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Incident

2 die from carbon monoxide poisoning in northern Turkey

06 November 2015 18:20 (UTC +04:00)

According to the Cihan news agency, the incident took place at the family home in 19th Street in the Sinan neighborhood of central Çorum on Thursday night. BarÄ±ÅŸcan Åžahin (17) came to the home on Thursday night but no one opened the door. BarÄ±ÅŸcan Åžahin then entered via a window and found his sister Gamzenur Åžahin, his mother Gülay Åžahin and grandmother Fatma Kürgen (65) unconscious after inhaling carbon monoxide that had leaked from a coal-burning stove in their home. He then alerted his neighbors, who called the police and emergency services. The three were taken to the Çorum Teaching and Research Hospital. Gülay Åžahin remains in a critical condition.

Every year in Turkey, thousands of people are treated for the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning due to accidents in the home or workplace, with deaths being common. Many poor people in Turkey have no central heating system in their houses other than coal-burning stoves, since coal is cheaper than natural gas in the country.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. It mixes directly with the blood when inhaled, and it is very likely to have fatal consequences if not treated immediately. The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, vomiting, dizziness, loss of consciousness and respiratory disorders.