The Silent Danger Encountered in the Early Period After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş -Türkiye Earthquake: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

ABSTRACT Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a clinical condition that is difficult to diagnose. It is encountered more frequently and is more challenging to diagnose during disasters, where clinicians are primarily focused on health problems directly caused by the disaster, and living conditions are harsh and deviate from standard living conditions. Objective: This study aims to examine carbon monoxide poisoning, one of the dangers that may arise from deteriorated living conditions following disasters, and to draw attention to this insidious threat. Method: The study included patients who were admitted to the emergency department with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after the major earthquake on February 6 in Hatay province, and whose preliminary diagnoses were confirmed by blood gas tests. General characteristics of the patients, such as age and gender, their prognosis, and treatments received were obtained by retrospectively reviewing hospital records. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 program. Results: After the February 6 earthquake, 61.1% of the patients who applied to the emergency clinic with CO poisoning were women, and 63% of them built shelters with their own means and created their own heating facilities. It was determined that the fire lit inside the shelter was lit for heating purposes. Conclusion: As a result of the adverse development of seasonal conditions immediately after the earthquake, it was seen that people affected by the earthquake tried to meet their heating needs with their own means and that shelters such as tents or huts were especially dangerous. It is recommended that people affected by the earthquake be warned about this issue through mass communication means. Keyswords: Disaster, Earthquake, Carbon Monoxide, Tent, Temporary Shelters.