An elderly woman suffered severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning on Saturday in the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean due to insufficient ventilation from a wood stove she used for heating.
The gas supply to her building had been cut off, forcing the victim to rely on the wood stove.
"At around 05:45, an ambulance and a medical emergency team were dispatched to an apartment on Rue Cail et Halot in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean to assist an unconscious elderly woman," said Brussels Fire Brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw.
"Extremely high levels of CO were detected in the victim’s apartment," Derieuw continued. "She was taken to the hospital due to severe poisoning. The wood stove she used for heating was connected to a chimney, but the combustion gases were not properly vented, and there was no fresh air intake."
Smoke detectors were found in the building but were merely placed on a windowsill on the second floor and had not been installed.
The fire brigade provided four tips to prevent CO poisoning: have certified technicians install compliant devices, conduct annual maintenance and mandatory inspections, and ensure proper venting of combustion gases. Additionally, ensure good ventilation and install certified CO detectors.
If symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, or sudden fatigue occur, open windows, evacuate the premises, and call emergency services on 112 using the 112.be app or by phone.
