Winter is rapidly approaching, and while temperatures are unusually warm for this time of year, people are already fearing high energy bills once temperatures drop. In anticipation of this, they are looking for alternative ways to stave off the cold without turning on their heating.
While putting on an extra jumper is a safe way of avoiding switching up the thermostat, not all alternatives are without risk, as the Brussels fire brigade warned earlier this month.
"Our fears are, unfortunately, becoming reality: last night, we had to intervene for a carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning caused by the improper use of a BBQ as a heater in a kitchen. A mother and two children were taken to hospital," the brigade's spokesperson Walter Derieuw said in a press statement.
Derieuw explained that he understood why, given the current skyrocketing of energy prices, people would turn to cheaper systems, but stressed that many risks are involved.
"We are afraid that in the Brussels region, in certain socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, many people will make use of this type of heater," he added.
Other risky alternatives
Fortunately, all people involved survived the incident in this case, however, a similar situation took place in the Antwerp district of Wilrijk recently, resulting in a mother and daughter losing their lives.
According to local police, the two women, aged 44 and 23, had lit a barbecue inside their house to heat it and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Other alternatives, such as electric heating, are also not without dangers, as there is a risk of fire if the heating stays on for too long, especially if objects are near the heat source.
Even more dangerous is heating with oil is much riskier, as this releases CO directly into the room where it is used, resulting in a major risk of poisoning and death.
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The symptoms of CO poisoning are always the same, and include nausea, dizziness, headaches, general fatigue and, in extreme situations, and fainting. The acute risk of poisoning is particularly linked to the difficulty of detecting the presence of CO.
"Only use appliances for the reasons that they were made, and never place barbecues or fire bowls inside, as the combustion gases and CO are released in the place where the appliance is used and indoors, this can lead to poisoning," Derieuw said.
