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Do not use in closed rooms: grill (symbol picture)
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Seven tenants of an apartment building in Kamen, North Rhine-Westphalia, have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.
The four adults between 20 and 44 years and three children between three and six years had to be brought to clinics by ambulance, as the police in Unna announced on Sunday.
According to initial investigations, a resident is said to have barbecued in the hallway on Saturday evening.
At first, the police could not find out who had lit the charcoal grill.
The alleged perpetrator must have had access to the house, a police spokeswoman told SPIEGEL on Sunday.
An investigation into negligent bodily harm has been launched.
Carbon monoxide poisoning hazard
Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that is produced during combustion processes and can accumulate in dangerous concentrations in closed rooms.
The police, fire brigade and experts therefore repeatedly warn against barbecuing in closed rooms.
Defective or inadequately maintained heating systems, gas boilers or exhaust air ducts are also among the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning.
When poisoned by carbon monoxide, there is a massive lack of oxygen in the body.
Depending on the concentration, the consequences include headache, palpitations, nausea, apathy, shortness of breath and, in the worst case, death.
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