Safe
Handling of Dry Ice
Caution:
Keep Dry Ice away from children if they cannot be closely supervised at
all times.
HANDLING
Dry Ice temperature is
extremely cold at -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Always handle Dry Ice with care
and wear protective cloth or leather gloves whenever touching it. An oven
mitt or towel will work. If touched briefly it is harmless, but prolonged
contact with the skin will freeze cells and cause injury similar to a
burn.
BURN TREATMENT
Treat Dry Ice burns the
same as a regular heat burns. See a doctor if the skin blisters or comes
off. Otherwise if only red it will heal in time as any other burn. Apply
antibiotic ointment to prevent infection and bandage only if the burned
skin area needs to be protected.
STORAGE
Store Dry Ice in an
insulated container. The thicker the insulation, the slower it will
sublimate. Do not store Dry Ice in a completely airtight container. The
sublimation of Dry Ice to Carbon Dioxide gas will cause any airtight
container to expand or possibly explode. Keep proper air ventilation
wherever Dry Ice is stored. Do not store Dry Ice in unventilated rooms,
cellars, autos or boat holds. The sublimated Carbon Dioxide gas will sink
to low areas and replace oxygenated air. This could cause suffocation if
breathed exclusively. Do not store Dry Ice in a refrigerator freezer. The
extremely cold temperature will cause your thermostat to turn off the
freezer. It will keep everything frozen in the freezer but it will be used
up at a faster rate. It is the perfect thing if your refrigerator breaks
down in an emergency.
VENTILATION
If Dry Ice has been in a
closed auto, van, room, or walk-in, for more than 15 minutes, open doors
and allow adequate ventilation before entering. Leave area containing Dry
Ice if you start to pant and breath quickly. This is the sign that you
have breathed in too much CO2
and not enough oxygen. Dry Ice CO2
is heavier than air and will accumulate in low spaces. Do not enter closed
storage areas that have or have had Dry Ice before airing out completely.
PICK-UP
TIME AND TRANSPORTING
Plan
to pick up the Dry Ice as close to the time it is needed as possible. It
sublimates at 10%, or 5 to 10 pounds every 24 hours, whichever is greater.
Carry it in a well-insulated container such as an ice chest. If it is
transported inside a car or van for more than 15 minutes make sure there
is fresh air. After 15 minutes with Dry Ice only in its paper bag in the
passenger seat next to me, I started to breathe faster and faster as
though I were running a race. I couldn't figure out why I was so out of
breath until I saw the car air system was set in the re-circulated
position, not fresh outside air.
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