The dangers of inhaling fire smoke range from burns in the airways to the development of respiratory diseases such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. This is because the presence of gases, such as carbon monoxide, and other small particles are carried by the smoke to the lungs, where they cause tissue irritation and cause inflammation.
Depending on the amount of smoke that has been inhaled and the length of exposure, the person may progress from relatively mild respiratory intoxication to a respiratory arrest within minutes. For this reason, the ideal is to always stay away from any type of fire, not only due to the danger of calling them, as well as the presence of smoke. In case it is necessary to stay close, it is important to use appropriate protective material, as in the case of firefighters, for example.
See what to do in case of fire smoke inhalation.
Dangers of smoke inhalation
The main situations caused by the inhalation of smoke from fires are:
- Burns in the airways: the heat caused by the flames can cause burns inside the nose, larynx and pharynx, especially of people who are very close to the fire. This type of burn leads to the swelling of the airways preventing the passage of air. It is enough that the person is exposed to smoke from the fire for about 10 minutes to have their airways burned; Asphyxiation: fire consumes the oxygen present in the air and, therefore, breathing becomes increasingly difficult. With this there is an accumulation of CO2 in the blood and with less oxygen reaching the lungs the person feels weak, becomes disoriented and passes out. The longer a person runs out of oxygen, the greater the risk of death or brain damage and of having permanent neurological sequelae; Poisoning by toxic substances: the smoke from a fire contains several different particles, including chlorine, cyanide and sulfur, which cause swelling of the airways, leakage of liquid and, consequently, prevent the passage of air through the lungs; Bronchitis / bronchiolitis: inflammation and the accumulation of fluid within the airways can prevent the passage of air. Both the heat of the smoke and the toxic substances present can lead to the development of bronchitis or bronchiolitis, which are situations in which inflammation of the airways occurs, preventing the exchange of oxygen; Pneumonia: with the affected respiratory system there is a greater ease of entry and proliferation of viruses, fungi or bacteria that can lead to the development of pneumonia. This can manifest itself up to 3 weeks after the incident.
Most surviving victims of a fire recover completely without having any respiratory problems in the future, but victims who inhaled a large amount of toxic smoke may experience difficulty breathing, dry cough and hoarseness for months.
Who is most at risk of problems
Exposure to smoke brings a greater risk of problems in children and the elderly, due to the fragility of the immune system, but also in people with chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD, or with heart disease.
The risk is increasing, the higher the concentration of smoke in the air, as well as the time of exposure to smoke.
How to know when to go to the hospital
The main warning signs that can appear in the victims of a fire include:
- Very strong dry cough; Wheezing in the chest; Difficulty breathing; Dizziness, nausea or fainting; Purplish or bluish mouth and fingertips.
When you notice any of these symptoms, you should go to the hospital or consult a doctor, without taking any medication, to prevent him from masking the symptoms and making it difficult to diagnose the situation. The person should be observed and the doctor may order tests such as chest x-rays and arterial blood gases to help with the diagnosis.
In addition, anyone who has been exposed to smoke from a fire for more than 10 minutes without any equipment of their own, must also go to the hospital for observation for 24 hours. If there are no signs or symptoms, doctors may discharge you, but they still recommend that if any symptoms are present within the next 5 days, the person should return to the hospital to receive the appropriate treatment.
How fire victims are treated
Treatment must be done at the hospital and can be done with the use of towels soaked in saline and ointments to protect burned skin, but respiratory care is essential to ensure the safety of the victim.
All victims need 100% oxygen masks to be able to breathe better. Doctors can watch for signs of respiratory distress and assess the passage of air through the nose, mouth and throat, assessing the need to put a tube inside the victim's mouth or neck so that he can breathe even with the help of devices.
Within 4 to 5 days, the burned tissues in the airways must begin to loosen, along with some secretion, and at this stage the person may need aspiration of the airways to avoid suffocating with tissue residues.
