Speaking to reporters, Colonel, Dr., Doctor Le Lan Phuong said that on June 1, 108 Military Central Hospital received 2 patients transferred from Kien An Hospital (Hai Phong City) in a state of respiratory failure after sleeping in a car. According to information provided by the family, when the house lost power, the 3 father and sons in the above family got into the car in the garage, started the engine, and turned on the air conditioner to sleep to avoid the heat; after that, all 3 were likely suffocated and fell into a coma.

When the family discovered it, the eldest daughter had died of suffocation, and the father and second daughter, who were in a coma, were taken to Kien An Hospital for emergency treatment. After initial first aid, Kien An Hospital transferred them to the 108 Military Central Hospital. Upon arrival, both father and daughter were in a state of respiratory failure and circulatory collapse, requiring ventilators and vasopressors.

Colonel, Dr., Doctor Le Lan Phuong visits and checks the health of a patient who suffocated due to sleeping in a car.

After more than a day of intensive resuscitation, the general condition of both father and son has improved, consciousness is clear, the doctor has removed the endotracheal tube, and stopped vasopressors. Currently, the health of both father and son is gradually stabilizing, doctors continue to monitor and will discharge them in the near future.

Commenting on this case, Colonel, PhD, MD Le Lan Phuong analyzed that turning on the car air conditioner to sleep while the car doors are closed will produce a large amount of CO and CO ₂ gas into the surrounding environment. This gas continues to be absorbed by the air conditioner, causing people sleeping inside the car to suffocate. Gradually, the victim will lose consciousness, fall into a coma and die if not given timely first aid. Another risk that can also occur is that if the car doors are closed while the car is stopped for too long, in hot weather, the car may run out of fuel and stop working, especially when the inside air mode is turned on. At that time, the air in the car will not be able to exchange with the outside and the temperature in the car will increase, causing people in the car to lack oxygen and suffer heat shock, death if not given timely support.

Through the unfortunate incident mentioned above, Colonel, PhD, MD Le Lan Phuong warned that sleeping in a car always carries the risk of death. Therefore, anyone who intends to sleep in a car needs to be aware of this potential danger to avoid it, especially in the current conditions of prolonged hot weather and rotating power outages.

In case of discovering a comatose person in a car suspected of being suffocated, according to Colonel, PhD, MD Le Lan Phuong, everyone needs to quickly take the victim to a ventilated area, provide respiratory support/artificial respiration if the victim stops breathing and immediately transfer to the nearest medical facility for assistance. The chance of survival of a victim of suffocation depends on the time it takes to get to the hospital. When seeing someone suffocating, it is necessary to open all the doors to let air in and immediately take the victim out of the toxic gas area, quickly take them to the emergency room, and limit unfortunate consequences from occurring.

News and photos: MAI HANG – VAN CHIEN