The cold sets in and with it, a silent threat resurfaces. In just five days, four cases of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas water heaters were recorded across the country. Among: that of the two cousins, aged six and 15 years old discovered unconscious in a bathroom in New-Grove. On the same day, a 16-year-old teenager was found dead in his bathroom in Triolet. The autopsy confirmed a fatal poisoning to this insidious gas, produced by a gas water heater in an enclosed space.
Last week, a young woman also lost consciousness in similar circumstances. These successive incidents are of concern to the authorities. They once again relaunch the debate on the safety of domestic installations, in particular gas water heaters. Carbon monoxide, an odorless, tasteless and deadly gas, can strike in a few minutes, without any warning signs.
BEWARE OF CARBON MONOXIDE
Only three to four minutes of exposure is enough to cause a loss of consciousness. In some cases, this leads to fatal asphyxia. In Mauritius, several tragedies have mourned families in recent years, especially during the winter season. “It replaces oxygen in the ambient air, causing dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and, in the most serious cases, death,” explains Subash Lallbeeharry, Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer. It is produced during the combustion of gas in an enclosed space, especially by gas water heaters. A poorly ventilated bathroom, equipped with a gas water heater, can quickly turn into a deadly trap.
Subash Lallbeeharry insists on an essential rule: these devices must be placed outdoors or in perfectly ventilated areas. On the side of the Mauritius Consumer Association, Jayen Chellum, the Secretary General, is also sounding the alarm. Too often, according to him, families buy their water heaters on the sole basis of price, without worrying about safety standards. He insists: gas cylinders must be installed outside homes. He believes that sellers have a responsibility to clearly inform customers of the risks associated with these devices.