On the morning of January 12, nine people were working at the scrap yard in Dan Tien commune, Khoai Chau, Hung Yen. While a worker was torching a gas cylinder, the gas suddenly erupted, a column of white smoke up to 5 meters high.
The incident made people present feel teary eyes, difficulty breathing, and poisoning. Three seriously injured people were taken to Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) for emergency treatment, of which two were in critical condition and required mechanical ventilation. 6 cases are monitored locally.
Mr. Seo Van Khut (34 years old, from Ky Son, Nghe An) said he worked at this scrap yard a year ago. Their job is to classify and collect scrap.
While working, a person used a machine to blow out a gas cylinder of an unknown type. This tank is as big as a gas tank. Then, white smoke erupted. People nearby were hit in the face by smoke. Mr. Khut was quickly taken to Bach Mai Hospital for emergency treatment.
The case requiring mechanical ventilation is patient NVM (63 years old, residing in Khoai Chau, Hung Yen).
According to Mr. M.’s wife, around 9:00 a.m. she received a phone call from her co-workers reporting that her husband was seriously injured and had to be taken to Bach Mai Hospital for emergency treatment. When she got to the hospital, her husband was in critical condition. Initial diagnosis, the doctor announced that he had gas poisoning.
Image of a patient in critical condition due to gas poisoning. Photo: Phuong Thuy.
Talking to reporters, Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said that around 12:00 on January 12, the center received three patients. poisoning Air moves up from the lower glands.
According to the supplier’s information and photos, Dr. Nguyen suspected poisoning from a compound containing chlorine gas. People used torch to collect scrap, leading to toxic vapors being emitted. After that, people moved the tank, leading to gas powder being scattered everywhere.
When receiving these patients, 2 were in severe respiratory failure. The doctor had to provide emergency treatment quickly because the patient had respiratory damage, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and respiratory failure.
Regarding Mr. M., Dr. Nguyen said that the patient’s circulation had stopped and he had to undergo artificial respiration. His airways were narrow, edematous, and constricted. If the patient gets to the hospital late, he will die. Currently, the doctor opens the trachea and gives the patient muscle relaxants and sedatives. Patients respond to treatment but may experience long-term damage.
Doctor Nguyen said Chlorine gas poisoning very dangerous, irritating the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, nose and throat, lungs and eyes, causing burns and deep damage.
When there are gas cylinders of unknown origin, people do not arbitrarily torch the cylinders or do any action of pressing for scrap. These sealed containers may contain dangerous chemicals, even radiation, and landmines. These cylinders need to be handed over to specialized agencies for handling.
At the Poison Control Center, doctors have received many cases The patient is poisoned gas as above. Patients suffer burns to the respiratory tract, severe lung damage and can cause lung damage, scarring, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Chlorine gas is toxic and is classified as a lung irritant. The gas is moderately soluble in water with a risk of acute injury to the upper and lower respiratory tract.
Toxicity to chlorine gas depends on the dose and duration of exposure.
– At concentrations of 1 to 3 ppm, chlorine gas irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth.
– At 15 ppm, lung symptoms begin.
– At 430ppm for 30 minutes, chlorine can be fatal.
Symptoms of chlorine gas exposure include smelling a toxic or unpleasant odor when exposed to chlorine. Causes airway irritation, wheezing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, cough, chest tightness due to burns of the conjunctiva, throat and bronchi. Irritating to face and skin, causing blurred vision. Higher concentrations may cause bronchospasm, low lung damage.