Leaking gas cylinders can cause poisoning! this must be done

Leaking gas cylinders are not only prone to igniting fires, they are also very harmful to the health of the body when inhaled. Unfortunately, the symptoms of LPG gas poisoning are often detected too late because the gas tube leak can not be noticed by those around you.

So, how do you know if a home gas stove cylinder has a leak, what are the symptoms of gas poisoning, and what must be done to prevent it from spreading? Check out this article to find out.

Detect the characteristics of a leaky gas cylinder

The original properties of natural gas are odorless, tasteless, colorless, and non-irritating. This is what makes gas leaks often difficult to detect before it's too late. To prevent this, gas companies generally add mercaptan, a harmless smelly chemical.

Mercaptan is what could be an early warning sign of a gas cylinder leak, thanks to its distinctive aroma similar to sulfur or rotten eggs. Apart from the smell of rotten eggs, here are some signs of a leaky gas cylinder that you need to be aware of.

• The sound of hissing near the gas cylinder
• There is a defect in the connector of the gas cylinder or gas cylinder regulator
• There is white smoke, dust floating in the air as if blowing, or bubbles in puddles
• A lot of moisture appears on the surface of the window closest to the gas cylinder
• The color of the fire on the stove is orange or yellow, there is no blue color
• Plants around the gas cylinder withered, even died for no apparent reason

Symptoms of LPG gas poisoning

Leaking gas that is inhaled can cause various health problems. In fact, these symptoms can also be felt by your pet. Below are common signs and symptoms of gas poisoning.

• Headache
• Unbearable dizziness
• Nauseous vomit
• Eye and throat irritation
• Feelings of weakness and fatigue
• Difficulty breathing hard to breathe
• Pale and blistered skin
• Dazedness (concussion) or other mental change problems

What to do when the gas cylinder is leaking at home

This is what you do if you suspect a leaky gas cylinder

• Don't panic and stay calm
• Unplug the gas regulator
• Do not operate electric tools or touch electrical outlets or connected electronic equipment
• Do not light cigarettes and matches that can cause the flames to spread easily
• Open the doors and windows wide
• If the smell is too strong, get out of the house immediately

Call 119 or the emergency telephone number in your area, or rush to the hospital immediately, if the victim of poisoning experiences any of the following:

• Drowsiness or unconsciousness
• Have trouble breathing or stop breathing
• Uncontrollable excitement or restlessness
• Have seizures

If exposure to gas:

• Nasal inhalation: Evacuate to fresh air as soon as possible.
• Causes vomiting: Tilt his head to the side to prevent choking.
• Causes the victim to lose consciousness or show no vital signs, such as not moving, breathing, or coughing, perform cardiac resuscitation (CPR) immediately.

Call the National Poisoning Information Center (SIKer) at 0813-1082-6879 in Jakarta, Indonesia, or contact your Regional SIKer for further guidance.

If the fire has appeared, here's what you can do

• Prepare sacks, sheets, towels, mats, or other types of cloth
• Wet the sack or cloth until it feels heavy
• Cover the fire with the sack or cloth so that the fire dies
• Unplug the gas regulator
• After that, do the same with the steps above

Tips to prevent gas cylinder leakage

Gas leaks are dangerous and sometimes unexpected. Therefore, it is very important for you and your family to know how to prevent it. The following are things you can do to prevent gas cylinders from leaking.

• Make sure the gas regulator is installed properly
• Check gas cylinders, regulators and hoses regularly to make sure there are no damage. Damage can occur due to age or other factors such as rat bites
• Buy gas, regulators, hoses and stoves from an obvious place with a brand that has an SNI certificate license