Why Safety Measures are Essential for Dry Ice Storage and Handling
Safety measures and precautions are vital when handling or using dry ice, both for your safety and the safety of everyone around you.
Dry ice is a versatile material with many practical and entertaining uses. It is fascinating to play and experiment with it. Dry ice is essentially safe, but like most chemicals, it is not all fun and games. Safety measures and precautions are vital when handling or using dry ice, for your safety and the safety of everyone around you.
Safe Handling
Dry ice is especially useful because it is chilled at negative 109.3 degrees, to be exact. Touching anything this cold with bare skin can lead to very severe freeze burns and frostbite, depending on how long your skin is in contact with it. Never hold or touch dry ice without gloves, and wear insulated gloves if you can. You should also keep dry ice out of reach of kids and pets so they don’t accidentally touch it. Finally, dry ice should not be used in food or drink where it might accidentally be swallowed. Ingestion of dry ice can cause serious injury and you should seek immediate medical help if you accidentally ingest it.
Safe Storing
Dry ice sublimates instead of melting, which means that it converts directly from a solid state to a gaseous state. When storing dry ice, you should use an insulated but not airtight container. The insulation will help slow the rate of sublimation so that your dry ice lasts longer. The storage container should allow some of the CO2 gas that results from the sublimation process to escape, however. If the container is airtight, the gas will build up until the container expands and maybe even explodes.
Safe Ventilation
CO2 is a normal and safe part of the air we breathe, but only at certain levels. When CO2 builds up in the air, it can cause people to suffer from shortness of breath and even suffocation. Dry ice should never be used in an enclosed environment, and if it stored somewhere closed up (like a car or walk-in fridge) for more than 10 minutes, you should air out the area before entering. If you’re working with or transporting dry ice and you start to feel lightheaded, leave the area for 10-15 minutes to clear the CO2 from your system.
Dry Ice for All of Your Needs
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our dry ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.
FOLLOW ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHEN TRANSPORTING, USING OR STORING DRY ICE! DRY ICE IS HARMFUL IF EATEN OR SWALLOWED! IF INGESTED, SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY! NEVER PUT DRY ICE INTO ANY FOOD, DRINKS OR LIQUIDS THAT MIGHT BE INGESTED BY HUMANS OR ANIMALS!
