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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2007-06 > 1182006668


From: "Maureen Brady" <>
Subject: Re: [Ess] Inquest 1940
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:11:08 +0200
References: <003c01c7afeb$68a15f50$6401a8c0@leslie666dced1><4673A41D.50807@family-hunter.co.uk><4673C8E7.8010601@ElPortus.net>


Something I remember from my nursing training is that a excess of carbon
dioxide in the blood (which can also be caused by heart disease or poor
circulation, not only asphyxiation) is that the lips, finger- and toe-nails
turn a greyish-blue colour, but a sure sign of carbon monoxide poisoning is
that the lips and nails turn a bright cherry red, much redder than the light
pink caused by normally oxygenated blood. These different shades have to do
with the way various gases bond with haemoglobin in the blood.

Paraffin (kerosene to North Americans) is derived from crude oil, the same
as petrol (gasoline), and car exhaust systems give off both carbon dioxide
and carbon monoxide, so a paraffin stove probably also gives off both gases.

Maureen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Muskett" <>
To: "Charani" <>
Cc: <>
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2007 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Ess] Inquest 1940


> Charani wrote:
>> I wouldn't have
>> thought that a paraffin stove would give off carbon monoxide TBH, but
>> I could be wrong.
> A paraffin stove will normally give off water and carbon dioxide as a
> result of burning the paraffin and oxygen from the atmosphere - not a
> problem if ventilation is good. However, when used to keep people warm,
> there is an awful temptation to get rid of draughts, and to block off
> gaps under the door etc. Since the stove is burning a lot of oxygen,
> unless this can be replaced by ventiliation, then the air in the room
> becomes depleted of oxygen and that in itself can be a killer. However,
> under these circumstances there is eventually not enough oxygen left in
> the atmosphere for the stove to burn efficiently, and it then starts to
> produce carbon monoxide which combines with the haemoglobin in blood
> cells and reduces the ability of the bloodstream to transport the oxygen
> needed for life.
>
> So, both of these gases can be produced by a paraffin stove, and both
> can be fatal - carbon-monoxide as a poison, and carbon-dioxide by
> asphyxiation. Exactly the same thing can happen with gas appliances
> which are incorrectly ventilated, as we saw not long ago with the
> children ashyxiated in their holiday cottage abroad.
>
> Keith
>
> Keith
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