Unfortunately, the tragedies caused by the gas leak are often accompanied by a large number of victims. You must admit that no one is safe from troubles and misfortunes even within the walls of your own home. Therefore, it is so important to know how to behave and what to do if suddenly gas smells in your house.
In this article, we will consider in detail the reasons why the usual blue fuel turns into a deadly enemy, we will talk about ways to detect leaks and how to do the right thing in an emergency.
Properties and features of domestic gas
In order to better remember the algorithm of actions in case of a sudden gas leak and understand why such an extreme situation is possible at all, it’s worthwhile to figure out what kind of fuel is so familiar to us. Indeed, under certain circumstances, gas even during emergency leakage begins to ignite, but does not explode. What is this connected with and what is needed in order for negligence or technical malfunction to turn into an explosion?
Natural gas, which has undergone serious preliminary processing, is located in the gas supply systems of residential buildings and institutions. Unnecessary impurities are removed from it and enriched with special substances in order to maximize the efficiency and safety of domestic operation.
In the composition of natural gas, the largest share among all substances is methane. It is flammable, has no color or smell, and weighs lighter than air, so when it leaks it moves to the top of the room.
The lightness of methane is one of the reasons why the vents of the ventilation system are placed at the top. With this location of the grate, gas and combustion products more easily go into the ventilation system
To facilitate the detection of the fact of emergency gas leakage, special substances-odorants are added to methane, which give the mixture such a familiar smell. Therefore, a leak can be detected not only by means of a gas alarm, but also due to its own sense of smell. Often a poisoning gas stream makes a characteristic hissing sound.
In addition to methane, household gas also contains other substances: ethane, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen sulfide, propane and butane. The last two types of gas are quite toxic.
Surprisingly, with an incredibly powerful gas explosion, which in strength can be compared with the detonation of more than 10 kg of TNT, the amount of fuel leakage can be only a few liters. Why is household gas so destructive?
Gas detonation is largely reminiscent of the principle of operation of a vacuum bomb, and the explosion itself is more appropriate to call the burnout of a gas-air mixture, since only one spark is needed to start the process. The movement of gas molecules is chaotic. Depending on the external conditions and the density of the gas, the rate of movement of its molecules can increase, tens of times higher than the wind speed during powerful hurricanes.
In the room, oxygen from the air binds to fuel, in the very gassed volume a zone of very discharged air is formed. At the time of ignition, the pressure drops almost instantly, due to which air rushes to the discharged epicenter in a single wave.
At the epicenter of the explosion, the air becomes too dense and rushes back to the periphery, forming a shockwave. Since the volume of the room is quite limited, as well as the volume of air involved in detonation, the force of the shock wave becomes incredibly destructive
In fact, gas detonation is possible when the methane concentration in the room is at the level of 5.3 - 14%.And for propane-butane, the range from 1.5 to 10% is explosive. If the concentration of explosive gas exceeds the upper limit, then ignition occurs instead of an explosion, which is no less dangerous for consumers.
What to do with a gas leak?
If the room smells strongly of gas, then a completely natural reaction of the average man is panic. And in this state, it’s difficult to immediately figure out where to call and what to do if the apartment smells of gas.
But, given the information presented above, it becomes clear that the leak detector needs to perform two main actions that prevent the detonation of fuel: prevent sparksthat could trigger an explosion and minimize gas concentration in room.
To realize these vital tasks, you need to remain calm and take the following steps.
- Turn off all gas appliances and shut off the gas supply by the tap, if possible.
- Open windows to allow air to flow in and gas out. A strong draft is the main weapon against gas pollution, so you need to open the frames not only in the room where the leak occurred, but also in rooms located in the opposite part of the apartment.
- Leave the house and, being in the entrance, turn off the power to the apartment by turning off the power in the shield.
- Call the emergency gas service by number 104 or 04 or by a single emergency call number - 112.
Through these measures, listen to yourself and control your own condition.
If you just went into the porch and heard the smell of gas, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the detailed algorithm of actions for gas leakage in the porch.
Gas poisoning can lead to loss of consciousness, so try to breathe less of the gas in the air and leave the room as soon as possible.
