Montreal’s Public Health Department reported no less than 127 reports of carbon monoxide poisoning between Wednesday and Saturday morning, due to space heaters and cooking appliances used inside homes. during power outages.
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Nearly 44 events were counted in total and, in most cases, they occurred in the middle of the night.
Victims who suffered from these poisonings used appliances designed for the outdoors, such as barbecues or propane burners, inside their homes.
The intoxicated people needed advanced care, said in an interview with TVA Nouvelles, Dre Catherine Verreault, medical specialist in public health and preventive medicine.
Fortunately, no deaths have been reported, but Montreal hospitals expressed concern about the situation in a press release issued on Friday and called for the vigilance of the population.
The boroughs of Montréal-Nord, LaSalle, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Ahuntsic, the Parc-Extension district and the city of Dollard-des-Ormeaux are the places with the highest number of reported poisonings.
The Montreal Public Health Department goes door-to-door to raise public awareness of the dangers associated with poisoning in the neighborhoods most affected by power outages.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
-Headache
– Dizziness
-Fatigue
-Visual disorders
-Nausea
– Vomiting
-In more severe cases, loss of consciousness and convulsions may occur, and even death.
See public health advice on carbon monoxide poisoning.