CO value increased

Firefighters called out because of a water pipe

Burning water pipe charcoal can lead to a dangerous increase in CO levels

(Bild: Wenzel Markus)

A supposedly routine operation for emergency services had a strange outcome on Thursday night in Upper Austria. The paramedics were supposed to be transporting two sick children, but when they entered the apartment, the carbon monoxide alarm on the emergency backpack went off.

The paramedics were called to an apartment building in Bad Schallerbach at around 1.30 a.m. because of two sick children. Upon entering the apartment, however, the carbon monoxide alarms on their emergency backpack sounded. They immediately took all the residents outside and called the local fire department for help.

Water pipe as the cause
Around 20 firefighters and the police arrived with flashing blue lights, three breathing apparatus wearers entered the building and searched it for the cause. The cause was quickly found: Water pipe charcoal from a sisha pipe had probably led to an increased concentration of carbon monoxide in the apartment due to inadequate ventilation.

Many people are not aware of the dangers posed by shishas. Inadequate ventilation can lead to increased CO levels.

Christoph Flatscher, FF Bad Schallerbach

No rescue transport that night
"We are aware of the problem, which is increasing, especially in urban areas," says Christoph Flatscher from the Bad Schallerbach fire department. After the building had been sufficiently ventilated, the volunteers returned to their beds after two hours.

Residents surprised
And the residents? "They were surprised and grateful. Many are not aware of the dangers that shishas can pose," says Flatscher, who recommends in this context that "all homes should have CO detectors in addition to fire extinguishers and smoke detectors." Incidentally, the two children were not taken to hospital by the emergency services after all.

Several incidents involving sisha smoking
There have already been several dangerous incidents involving hookah smoking in the past: in 2018, a 16-year-old collapsed in a bar in Wels, and in 2019, three young people in Vienna had to be admitted to hospital with CO poisoning.