Grilled Meat in the Living Room Using Charcoal for About an Hour
Immediately Transported to Hospital...Fortunately, No Threat to Life
As accidents involving deaths from falling asleep while using heating devices in enclosed spaces during winter continue to occur, on the 6th at around 7:45 PM, three family members including a man in his 60s, Mr. A, were transported to a hospital after being poisoned by carbon monoxide at a home in Seokgok-ri, Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province.
On the 7th, fire authorities reported that a call was received the previous day at around 7:45 PM about three people, including Mr. A in his 60s and his brother’s couple, showing symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, and vomiting at a home in Seokgok-ri, Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province. The fire department suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and transported them to a large hospital in Wonju. It was confirmed that their lives were not in danger. It was also confirmed that the three had been grilling meat using charcoal in the living room for about an hour at the time of the accident.
85% of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Accidents Occur in Winter
The main causes of indoor carbon monoxide leaks are incomplete combustion of pots due to user negligence or gaps in boiler flue joints. On the 25th of last month, a couple was found dead in a multi-family house in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, and the police estimated that the couple was poisoned by carbon monoxide based on the presence of a burnt pot inside the house. Earlier on the 2nd, in an apartment in Busan, a grandmother and granddaughter were found dead and the daughter was found in critical condition; the police believe carbon monoxide leaked from the gas boiler flue.
According to the Fire Agency’s announcement in 2022, there were a total of 417 carbon monoxide poisoning accidents nationwide over three years from 2019. These incidents were concentrated in winter, from October to March, when the use of heating devices increases. By cause of poisoning, 33.3% were from heaters or electric mats using butane gas, 32.5% from coal types such as briquette heaters, and 30.4% from accidents caused by using charcoal or firewood in stoves to warm enclosed spaces like tents.
The biggest way to prevent unexpected carbon monoxide poisoning accidents is ventilation. Most carbon monoxide poisoning accidents, like the ones mentioned above,
occur when heating devices are used in tightly sealed spaces during winter. Therefore, even if it is a bit chilly, frequent ventilation is necessary to ensure a safe winter.
A fire official said, "Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect danger in advance," and urged, "Please be especially careful when using fire as a moment of carelessness can lead to serious casualties."
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