Vienna on alert: Life-threatening CO accidents are increasing!

Vienna on alert: Life-threatening CO accidents are increasing!

On June 30, 2025, the Vienna fire department issued an urgent warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), after a woman in Vienna-Landstrasse was in mortal danger the day before due to elevated CO levels. How vienna.at According to reports, the woman was found unconscious in her bathroom and emergency responders had to force the door open to resuscitate her. The cause of the dangerous CO concentration is attributed to a combination of unfavorable weather conditions and inadequate ventilation of the gas boiler.

Another incident occurred on June 26, 2025 in Vienna-Döbling, where a woman also collapsed while showering. She was also able to be resuscitated in time and taken to the hospital. In this case, it is suspected that a mobile air conditioning unit contributed to the increased CO pollution. Last but not least, it is alarming to know that the Vienna professional fire department has recently recorded an increase in calls due to CO poisoning oe24 reported. Extreme heat and the simultaneous use of gas combination heaters and mobile air conditioning units are particularly suspected of promoting these dangerous situations.

Security measures are essential

The fire department clarified that gas boilers are safe under normal circumstances, but problems can arise if they are not regularly maintained or the flues fail due to heat and "air stoppers." Therefore, rapid ventilation of rooms is crucial to avoid worse consequences. The first symptoms of CO poisoning are often non-specific and manifest themselves as dizziness, headaches or nausea. This makes early diagnosis difficult because those affected often ignore these warning signs or attribute them to other health problems.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas that poses serious health risks if handled incorrectly. How aponet.de As shown, chronic carbon monoxide poisoning is often not immediately recognizable as symptoms and effects often appear gradually. Sufferers can still experience neurological symptoms months later, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and installing CO alarms in rooms with fuel-burning appliances.

Finally, the Vienna Fire Department recommends opening windows and doors when using gas boilers, especially during the hot summer months, to ensure good air circulation. Even when installing new windows or doors, the chimney sweep should always be consulted to ensure that the necessary combustion air is available. This is the only way to minimize the risk of carbon monoxide accidents through proper use of gas boilers.