Carbon monoxide and cyanide gas poisoning in fires

Acute poisoning caused by inhalation of carbon monoxide and other toxic substances is the primary cause of death in fires and may occur without signs of external injury. Life-threatening symptoms may arise immediately, as in cyanide poisoning, or over a longer period, as in carbon monoxide poisoning. Severe inhalation injury may also occur independently of systemic poisoning and should always be suspected in patients with soot on their face and in the respiratory tract, or hoarseness and wheezing.