Carbon monoxide from a defective heating system almost proved fatal for the eight residents of a semi-detached house in Kramsach in the Tyrolean Unterinntal (Kufstein district). Four people were injured.
A 22-year-old living in the house complained of extreme dizziness on Sunday morning. The rescue team was informed. But when rescuers entered the house, their carbon monoxide detector went off. The Kramsach fire brigade was immediately alerted.
The fire brigade also carried out a carbon monoxide measurement. The result: the measuring equipment also worked. Values were increased in the basement and on the ground floor.
The Kramsach fire brigade immediately began to evacuate the building. A total of eight people from two families were present in the house at the time. While four residents did not require medical care, the 22-year-old had to be flown by emergency helicopter to a special clinic in Murnau. Severe carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected.
Three victims were taken to Kufstein Hospital
Two 56-year-old women and a 51-year-old man came to the Kufstein Hospital for examination due to minor complaints.
Technical defect as the cause
The fire brigade ventilated the building using heavy breathing equipment, after which a heating engineer and chimney sweeps examined the heating system. They identified a technical defect as the cause of the gas leak.
“Breathing carbon monoxide for a long period of time in an enclosed space is potentially fatal,” said local fire doctor Adi Schinnerl, who is on duty. “The symptoms of poisoning start with headache and dizziness. The 22-year-old patient had already lost consciousness.”
No danger to emergency services
There was little danger to the rescuers due to the short time in the building. And thanks to the breathing apparatus, the firefighters were safe.
Pressure chamber in special clinic
The special clinic in Murnau has a pressure chamber. “This makes it possible to flush the poison out of the body more quickly,” Schinnerl explains. The big advantage: “Long-term damage can be prevented.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
