Doctors advise against use of ‘fatal’ unvented gas heaters

Srinagar, Jan 6: A day after the devastating incident in Srinagar’s Pandrethan that witnessed death of five members of a family, doctors have sounded caution against the use of unvented gas heaters in closed spaces. As per medical experts, these hazardous devices could cause fatalities due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

After the death of five members of a family sent shockwaves across Kashmir, doctors have said that suffocation claiming lives must be taken seriously.

Dr Murtaza Ahmad, a doctor at the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) said that unvented gas heaters emit combustion by products like carbon monoxide, which can accumulate to lethal levels in poorly ventilated rooms. “Carbon monoxide poisoning is a grave risk associated with these heaters. The best way to prevent such deaths is to stop using unvented gas heaters altogether and switch to vented alternatives,” he said. Dr Ahmad said that if unvented gas heaters are still used, they should only be operated in rooms with adequate ventilation and never in bedrooms, bathrooms, or enclosed spaces.

“These heaters lack a chimney to vent harmful combustion products outside. As a result, toxic pollutants like carbon monoxide remain inside the room, posing a severe threat,” he explained. Carbon monoxide, dubbed a “silent killer”, is undetectable by sight, smell or taste. Victims often become unconscious during sleep without realising the danger. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions, are at greater risk.

Dr Showkat Ahmad from GMC Anantnag called for avoiding unvented gas heaters. He and other experts described telltale signs of suffocation, including small red or purple splotches in the eyes, face, and neck and petechial haemorrhages in the lungs. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, slow heart rate, “Prolonged exposure to CO can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion. In severe cases, it can be fatal,” Dr Showkat said, adding that nitrogen dioxide, another byproduct of combustion, can irritate the respiratory system and worsen conditions like asthma.