Final answer:
Carbon monoxide quickly reduces oxygen in the blood by binding to hemoglobin, preventing oxygen transport, which can cause severe health effects. It's treated with pure oxygen to displace carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO) is a threat for many burn patients because this gas quickly reduces the available oxygen in the blood. CO has a much greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, as a result, it binds preferentially to hemoglobin, which prevents oxygen from being transported throughout the body. The predominant health effect is due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), which reduces oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues, and at high levels can be fatal.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, vomiting, and confusion. In severe cases, it can cause loss of consciousness, seizures, and death. Treatment for such poisoning traditionally involves administering pure oxygen, as this helps to displace the carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing normal oxygen transport to resume.