Smoke from a fire can kill in his sleep – Aftonbladet

Accidents. Four people lost their lives in the lägenhetsbranden in Karlstad. People who are in bed asleep and not notice that there was a fire hovering in mortal danger.

– They will become unconscious because of the poisonous smoke, and eventually die of poisoning, ” says Anders Bergqvist at the fire protection association.

Still, it remains to see how the fire in Karlstad, sweden, has started.

– for some reason it has started to burn. Those who are in the apartment have not observed it here, probably because of that they sleep, ” says Anders Bergqvist, general secretary of the fire protection association.

the Smoke is very toxic

He says that when this type of lägenhetsbränder develops as they form a lot of smoke and consumes a lot of oxygen. To end, eat the fire so much oxygen that it goes down in intensity, it does not burn as vigorously.

– at the same time it produced a lot of smoke and the smoke is very toxic. The people that are inside the apartment and did not notice the fire, most likely due to the sleep, then will become unconscious because of the poisonous smoke, and eventually die of poisoning, ” says Bergqvist.

“Someone wakes up,”

– It can also be so, in connection with this, that someone wakes up, but is already so poisoned that it may only move a very short distance, and then if you don’t pass more.

In Sweden is approximately 35 000 brandincidenter in housing per year, ” explains Anders Bergqvist.

– In most cases, you will discover it early and turns off the lights, then there is no problem. The key is an early warning.

Important smoke alarms

He press, therefore, how important it is to have smoke alarms.

– you have To have several working smoke alarm at home, that you know how to get out if it starts to burn, and that you have fire extinguishers and a fire blanket at home.

the FACTS

About fatal fires

Annually dies 110-120 people in fires in Sweden. Approximately 1 000 will be seriously damaged.

9 out of 10 fatal fires occur in homes. The most commonly known cause is smoking, which accounts for almost a third of the dödsbränderna. Other common causes are that the fire is man made or that man has forgot to turn off the stove.

When a majority of the dödsbränderna is no working smoke alarm. People in the age group 80 years or older are significantly overrepresented in fatal fires and in the age group of 20-64 years, with more than half of the victims consumed alcohol before the accident.

Sources: MSB, Fire protection association

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