Doctor Warns Fire Survivors to Seek Health Checks Immediately
Fire survivors must seek immediate medical evaluation even without visible injuries, as smoke inhalation and heat exposure can cause life-threatening damage to airways and organs, with symptoms potentially delayed 24-48 hours, warns a Thai
Dr. Chanyarut Lortweesawat, Vice President of the Thai Medical Association and disaster management specialist, has issued an urgent appeal to fire survivors and the media to take seriously the health risks posed by heat exposure and smoke inhalation, which can be dangerous even without visible external injuries. All survivors should seek immediate medical evaluation to assess the impact of heat and smoke exposure. Warning signs requiring emergency medical attention include difficulty breathing, wheezing, frequent coughing, cough with dark phlegm, hoarseness, severe sore throat, severe headache, dizziness, confusion, vertigo, lethargy, or loss of consciousness, as these may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning or oxygen deprivation, which can be life-threatening.
Smoke contains two critical hazardous substances: carbon monoxide gas and fine particulates such as PM2.5 or smaller, invisible to the naked eye. When inhaled, carbon monoxide competes with red blood cells, preventing oxygen from reaching vital organs, causing headaches, dizziness, reduced consciousness, and potentially cardiac symptoms like chest pain. Fine particulates penetrate directly into the lungs, causing coughing, breathing difficulty, and worsening conditions for those with heart or lung disease.
Dr. Chanyarut advised that victims should evacuate smoke-filled areas quickly, crawling low if necessary since hot smoke and gases rise upward. Wet cloth can reduce inhalation of toxins. Once in fresh air, move the victim to a well-ventilated area. If conscious, place them in a comfortable position; if unconscious but breathing, use the recovery position to prevent airway obstruction. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and chest. For unconscious, unresponsive, non-breathing victims, perform CPR and call emergency services immediately.
For eye irritation from smoke, flush eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes. For throat irritation, sip water gradually. The most critical concern is inhalation injury from heat and toxic gases damaging the airway, with symptoms potentially delayed 24-48 hours. Do not assume early normalcy is safe. Symptoms including rapid breathing, wheezing, severe coughing, dark phlegm, hoarseness, facial burns, singed nasal hair, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or lethargy require immediate hospitalization where doctors will conduct thorough physical examination and assess burn injuries.
