Six hospitalized since the beginning of the year, nine intoxicated by carbon monoxide forced to resort to hyperbaric chamber therapies to free themselves from the killer gas inhaled in rooms heated with stoves, fireplaces and braziers and not sufficiently ventilated.
Strongly growing numbers that risk becoming an emergency. In fact, there were 11 intoxicated people treated last year in the center of the marine hospital in Viale Poetto, against three in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic and 17 in 2020.
The Marino garrison is today the only one to guarantee hyperbaric oxygen treatments. The room in La Maddalena does not work due to emergencies from Co and the Sassari plant, which is being transferred, is temporarily stopped.
Defective stoves, boilers without adequate maintenance, braziers and fireplaces lit in non-ventilated places. It takes very little for the treacherous gas nitric oxide to seriously endanger those who breathe it.
"The phenomenon is growing above all because too often the rooms where fireplaces are lit or braziers and stoves are used, perhaps even defective ones, are poorly ventilated rooms", explains the anesthetist and head physician of the hyperbaric center, Salvatore Murru. The latest therapeutic interventions have involved an entire family. Worst was a middle-aged woman who passed out after inhaling monoxide. She was saved by her 82-year-old daughter-in-law who understood the risks by opening doors and windows to ensure air exchange. "It's a classic case," says Stefano Mancosu, anesthesiologist at the hyperbaric center. "What must be learned to avoid serious consequences in the event of inhalation of Co is that even those who do not experience serious symptoms must undergo adequate checks and possibly hyperbaric oxygen treatment".
The case
Nine poisoned by carbon monoxide: it's an emergency
The Marino facility in Cagliari is today the only one that guarantees hyperbaric oxygen treatments. The Maddalena "room" does not work and the Sassari plant, which is being transferred, is temporarily at a standstill
Andrew Piras