wing.

Then he braids his hair in streams,

It ends with a question mark...

And in the evenings above our hut

Smoky animals walk in a crowd:

The white camel walks important

White horses beat with their hooves,

A hedgehog rolls and an elephant swims.

A dragon crawls out of the pipe.

He carries a living coal in his paws -

The dragon dragged the coal out of the chimney.

In a fairytale castle above our hut

A golden ember shines in the night.

This is how different smoke can be.

At the end of our lesson, I suggest you guys dream up. I will ask you to pantomime an unusual smoke, and you will portray it accompanied by music. Each group will have its own music to which you need to show smoke. Now I will give you hints with a picture of smoke. And I give you 1 minute to think about how you will depict smoke.

Light smoke;

Smoke bird (butterfly), with large wings;

Smoke - wood;

Smoky birds walk in a crowd (flock);

Smoke is a dragon;

Smoke is a castle.

4. Summing up, reflection.

Target: mobilization of students for self-assessment and assessment of the work ability of the psychological state.

Content:

Well done, everyone completed the task. Guys, I propose to summarize. Today I covered the topic: “How dangerous is smoke?” Tell me, how can the knowledge you learned today be useful to you in life?

- Suggested student answers: if there is a fire, I will breathe through a wet cloth, and crouching down, I will go to the exit.

Absolutely right. Dr. Aibolit and I really liked the way you worked, you were attentive and active. It's time to say goodbye. And in order for Dr. Aibolit to come to us for classes more often, I suggest giving him something as a gift.

What can we give him?

- Expected student responses: smile, joy.

Right. I propose to draw our smile, our mood on the emoticons that are on your tables (guys, put their emoticons in an envelope and give them to Dr. Aibolit).

Our doctor Aibolit and I say goodbye to you, until we meet again.

According to official statistics, three people die from smoke poisoning every minute around the world. In this case, we are talking not only about fires in residential premises, but also about fires in open areas such as steppes, wooded areas and even peat bogs. The third option is especially dangerous, as it is impossible to put out the fire quickly even with the involvement of special equipment. If the weather is dry and hot outside, the situation only gets worse.

The situation looks no less serious in the fall, when many summer residents or businesses are too lazy to dispose of fallen leaves. In order to save money, they set them on fire along with construction debris that comes to hand, which provokes a fire hazard. In addition, this method of disposal is considered unecological, and given the current situation with the atmosphere, this turns into real sabotage.

Impact on the body

Smoke poisoning is usually scary because the combustion process releases substances harmful to the respiratory system. This applies not only to the combustion of objects during an accidental fire or purposeful lighting of a fire, but also when a person enters a smoky room.

After the smoke enters the bloodstream, it immediately begins to bind hemoglobin. It is he who is responsible for the transfer of oxygen. If the deficiency of oxygen transport persists for quite a long time, this leads to hypoxia. Tissues and organs lose their ability to function normally, which first leads to disruption of their activity, and then to a complete cessation of vital activity.

The brain is the first to suffer from hypoxia. Its damage can cause death.

The composition of the smoke can vary significantly depending on where the fire occurs and what exactly it says. You can often get burned from smoke due to the following components:

• carbon dioxide,
• nitric oxide,
• sulfur dioxide and trioxide,
• hydrogen sulfide,
• ammonium hydroxide,

But these are only the most common substances, so the smoke content can vary significantly.

Children are especially susceptible to its negative influence. If the baby's parents smoke, he may be exposed to chronic intoxication. Moreover, danger lurks not only in cases where a child falls asleep in a smoky room. A child may become a victim of secondhand smoke due to the carelessness of his own parents. This is why doctors ask mothers and fathers not to smoke in front of their children, because if they want to spoil their health, they can do so, but this should not affect their offspring.

Main reasons

Some experts note that fire poisoning is considered an even more common cause of death than death from burns from an open fire. Intoxication during fires occurs due to the fact that a person inhales the combustion products of smoldering objects around him. The most dangerous thing in this case:

• hydrogen cyanide.

Moreover, the last point is dangerous even in very small quantities. This substance can be found in numerous modern building materials.

If you add cyanide exposure to normal hypoxia, the body will receive a blockage of cellular respiration, as well as impaired energy metabolism in tissues of any type.

The hidden danger is the release of certain irritating gases during combustion. Once released, they actively combine with water to form deadly poisonous liquids such as nitric acid or its sulfuric, sulfurous analogue, as well as ammonia. They have a negative effect on the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, which leads to a chemical burn with subsequent narrowing of the bronchi and the accumulation of fluid in them.

