Smoke Inhalation

Patient Factsheet Hospital: Smoke inhalation People exposed to smoke from a fire can Carbon monoxide poisoning breathe in enough smoke to cause medical problems. This usually happens with fires in Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless enclosed spaces, e.g. inside buildings, but gas produced by incomplete burning, espe- can also happen with prolonged exposure cially in enclosed spaces. If enough of it is (hours) to smoke from bushfires. Smoke inhaled, it quickly produces neurological usually causes no more than mild irritation, (nervous system) symptoms ranging from and little or no treatment is required, but headache to mild confusion, nausea and occasionally it causes more serious vomiting, to collapse, coma and rarely death. problems. In addition, people with other More commonly, not enough carbon monox- medical problems, especially respiratory or ide is inhaled to cause problems. In pregnant heart disease, or pregnant women, often women, the unborn baby can be more affect- require more investigations, observation, or ed than the mother as the baby’s blood re- treatment. People who have inhaled smoke tains more carbon monoxide than the are often sent to an emergency department mother’s. A blood test may be taken to see if to be assessed, unless their symptoms are there has been exposure to carbon monox- obviously mild. ide, but this is not always needed if symptoms are mild. The treatment for carbon monoxide inhalation What medical problems can is a period of time breathing high concentra- tions of oxygen through a mask. This hastens smoke cause? the removal of the carbon monoxide com- pound (carboxyhaemoglobin) from the blood. In severe cases of poisoning, treatment is Airway burns with high pressure oxygen in a hyperbaric (high pressure) chamber, but this situation is Hot smoke can burn the airway (throat and rare. trachea). This is usually obvious, with throat pain, hoarse voice, and noisy breathing. People with airway burns almost always have burns to the face or head, or severe burns elsewhere on the body. It is more common for smoke to cause mild throat irritation, which is usually not a sign of a significant burn to the airway. Poisoning Smoke contains poisons which can affect people. This usually happens only to people who have spent a long time (5 minutes or more) in an enclosed space full of smoke, especially if they been close enough to a fire to be burnt. Updated by the ECI in November 2017. — also available online at www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/eci Patient Factsheet Smoke inhalation Lung irritation Things to remember Many different chemicals and particles in Most cases of smoke inhalation are mild smoke can irritate the lungs. In severe cases, and don’t cause problems. However, most this makes fluid enter the lungs, causing people with smoke inhalation should be severe shortness of breath and cough, assessed in an emergency department. sometime with pink frothy sputum. People This applies particularly to pregnant with asthma, emphysema or other lung women and people with existing health diseases can have an “attack” of their problems. existing disease triggered by smoke. A chest x-ray and blood tests may be required to Most people make a full recovery without investigate. any long term adverse effects. More commonly, people exposed to smoke Less commonly, smoke can cause serious may develop a mild cough, which does not medical problems. Blood tests or a chest indicate lung damage. Occasionally, x-ray may be taken to investigate whether however, people exposed to smoke can take this is happening. up to 24—36 hours to develop signs of seri- If you develop increasing shortness of ous lung irritation. If you develop increasing breath after leaving hospital, come back to cough and shortness of breath after leaving hospital, if necessary by ambulance (call hospital, come back to hospital. If you 000). develop severe shortness of breath, call an ambulance (000). Instructions: Seeking help: In a medical emergency go to your 1 nearest emergency department or call 000. Disclaimer: This health information is for general education purposes only. Always consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for you. .

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