Publication:

Suffocation due to irrespirable gases in confined spaces: accidental deaths of rescuers

Oxygen-reduced atmosphere or irrespirable gases in confined spaces causes a loss of consciousness and immediate death. Some cases of suffocation in confined spaces due to a reduction of oxygen in the respired atmosphere have occurred, for example an advertising balloon filled with pure helium gas, underground drainage system with hydrogen sulfide, large reactor vessel in pharmaceutical plant with nitrogen etc. This paper reports here a rare case wherein four persons died of suffocation due to irrespirable gases in a water sump, and further it also recommends some measures to prevent such tragedies.