It’s even worse if particles of phosgene, a highly toxic poison, remain in the smoke. It is formed when the contents of a fire extinguisher come into contact with any hot surface.

Some people mistakenly believe that poisoning from combustion products from a blazing fire is an impossible situation, but this is not so. Such experiments are especially dangerous for pregnant women and young children. For example, the average amount of cooking over an open fire can have a negative impact on the body, representing the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes.

It is strictly not recommended to burn garbage even in small quantities. The reason lies in the fact that plastic bottles end up in a common pile intended for burning. In addition, the grass that burns along with the garbage can be contaminated with oils and diesel fuel from passing vehicles.

According to fire safety experts, a particular danger comes from materials created through the chemical industry. We are talking about the following items:

• foam rubber,
• rubber,
• paints,
• varnishes,
• plywood,
• plastic.

In addition to the fact that they produce phosgene, they also produce phosgene, which is responsible for the development of malignant diseases. And cyanide contributes to a sharp exacerbation of allergic reactions.

The situation does not look much better if the burning is carried out outside in damp weather. In this situation, toxins mix with water vapor, hang, and then settle on the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs.

Even ordinary burnt meat in a pan left unattended can cause serious intoxication. During the smoldering process, carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide are released. The only remedy for burnout in such situations is vigilance.

Main features

Typically, the symptoms of stove burns are not much different from other types of poisoning. The overall picture looks like this:

• lethargy,
• headaches in the temple area,
• dyspnea,
• heaviness in the head
• redness,
• noise in ears,
• drowsiness,
• muscle pain,
• vomit,
• loss of consciousness.

Sometimes symptoms may not appear until several hours after intoxication.

Additionally, a burning sensation in the throat and chest may occur, and the person may also experience coughing. In the following hours, the skin takes on a bluish tint, and then pulmonary edema develops. This is caused by the destructive effects of irritating gases.

In particularly severe poisonings, frequent and shallow breathing can be heard. The patient also suffers from seizures. Subsequently, cardiovascular and respiratory failure develops. Sometimes there are cases of involuntary urination. If you do not go to a medical facility in time, the person dies due to respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest.

If a large part of an open area is on fire, then local residents nearby will feel severe malaise, disruption of the heart rhythm and respiratory system in general.

What to do?

In case of poisoning by combustion products, it is extremely important. But before starting auxiliary measures, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. After this, several measures can be taken to alleviate the condition of the victim. Their list includes:

• removing the poisoned person to fresh air. If he is unconscious, he must be taken out and provided with fresh air.
• liberation from all constricting elements of clothing. For example, you need to take off your tie or unbutton your collar.
• Give the patient a drink of hot, strong tea.
• accelerating the elimination of toxins that have managed to enter the blood. This can be done by using sorbents from the first aid kit. Even regular activated carbon will do.
• bringing to life if a person constantly faints. Here you should use a proven method, which involves using a cotton swab with ammonia, which is brought to the victim’s nose.
• If a person vomits, then this is normal. You just need to make sure that the airways remain open. If vomit remains, it should be removed manually directly from the mouth. Otherwise, the patient may suffocate.
• If the victim is still fainting, he should be placed on a flat surface with his head turned to the side. This is necessary as a preventive measure for tongue retraction.
• pulse check. If it cannot be traced, then it is necessary to carry out emergency resuscitation measures: indirect cardiac massage, as well as artificial respiration.

First aid for smoke poisoning also includes avoiding possible hypothermia. If necessary, it is better to apply warm heating pads to the extremities of the poisoned person. Too hot surfaces are contraindicated here, since the patient’s sensitivity threshold will now be significantly reduced.

Medical treatment

Having figured out what to do if you inhale smoke from a fire, many people can save the lives of their friends or colleagues by following simple rules.

After the victim is taken to the hospital, the doctor will examine him, which will become the basis for prescribing initial treatment measures.

The first step after hospitalization is usually prolonged breathing of oxygen, which should displace carbon dioxide. The latter negatively affects the functioning of the body due to its connection with hemoglobin.

In the most difficult situations, the patient is prescribed not just a hyperventilation regimen, but is also transferred to a pressure chamber for treatment.

Separately, symptomatic treatment is prescribed, which involves taking:

• antidotes,
• cardiac drug groups,
• corticosteroids;
• vitamins

The recovery period takes place strictly under the supervision of specialists, first on an inpatient basis and then on an outpatient basis.