The air conditioning in your car could potentially kill you! It isn’t just about the AC, but the car at large. Many of us are unaware of this, and the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department did a video that tries to explain how the car could silently kill you, and raise awareness.
In the video shared online, AMVI Saju Chandran explains the hazards of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning in cars. The phenomenon is becoming a common sight these days.
People tend to take naps inside parked cars and SUVs with windows rolled up and doors shut. This could lead to Carbon Monoxide poisoning and subsequent death of the occupants if the car is not well maintained.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Car: Quick Look At It
Carbon Monoxide is a byproduct that we cannot avoid in petrol, diesel and CNG cars. It is part of the tailpipe emissions. The difference, however, is in the amounts. Petrol and diesel cars produce more Carbon Monoxide than CNG vehicles- about 97% more CO!
In modern vehicles, a catalytic converter is used to reduce the Carbon Monoxide into Carbon Dioxide and water before being let out into the atmosphere. This makes for relatively cleaner tailpipe emissions.
The exhaust gasses are transferred from the engine to the catalytic converter through a metallic line with multiple joints and gaskets. In the event of an accident or due to ageing, this line could be damaged, leading to gas leaks. Removing or modifying the catalytic converter for a louder exhaust note will also lead to more ( and abnormal) CO emissions.
Now let us consider the case of sleeping or taking power naps inside a parked car, with air conditioning on. The car itself is not air-tight. Some amount of outside air always seeps into the cabin through various places.
If there is a leak anywhere in the exhaust pipe or a fault with the catalytic converter, a running engine would mean more CO emissions into the immediate surroundings. The engine would obviously be running, as the AC needs to function and we would hardly want to sleep in a hot, closed vehicle!
Now if the car is in a closed, isolated setting with limited atmospheric airflow, like a garage or a basement parking for instance, the exhaust gasses would soon fill the space. Sooner or later, it could seep into the cabin as well. If the AC is in the external circulation mode, this gas ingress would only be accelerated. The occupant would then be exposed to Carbon Monoxide.
What Happens When You’re Exposed To Carbon Monoxide?
If we inhale Carbon Monoxide in excess, it combines with Oxygen in the blood to form Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). It slows down the normal movement of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, leading to Carbon Monoxide poisoning. It could lead to the victim falling asleep/ unconscious and subsequently slipping into death. Inhaling CO in large amounts can cause serious tissue damage and death.
The most dangerous thing about this gas is that it doesn’t have an odour, taste or colour. It is almost impossible to detect its presence in most cases. The symptoms of Carbon Monoxide consumption are severe headache, weakness, dizziness, Nausea, blurred vision, and loss of muscle control. But in cases such as the one that we’re talking about, most of these symptoms are either ignored or not experienced, due to physical and mental exhaustion.
What To Do To Be Safe?
You can devise the following to be on the safer side, and avoid CO poisoning:
- When you choose to take a power nap, park the car in an open place with proper air circulation.
- Keep an eye on the health of your car’s exhaust system and the vehicle’s health at large.
- Seek immediate medical help if you get signs of CO poisoning.
