What is the danger of a gas leak in the house
There are many dangerous objects in any home that must be handled with the utmost care. Some of them are appliances that have household gas hooked up to them. What do you need to know about it to avoid or prevent tragedy? It is worth learning the rules and mastering the skills of rescuing people in case of gas poisoning.
The composition of the gas mixture
Sometimes people wonder what kind of gas is supplied to apartments for kitchen stoves and heating appliances. Initially, the natural mixture extracted for human needs has no color or odor. It is called natural gas. Its basis is methane (content of 80% or more).
The rest is made up of other hydrocarbons (butane, propane, ethane). Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, helium and some other substances are present in small quantities in the natural gas mixture.
Natural gas becomes a natural gas when ethyl mercaptan, a substance that gives the mixture The mixture has a pungent and unpleasant smell. It’s a sign that a lethal substance Of a lethal substance. Ethyl mercaptan gives the fire a reddish hue.
Gas properties that are important to know about
When researching safety, it’s worth figuring out if house gas is lighter or heavier than the air around. The main constituent is methane: a hydrocarbon that, if leaked in an enclosed in an enclosed space will rise. It accumulates only up to 17% of the total volume of the unventilated room, any spark will cause an explosion of the substance.
But in the case of leakage of liquefied gas from a cylinder (usually propane or butane) heavy poisonous compounds accumulate underneath. There have been cases where people have suffocated from In a cellar or in a basement, there have been cases where people have suffocated because of these accumulated gases. And any spark in such a can cause an explosion that is virtually impossible to escape.
When inhaled, methane causes severe poisoning in humans, causing oxygen deficiency throughout the body. The first acute symptoms occur at concentrations of 20-30% of the total mass of the available air in the room if it is not ventilated. If the gas leak is small and undetected for a long time, neurotoxic damage to the body. Therefore, everyone needs to know what is the danger of house gas leak to humans and what symptoms to pay attention to.
How a gas leak occurs
Poisonous mixture can be detected in cases of:
- equipment breakdown,
- installation of gas appliances without the involvement of qualified professionals,
- If there are gaps, cracks and any other holes in the hoses and piping.
A particularly dangerous situation is when gas leak from a pipeline or cylinder at night. By inhaling these substances, a person dies of suffocation without waking up. There is a rapid development of hypoxia of all tissues and organs.
Symptoms of gas poisoning
Everything depends on the concentration. The degree of damage to the body varies from mild to severe, in the worst case there is lightning death.
Signs of mild intoxication:
- Eyes burning and tearfulness
- Dizziness and pain
- Discomfort in the nasopharynx, mucus formation
- Ringing in the ears
Moderate poisoning is damage to major body systems and is manifested by:
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations and delirium
- Decreased blood pressure
- Loss of coordination (can’t walk, falls down)
- Reddening of the skin
- Confusion of consciousness
- Severe muscle weakness
In the more severe form of gas poisoning, the person loses consciousness and experiences cardiac arrhythmia and shortness of breath. Seizures and turning blue of the skin may occur. Too high a concentration of gas in an enclosed space is a lightning-fast death after just 2-3 breaths. Rapid loss of consciousness prevents the victim from escaping. If the person can be moved immediately to fresh air, he falls into a coma.
Basic safety measures
Unfortunately, doctors’ statements of death from gas leak in the house is a frequent phenomenon. Studying the rules for handling devices and preventive actions will help to protect against such cases.
Consider them:
- Gas equipment should be used only for its intended purpose. For example, heating a room with a kitchen stove or oven, especially at night, is strictly forbidden.
- It is necessary to explain to children what gas smells and what to do in this case if they are left alone in the house. And you can not allow any games near the cylinders, gas boilers and other similar appliances.
Shut off the substance supply by closing the valves when the equipment is not in use.
Maintenance and installation of units should only be carried out by specialists, strictly adhering to the deadlines for inspections.
If you suddenly smell gas, you should immediately shut it off and call a specialist for gas leaks.
Ventilation in the room should be equipped with the proper level.
It is desirable that the apartment building is equipped with a forced ventilation system.
If the unit does not have an automatic control system, you can not leave such a device unattended.
Gas cylinder, which for a long time stands “idle” in a non-ventilated room can not be stored.
Cooking food, should not be away from the stove for a long time, the boiling liquid can put out the flame and there will be a gas leak.
Safety saves many people from poisoning and death caused by household gas. Proper operation and timely inspection of equipment – the key of a “peaceful” life. But you always need to be alert and be able to properly help the victim.