Khaberni - The Directorate of Civil Defense in the Public Security Directorate has reiterated its warnings today, Saturday, about the dangers of improper use of heating devices, which have increased due to the drop in temperatures and the greater demand for the use of heaters for long periods, which can be accompanied by neglect resulting in deadly accidents, and turns these heaters into a silent killer causing damage and injuries quietly and unexpectedly.
It explained that it is called the silent killer because of the emission of carbon monoxide from combustion processes in heaters, which is colorless and odorless, and combines with blood hemoglobin, obstructing its ability to carry oxygen, causing suffocation to the person exposed to this gas without the victim realizing, noting that it kills without warning, and is called the silent killer.
The Public Security Directorate's spokesperson confirmed that the directorate spares no effort in raising awareness and providing advice and guidance to citizens, yet some still underestimate the dangers of heaters, where a simple mistake may be fatal.
He pointed out that these mistakes cause fire incidents or breathing difficulties due to a lack of proper ventilation where the heater is used, or suffocation due to gas leakage or heater malfunction.
He noted that inhaling harmful gases in the surrounding air causes breathlessness and suffocation, and incapacitates the person if their blood becomes saturated with carbon monoxide after being exposed to such environments for a relatively short period of about 4 to 6 minutes, thereafter entering a coma which could lead to death – God forbid.
He warned about the dangers of this gas emitted from combustion in heaters, as it is colorless and odorless and combines with blood hemoglobin, impeding its ability to carry oxygen, which causes suffocation to the person exposed to this gas without realizing, resulting in drowsiness, blurred vision, headache and mild dizziness, and difficulty breathing, which may seem normal symptoms.
He emphasised the danger of using heating devices while sleeping, regardless of their type or safety technologies, including what is called self-extinguishing, as they might malfunction at any moment, or the place of their use could catch fire due to proximity to home furniture, or they can cause the victim to lose consciousness and suffer from breathing difficulties and damage to the nervous system, which might lead to death.
He stressed a set of instructions, the most important being the need to renew the air inside the home occasionally, not to sleep while leaving the heater turned on, not to bring it into enclosed and tight spaces such as the bathing area, and not to allow children to play near it or use it for cooking.
He also emphasized the need to inspect the hoses connecting the gas cylinder and the gas heater to ensure there are no cracks or bends that might lead to gas leakage, and consequently a fire outbreak in the home, emphasizing the need not to hesitate to contact the emergency phone 911 when needed.
In turn, the director of the Media Response Unit in the National Center for Security and Crisis Management, Dr. Ahmed Naimat, said that the Kingdom is experiencing a state of unstable weather during the next 48 hours, confirming that the Center is monitoring developments of the situation with the relevant parties to ensure the readiness of state institutions and respond to any field developments.
He clarified that the warnings issued are within the framework of raising the awareness level among the citizens to avoid potential risks, noting that the most significant dangers expected include the risk of flash floods in valleys and low areas, especially in the west of the Kingdom, including the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea area, and the Aqaba region, as well as the reduced horizontal visibility due to active winds loaded with dust, especially in desert areas and external roads, in addition to the risk of slipping on the roads in areas experiencing rainfall.
He added that the Center focuses in its work on weather conditions that contain actual risks, specifically cases of weather instability, as they are among the most complex and difficult to predict in terms of intensity, timing, and location of rainfall, and they are the main cause of flash floods, which could unexpectedly result in – God forbid – significant human and material losses.
He indicated that water accumulations resulting from regular rainfall cases do not fall under the strategic risks monitored by the Center, as they are addressed by other specialized entities, while the Center focuses on cases that involve direct threats related to public safety.
He pointed out that climate change has led in recent years to a clear change in weather behavior patterns, where the frequency of weather instability has increased and became the prominent feature of the rainy seasons, raising the probability of flash floods and associated human and material losses.
He assured that the Center issues its warnings when weather models and indicators indicate the presence of real risks associated with instances of instability, urging citizens to follow weather updates regularly, stay away from flood channels, and adhere to the guidance of competent authorities as a safety precaution.
