Carbon monoxide poisonings have surged this winter in the regions of Girona, where emergency services have attended to 169 people, compared to 151 last winter. The increase is close to 12% and consolidates an upward trend that professionals link to the poor condition of some heating installations, the use of alternative systems for heating, and a winter with more cold days.
More affected and more warnings during the early morning
The Bombers and SEM teams warn that a good part of the cases are related to deficient combustion in boilers and heating appliances. Jordi Marquès, one of the heads of Bombers of the Girona Emergency Region, points out that many episodes have their origin in a bad combustion of the boilers, often caused by lack of maintenance or by breakdowns.
"Mechanisms that perhaps should no longer exist, such as braziers or catalytic stoves, have been recovered" - Jordi Marquès, head of Firefighters of the Girona Emergency Region
The professionals add another underlying factor. The rising cost of energy is pushing part of the population to look for alternatives to heat their homes. Added to that is that this season there have been more cold days than the previous one, a circumstance that has increased exposure time and risk.
"The price of electricity makes people look for alternatives to warm themselves" - Maria Isabel Maestre, nurse of the joint unit between Firefighters and SEM
Firefighters have also detected a repeated pattern in the alerts. Most of the calls are received around two or three in the morning, when the accumulation of gas in enclosed spaces has already started to affect the occupants of the home. In many services, the intoxication does not affect a single person, but entire families.
Serious cases and symptoms that require quick action
Marquès recalls that these are potentially serious episodes because the gas acts progressively and can go unnoticed until the condition is advanced.
"They are serious situations, because you don't realize it and the atmosphere progressively loses oxygen" - Jordi Marquès, head of Firefighters of the Girona Emergency Region
The symptomatology can begin with non-specific signs and evolve rapidly. Maria Isabel Maestre, nurse of the joint unit between Bombers and SEM, explains that those affected may present dizziness, headache or nausea, and in the most serious cases a decrease in the level of consciousness or neurological alterations.
The recommendation of the emergency teams involves monitoring those first symptoms, ventilating the spaces, and going outside at the slightest suspicion.
"If upon going outside the symptomatology improves, it is very probable that it is carbon monoxide poisoning" - Maria Isabel Maestre, nurse of the joint unit between Bombers and SEM
El Gironès leads the cases and la Garrotxa doubles the affected
El Gironès has concentrated this winter the highest number of cases, with 58 people attended to. Despite remaining at the forefront, the figure drops slightly compared to the previous winter, when there were 60.
The most notable increases have occurred in Alt Empordà and Garrotxa. In this last region, cases have doubled, going from 12 to 24 people attended between one winter and the next. La Selva and Ripollès also register increases, although more moderate. In contrast, Baix Empordà has reduced the number of affected.
Maintenance and ventilation as main prevention measures
Professionals insist on a basic idea to reduce risks. The correct maintenance of boilers and combustion systems is essential, as is not blocking the ventilation ducts of homes, especially during episodes of intense cold when there is a tendency to seal doors and windows. The combination of appliances in poor condition, precarious heating systems, and long cold nights is behind a good part of this winter's assistance calls in Girona.
The message from Bombers and SEM is clear. Given compatible symptoms, and especially if they affect several people from the same house, it is advisable to ventilate immediately and ask for help, because carbon monoxide is not seen and its effect can worsen without giving hardly any margin for reaction.