Heating accidents in winter raise alarms for Nepal

The unregulated, widespread use of heating appliances has led to many accidents resulting in deaths and hospitalizations of many people in Nepal every year. Home and hotel accidents from poisoning and fire are more likely to occur during winter time. This is mainly due to either a malfunctioning heating unit or to a deficient ventilation system, which can lead to serious injuries and in the worst case scenario it can cause death as well.

“At home, Carbon Monoxide (CO) may accumulate within rooms while using gas water heater/heater appliances if there’s no proper ventilation system in the building,” says Niranjan Shrestha, the CEO of Environmental Services Nepal (ESN). “ When people are exposed to CO gas, the CO molecules will displace the oxygen in their bodies and lead to poisoning. Since CO has no smell, colour or taste, it cannot be detected by our senses and can lead to death very fast or to serious health injuries in case of a prolonged exposure to CO. It's very risky to use a gas water heater and heating appliances in terms of disaster vulnerability without a proper ventilation system in home,” he adds.

CO sources include, fireplaces, boilers, water heaters, cloth dryers, stoves and ovens which are not working properly or are not properly installed, maintained or where adequate ventilation has not been provided. CO is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and non-irritant gas formed by an incomplete or bad combustion of fossil fuels like gas, wood, coal and oil resulting in an excess of this toxic gas.

There are some clear signs that reveal an incomplete combustion:

• If you notice a change of colour in the flames: flames should be blue and there should be no flame pattern disruptions. Yellow or orange flames indicate there is a problem with combustion.
• If you notice yellow or brown stains on or around boilers, stoves or fires.
• If the pilot lights frequently blow out.
• If you notice there is an increase of condensation on the inside surface of your windows.

On the matter Sushila Pandit, Climate Change and Resilience professional says, “It depends on the handling and management of the appliances. Any appliance can cause hazards but proper management is the key to safety. Be mindful while using the appliance, do not put on the room heater all night. The gas heater can heat the room properly within 2-3 hours and then you can turn off the heater. The best thing to do is to turn off all electric appliances, not only the heater when you go to sleep. This will help in the protection of unused energy on one hand and will give protection from the potential hazard on the other.”

The major precautionary measures to be followed in order to avoid CO exposure accidents is listed below:

• Ensure the rooms where you keep your boiler, cookers, heating systems and appliances (coal, wood, oil, chimneys) are well-ventilated.
• Never obstruct ventilation grids.
• Turn off the heater when going to sleep or leaving the room if it does not have a proper ventilation device.
• Never leave a wood or coal stove in a completely closed room: keep a door or window half open to allow fresh air to circulate.
• Gas tends to stay at ground level. Therefore it is important to keep the basement in good condition.

Have your gas heater serviced and tested by an appropriately trained and licensed gas fitter at least once every 2 years.

When using a gas heater, be aware of how to use it safely. Always follow the operating instructions on the appliance or in the manual.

Health problems that seem worse or only occur when the heating is on may be caused by carbon monoxide from a faulty gas heater. Be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure and seek medical attention if necessary.

If you have an old open-flued gas heater, consider safe alternative heating or replacing with a room-sealed gas heater or split system at the next opportunity.

  “ The symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be similar to those of food poisoning, flu, an infection or fatigue .There is seldom a suffocation or asphyxia feeling. The symptoms include, headache or seasickness, nausea , vomiting, loss of consciousness, fatigue, stomach or chest pain, confusion, visual problems and shortness of breath, “ says CEO of ESN, Niranjan Shrestha. “ Like CO, these accidents are hard to identify in advance and leave us with very little reaction time which leads to dangerous consequences,” he concludes.