The Cologne fire department strongly advises party guests to see a doctor

 

On the night of Saturday, May 18th, a partygoer called the fire department's emergency number at 1:47 a.m. because her friend had suddenly collapsed. The control center dispatched an ambulance and an emergency medical vehicle to an operation site located at an old fortification and bunker complex.

As soon as they entered the location, the carbon monoxide warning device carried by the emergency services personnel triggered an alarm and showed a massively increased CO value in the surrounding air. This reading represents an imminent threat to the life of anyone in the area.

Since around 50 to 100 people were still in the premises at the time, the emergency services on site arranged for the property to be evacuated immediately and reported the situation back to the control center.

In view of the extent of the danger and the feared high number of affected or sick people, additional fire and rescue services, as well as the operations management service and the leading emergency doctor, were immediately dispatched.

All celebrants who were still on site when the emergency services arrived were medically examined. The preliminary examination of all people still on site showed that several participants complained of symptoms such as headaches, malaise and dizziness. Therefore, carbon monoxide measurements were carried out on site by the rescue service for everyone present. A total of 18 revelers were then taken to hospitals for treatment due to relevant carbon monoxide poisoning. One of those affected had to be transported to special treatment in a pressure chamber.

When searching for other partygoers in need of help who may have fled into the surrounding area or gotten lost after the arrival of the public order office and police, the fire brigade used a drone with a thermal imaging camera in addition to foot troops, but did not find any other people.

Carbon monoxide poisoning that is not treated medically can lead to permanent brain and nerve damage and, in the short term, may even cause serious health problems such as seizures or impaired consciousness.

Therefore, the participants of the rave event who were no longer on site when the emergency services arrived and therefore could not be examined should definitely go to a hospital if they experience symptoms such as dizziness or sleepiness in the coming hours or days dial the emergency number 112. You should alert the hospital or emergency services that you may have carbon monoxide poisoning.