Toufeeq Ilahee
toufeeqreads@gmail.com
As winter settles in and the cold starts biting through our streets and neighbourhoods, most families do what comes naturally, they shut every window, pull the curtains tight, and try to keep as much warmth indoors as possible. It feels comforting, even necessary. But what many don’t realise is that this simple habit can quietly create serious risks inside the home.
Why Ventilation Matters More Than We Think
When a house stays sealed for long hours, all the moisture from cooking, bathing, and even breathing has nowhere to escape. It starts collecting on cold walls and window panes. Over days and weeks, this dampness slowly turns into mould patches and that mould isn’t just an eyesore. Doctors warn that it can trigger allergies, worsen asthma, cause breathing troubles, and in severe cases lead to long-term health issues.
Add to this the problem of low indoor temperatures. Once a room drops below 18°C, the body has to work harder to stay warm. Cold, damp, and poorly ventilated homes put pressure on the heart and lungs, leaving people more vulnerable to infections and worsening existing illnesses.
And then comes the greatest danger of all i.e unsafe heating methods. In many homes, people try to beat the cold by lighting charcoal, using gas heaters, or relying on old and poorly maintained appliances. Without proper airflow, these can release carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that has no colour, no smell and no taste. Its nickname, “the silent killer,” exists for a reason: you often don’t realise it’s filling the room until it’s too late.
The Deadly Consequences Are Real
Sadly, we’ve already seen how devastating poor ventilation can be. In a recent incident, three young men lost their lives and a fourth barely survived after they spent the night in a shut room where a charcoal stove was burning. They wanted warmth – but with the doors and windows closed, toxic carbon monoxide built up inside and silently suffocated them in their sleep.
These tragedies aren’t rare. In colder areas, a dangerous mix of low temperatures, damp rooms, mould growth, and sealed-off heating arrangements has contributed to what experts now call “winter mortality.” People who live alone, the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic diseases are often the worst affected.
What Public Health Experts Recommend
Health experts have been raising alarms for years about the risks of living in cold and unventilated rooms. Yet many of these dangers can be avoided with simple steps:
* Allowing at least a little ventilation every day even cracking open a window for a few minutes helps replace stale indoor air.
* Never burn charcoal, wood, or any fuel-based heater in a closed room without a proper chimney or vent.
* Keep gas appliances serviced and, if possible, install a carbon-monoxide detector.
* Manage humidity indoors to stop mould growth before it starts.
* Be especially cautious with infants, elderly family members, and people with heart or lung conditions.
A Reminder as Winter Deepens
As temperatures continue to drop across our region, we need to remember that the danger inside our homes is not always the cold outside, it’s often what we trap indoors with us. A sealed room may feel warm, but it can quickly turn into a risky space if air isn’t allowed to circulate.
The heartbreaking deaths of those young men serve as a powerful reminder that carbon monoxide doesn’t warn its victims. It seeps in quietly, without sound or smell.
This winter, let’s treat ventilation as a basic necessity, not an inconvenience. A few minutes of fresh air, a safely used heater, and a bit of awareness can make the difference between a safe home and a silent tragedy.
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