If you are driving slowly in heavy traffic and you have your air conditioner on, do you keep your car windows tightly shut?
If yes, then think again. This causes Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
Recently, family of four dies in a car due to carbon monoxide poisoning. It was raining and the family sat in the car with AC on and had rolled up the windows.
Rain water partially chokes the exhaust pipe and denies a smooth exit for the exhaust fumes. Since the AC had been left on, the exhaust fumes mixed with the air and formed carbon monoxide causing suffocation. The car was still running, when the four were found dead. The exhaust pipe had submerged leaving no outlet for exhaust fumes.
Carbon monoxide is said to be a silent killer as it induces a sleep like state not allowing the person to feel any pain.
It is suggested that, during monsoon the drivers drive with windows rolled down and without AC.
How you could prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning:
http://www.personalmd.com/news/carbn_monox_012700.shtml
7 comments:
Hard to believe this! I am sure there must have been some fault with the car exhaust pipes... or they were like that for a REALLY LONG time.. like days or something!
I have been driving car for the past 5 years.. and I ALWAYS keep the AC on when it rains because, otherwise the "de-fogger" does not work!
And yes! I am still ALIVE :D
It is better to be safe than sorry! I saw a news coverage about a month ago on telvision reporting death of a family of four due to carbon monoxide poisoning. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1785359,000900010006.htm or http://www.southasianmedia.net/cnn.cfm?id=322470&category=Law&Order&Country=INDIA
To learn more about the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_monoxide_poisoning
Interesting!!! Never heard of this before...
thats true..there are cases where people commit suicide that way or kill someone that way. The solution is simple, switch on ur defogger only...not the regular full A/c..(i dont think it is needed during monsoon...and keep windows open...if it is raining outside...leave windows closed...not fully jus leave a gap of 1-2 inches. Maintain the exhaust regularly...there are also a car extra fitting which acts as exhaust in case the exhaust is not working properly...
This is true.. checked out many links...
Casy: Thanks for the links
Krishnan : Thanks for the info....
Shark: Take care ...
Well... I would say... buy a better car :). Indian cars compromise mostly on safety to reduce the price. And if you dont want the windshield fogged, u should put on AC during rain!
Most of the cars switch on AC automatically when u put defogger. Perhaps you can try air intake on instead of recirculating the air.
This could happen if the exhaust is blocked (exhaust is submerged, etc.)...which basically results in CO getting into the A/C's incoming air duct. It could also happen if a car is kept running in a closed space, like a garage. Most cars should not have a problem with A/C if the exhaust is not blocked. So people...Stay Cool!!
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