The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement on Friday that a local woman was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning after showering in a poorly ventilated bathroom.
The statement noted that a 35-year-old woman was showering at her flat in Wa Fu Building in Toi San district at 11 p.m. on Thursday, and after spending 10 minutes in the shower, she started to feel dizzy and lost consciousness as she was getting dressed. The statement said that her roommate and neighbour called the police and an ambulance rushed her to the public Conde de São Januario Hospital Centre.
The statement noted that after testing, she was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning, adding that she was then transferred to the private Kiang Wu Hospital. The statement underlined that she was in a stable condition, pointing out that the case was caused by the bathroom’s water heater. The statement said that her bathroom did not have any ventilation system but a window that was slightly open.
The statement reminded residents that when suffering carbon monoxide poisoning, one experiences dizziness, vomiting and fainting, a condition that is potentially fatal. The bureau stressed that when using gas appliances, one must ensure that the area is well ventilated as otherwise carbon monoxide could collect.
The statement said that there are ways to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, such as ensuring that the room is ventilated, choosing quality gas appliances and using them properly, and installing carbon monoxide alarms in rooms that have gas appliances. The statement urged those affected by carbon monoxide poisoning to stay calm, leave the room immediately and go to an open area, loosen one’s clothing and seek medical help promptly.
For more information on how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, check http://www.ssm.gov.mo/portal/InjureRegPrevent/ch/main.aspx.
Image courtesy of All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning
