If it is suspected that you have carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, you should move away from the possible source of the gas so that your symptoms can be assessed.
Consult your GP immediately if you think that you have CO poisoning. If you have mild CO poisoning, you will probably not have to go to hospital, but it is important that you still seek medical advice.
Standard oxygen therapy
If you have been exposed to a high amount of CO gas, you will be treated in hospital. You will be given 100% oxygen through a tight fitting mask (normal air contains around 21% oxygen).
Breathing in concentrated oxygen enables your body to replace carboxyhaemoglobin more quickly. You will continue to have oxygen therapy until your carboxyhaemoglobin levels decrease to a level that is below 10%.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that saturates (floods) the body with pure oxygen, helping it to overcome the oxygen shortage that is caused by CO poisoning.
There is currently insufficient evidence regarding the long-term effectiveness of HBOT for treating severe cases of CO poisoning. Therefore, standard oxygen therapy (as described above) is usually the recommended treatment option.
However, in certain situations, HBOT may be recommended. For example, it may be used in cases of extensive CO exposure and if nerve damage is suspected. The decision to carry out this treatment will be decided on a case by case basis.
