Heat increases danger – carbon monoxide leak: 10 people saved

“It is colorless and odorless! And when it enters the bloodstream via the lungs, it binds – simply put – with the red blood platelets and prevents oxygen transport in the body,” warns environmental doctor Hans-Peter Hutter with a view to the terrifying series of CO2 accidents. Precisely for this reason, the Vienna Fire Brigade had to be called five times – to avoid the worst, namely the death of residents. The drama was fueled by the prevailing low pressure weather combined with high heat.

• In an apartment in the Leopoldstadt a carbon monoxide detector in the house sounded the alarm in time and prevented worse. In another apartment – also in Leopoldstadt – two people were affected by an increased CO value from a gas boiler, one person was hospitalized.
• In the Josefstadt a homeowner complained of a headache and called the fire department. An increased CO value was found in the apartment and the man has been handed over to the rescue service.
• There was great alarm for the professional Florianis in Ottakring, where nine people, including the 42-year-old mother and her son Christian, had to stay overnight in the AKH in Friedmanngasse and Wilhelminenstrasse. “We have already slept. The fire brigade suddenly knocked on the door in the middle of the night and brought us outside,” she says, shocked. 22 other victims were treated at the scene.

High temperatures promote carbon monoxide accidents
Under normal circumstances, a gas boiler is absolutely safe, the fire service emphasizes. Problems with elevated carbon monoxide levels can arise if the boiler or chimney is poorly maintained or not at all maintained, it is extremely hot, or if fans are sucking air out of the home.

When using the thermal baths in the summer, be sure to open the windows and doors to the room where the thermal baths are installed. High temperatures also lead to carbon monoxide accidents.