Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person inhales carbon monoxide gas, which is colorless and odorless, making it almost impossible to detect. The gas is produced during the burning of fuel and can be fatal when inhaled in large quantities. It disrupts the body’s ability to use oxygen properly, affecting organs such as the brain and heart. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and even loss of consciousness.
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Treatment involves giving pure oxygen to the affected individual, and in extreme cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be required. This treatment is given in a special chamber where the patient breathes oxygen at higher pressures. Long-term exposure to CO poisoning can cause permanent damage to the brain and heart, and in some cases, it can be fatal.
In a tragic incident in Georgia, twelve Indian nationals were found dead inside a restaurant in Gudauri, Georgia, suspected to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Embassy of India in Tbilisi expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, offering condolences to the victims’ families and assuring support in repatriating the bodies. “The Embassy is working closely with local authorities to facilitate the prompt repatriation of the mortal remains to India,” the statement said.
It is believed that the poisoning resulted from the activation of a power generator, probably as a result of a power outage. The generator was kept inside a confined room near the workers’ bedroom, which meant that the carbon monoxide gas emitted by the generator seeped into the rooms where the workers were sleeping and were thus most likely to asphyxiate them.
