[Smoke poisoning. Inhalation injuries from remaining at the scene of a fire]

In 1987, 87 persons died in Denmark as the result of fires. Fifteen of these occurred after arson. The commonest immediate cause of death in connection with fire is smoke inhalation. The pathophysiology of smoke inhalation is reviewed. The injurious effects on health may be subdivided into three different groups, viz thermal injuries to the respiratory passages, hypoxia and carbon monoxide poisoning and the toxic effects on the pulmonary parenchyma of various compounds (particles, gases and steam) which develop from the burning materials in the process of burning. After this, the symptomatology and treatment of smoke inhalation are reviewed. Treatment is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Finally, the various fire-extinguishing agents employed to extinguish fires at present are reviewed. Some of these have potentially injurious effects.