Most people use room heaters in winter season. There are many types of heaters available in the market, which are effective in keeping the room warm. Many people sleep with the room heater on at night, so as not to feel cold at night. However, doing so can be fatal. So far, many such cases have come to light, where people have died while sleeping due to room heater running.
Many such cases come up every year but people forget these things every time. Health experts have warned people to use room heaters sparingly. Now the question is how can death be caused by running a room heater? Does it give off any gas? Let’s know the truth from the doctor.
Dr. Sonia Rawat, Director, Department of Preventive Health and Wellness, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, said that a room heater can be used to avoid cold, but the heater should be used very carefully. Sleeping in a closed room with the heater running overnight can increase carbon monoxide gas levels and decrease oxygen levels in the room.
If there is too much carbon monoxide in the room, it can even lead to death. Due to this, the blood supply to people’s brain can be interrupted. This can lead to serious problems like brain hemorrhage. It is even more dangerous for people with heart disease. Using a gas heater can increase the risk of suffocation (sleep death).
Dr. Rawat said that running a room heater also affects your skin and eyes. Due to the heat of the heater, the air in the room becomes dry, due to which the skin starts to dry. This can cause itching and allergies on the skin. Apart from this, the room heater can cause dryness in the eyes, which can lead to conjunctivitis.
In such a case, while running the room heater, people must keep a bowl of water in the room, with which the air remains moist and the skin and eyes get comfortable. You can also use a humidifier to avoid this problem. Also, arrange proper ventilation of the room where the heater is running. This can reduce the damage caused by the room heater.
According to health experts, when the level of carbon monoxide in the room increases, symptoms like headache, dizziness, stomach pain, discomfort, vomiting, nausea and weakness start appearing. If you notice these symptoms, leave the room immediately and breathe in fresh air. Turn off the room heater and open the room windows.
Do not place paper, bedding, clothing and other flammable items near the room heater, otherwise a fire may occur. Always place the heater on a solid surface. Keep children and pets away from the heater. Never leave the heater on. If you are leaving the room or going to bed, turn off the heater and unplug it. This way you can avoid the danger of carbon monoxide.