Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
- CO is a gas that can be harmful if inhaled.
- It attaches to the hemoglobin in our blood🩸, which normally carries oxygen.
- This reduces the amount of oxygen 😶‍🌫️our bodies can get.
Blood Test for CO Poisoning
- A blood test can measure the level of CO in our blood.
- Normal levels are less than 5% for non-smokers and less than 10% for smokers.🚬
- Higher levels indicate CO poisoning:
- 10-20%: mild poisoning
- 20-30%: moderate poisoning
- 30-50%: severe poisoning
- above 50%: potentially fatal
Factors That Affect CO Poisoning
- Anemia (low red blood cell count) makes us more susceptible to CO poisoning.
- Age:
- Healthy adults under 60 rarely die from CO poisoning unless levels are very high.
- Older adults may die from CO poisoning at lower levels.
- Infants may die from CO poisoning at lower levels due to rapid absorption.🤯
- Other health conditions (e.g., heart disease, respiratory problems) can increase the risk of death from CO poisoning.💔
- Other toxic substances (e.g., certain drugs, alcohol) can add to the effects of CO poisoning.🥃
Analyzing CO Poisoning After Death
- Special tests can detect CO in the blood even after death.
- CO cannot ❌enter the body after death, so if it's present, it means the person was exposed to CO before dying.😶‍🌫️
- If a body is burned after death, it won't absorb CO, so if CO is present, it means the person was breathing during the fire.