“Mom, do you recognize me?” “It’s your daughter, Dalingzi!” On January 8, 2016, Zhang Qin (pseudonym) finally recognized her daughter. Family members who had traveled from out of town gathered together, their eyes filled with tears of joy as they looked upon their loved one, now on the road to recovery—tears that also eased the sorrow that had weighed on them for days.

　　The story begins on December 31 last year. At 4 p.m., Zhang Qin went to visit her husband, who works as a warehouse keeper near Qilinmen in Nanjing. Because of the cold weather, the warehouse staff used wood scraps to light fires and make charcoal for warmth. That evening, the elderly couple moved the brazier into their living quarters to keep warm. Before going to bed, her father, who was suffering from a severe cold, spoke on the phone with his son.

　　The next morning, the logistics company arrived at the warehouse to pick up the goods. The telephone operator did not answer, and the company continued trying to reach him without success. It was not until 7:00 p.m. that evening that company personnel discovered Zhang Qin lying unconscious on the bed at the elderly couple’s residence, while her husband had collapsed by the doorway, showing no signs of life. A brazier stood just outside the door; apparently, in an attempt to escape carbon monoxide poisoning, he had tried to open the door and call for help but, overcome by weakness, had collapsed on the floor.

　　120 emergency responders swiftly transported the critically ill Zhang Qin to a major hospital in Nanjing for life-saving treatment. At 3:30 a.m. on January 2, with no improvement, she was urgently transferred to the China Brain Resuscitation Treatment Center at Nanjing Zijin Hospital for continued care. Just half an hour later, she was admitted to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber equipped with ICU-level capabilities.

　　The following day, given the patient’s critical condition, President Wang Peidong personally convened a multidisciplinary consultation. Renowned hyperbaric oxygen therapy expert, Director Zhang Xuzhong, formulated a hyperbaric oxygen treatment protocol and continuously refined the therapeutic plan in response to the evolving clinical course.

　　On January 5, after three days of intensive treatment primarily involving hyperbaric oxygen therapy and meticulous nursing care, the patient entered a minimally conscious state, indicating that full consciousness was just around the corner. By January 8, the heartwarming scene described above had unfolded.

　　Using charcoal for heating with doors and windows closed is the most common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning. As winter approaches, remember to stay warm while prioritizing safety.