Asphyxiation during a fire occurs when smoke fills the lungs to the point that the heart can not pump out oxygen-enriched blood to the rest of the body. Asphyxiation can occur over a slow period of time, thus most individuals who die from it do not notice either because they are asleep when the fire beings or because they take too long to get away from the fire.
As the smoke begins to build within the lungs, the heart begins to pump harder in an attempt to push through oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. However, as constriction caused by smoke build-up continues in the lungs, eventually the heart will not be able to pump oxygen-rich blood and the oxygen in the body will be used up. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide will begin to build up in the body because the lungs are not able to expel this byproduct of respiration.
An individual suffering from asphyxiation during a fire will display symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, a change in skin color and irritation of the eyes and nose. Eventually, a victim of asphyxiation will faint because the body can not remain conscious without a constant flow of oxygen. Depending on the amount of smoke, this can occur as quickly as 30 seconds (if the smoke is completely filling the room) or over a period of several minutes.
An individual suffering from asphyxiation can only recover when removed from the source of the smoke as soon as possible and moved to an area with fresh air. CPR may be necessary to revive someone suffering from asphyxiation, but is only appropriate after the victim is in an area safe from further danger. All victims of asphyxiation should consult a medical profession immediately, who may then apply additional techniques to curing asphyxiation, such as performing a bronchoscopy to relieve pressure in the lungs.
The best way to prevent asphyxiation during a fire is to have smoke detectors installed. When a smoke detector goes off, an individual should evacuate the premises. If one finds themselves caught in a fire, the safest way to avoid asphyxiation is to crawl on the floor to the nearest exit; it is best to remain as close to the ground as possible because the air is cleaner at the bottom of a smoke-filled room. In addition, taking long, deep breaths and, if possible, breathing into a handkerchief also reduces the risk of asphyxiation.