To prevent the formation of a fatal spark, you need to know what absolutely can not be done if you smell the gas.
These manipulations will help reduce the level of gas concentration in the apartment:
- Do not use matches or a lighter in or near a gasified room.
- Do not turn on the lights and appliances.
- Do not turn off already running appliances. The spark is produced at the moment of beginning of the current supply and at the moment of termination. Therefore, pulling the plug of a working TV from a power outlet in a room with a gas leak is a completely dangerous act. An already burning light bulb will provoke an explosion with less probability.
- If the place where the leak formed is burning, in no case try to extinguish the flame.
- Do not attempt to locate a leak yourself. Firstly, this will not work, since the gas service should be involved in network restoration and accident prevention. Secondly, being in an apartment at this moment is dangerous.
It is also important not to call the hotline from the polluted housing: the operation of a mobile or landline telephone can also become a source of spark. Use your smartphone already on the street.
It is important to install gas leak detectors in rooms where gas equipment is used. Such a sensor will notify homeowners of an accident before the gas concentration reaches dangerous values.
If people are unconscious in the apartment, the algorithm of actions will be slightly different. Speed remains vital: no one should stay indoors for a long time.
Remember that methane is not too toxic. However, when it ignites, carbon monoxide is formed, the poisoning of which is very dangerous and can lead to death.
The algorithm for action in the presence of victims of unconsciousness is as follows:
- Before entering the apartment, while on the landing, take a full chest of air and hold your breath.
- Enter the housing and do not close the front door.
- Open the windows, and then quickly take the victim out of the apartment.In the cold season, warm clothes may remain in the hallway; try to grab the victim’s outer clothing with you.
- Take the loved one out of the entrance, call the emergency gas service and an ambulance for the loved one. Resuscitate if necessary.
- If there is a strong smell of gas in the staircase, open the front door and windows. If the latter do not open, they can be broken to create the necessary level of traction to accelerate the gas outlet to the outside.
- If someone else remains in the apartment, take a breath and, having maxed out in the lungs of air, return for a relative.
Helping a dear person, do not forget about yourself. If you feel unwell and lose consciousness, immediately leave the apartment, entrusting the salvation of a loved one to professionals.
In an unconscious state, you cannot help anyone and only exacerbate the tragedy without having time to notify the emergency service of what happened.
Safe use of gas equipment
It is easier to prevent an irreparable situation than to survive its consequences. Sometimes, carelessness and negligence become the causes of death.
It is necessary to provide access to the apartment to gas service specialists who must check the condition of equipment and main pipes annually
Therefore, it is so important to observe basic safety rules when operating any gas equipment.
- Repair, adjustment and modification of gas equipment can only be entrusted to a certified specialist. Independent intervention in the operation of devices is unacceptable.
- Any malfunction of the equipment is the reason to refuse to operate it until the breakdown is completed by the representative of the gas company with whom you have a maintenance contract.
- A gas pipe brought into an apartment cannot be used as a fixture. Even a clothesline tied to a trunk can cause a gas leak.
- The ventilation system is the key to the safety of all households. Regularly check the level of traction and inform the appropriate services if it has dropped.
- Restrict children’s access to gas equipment.
- Do not leave working equipment unattended.
- Do not use a stove burner or oven as a heating source.
- Keep the burners clean, clean them regularly from combustion products.
- When using gas cylinders, observe the requirements for their placement and operation.
- Always close the gas valve if you plan to be away for a long time.
To timely detect a leak, you should not rely only on your own sense of smell.
Installing a gas alarm or gas leak detector will help to detect gas leakage in the initial stages and contact the emergency service in time.
Briefly about the actions during the leak and the symptoms of gas poisoning are stated in the video from the Department of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia:
The timely detection of domestic gas leaks and the correct actions in the process of liquidating an accident are the key to ending the incident without casualties and serious damage.
Do not neglect the safety rules for the operation of gas appliances, periodically ventilate the premises and always provide gas workers with access to housing to conduct a routine inspection of equipment and the ventilation system. Remember that not only your life and health, but also those around you depend on your consciousness..
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