However, a few citizen journalists on social media were dubious of the bizarre claim, asking the WLFD to provide hard evidence of spontaneous hand sanitizer combustion. Facebook users responded to WLFD’s warning and use of the image with similar disbelief and outrage. Guy Colonna, NFPA senior director of technical services, addressed confusion surrounding WLFD’s warning and photo. The post warns that leaving alcohol-based sanitizers in clear bottles in cars can lead to the sanitizer heating up in warm weather and exploding. “Despite some information currently being released on social media and in the news, the short answer is no,” Verzoni wrote. “By its nature, most hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and therefore flammable,” the fire … There's a hidden risk with keeping hand sanitizer in your car to help protect against COVID-1 9 and … This story has been shared 192,086 times. Just when you thought you were playing it safe. “And particularly being next to open flame while smoking in vehicles or grilling while enjoying this weekend----can lead to disaster.”. Hand sanitizer is flammable and burns quite easily if it’s ignited, but it can’t catch a car on fire if left inside the vehicle during a hot day, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). 2020/04/27 | Brazil. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Additionally I did find some stories that claimed hand sanitizers would lose their effectiveness if left in a hot car. This photo, shared by the Western Lakes Fire District in Oconomowoc, shows the aftermath of a car fire involving hand sanitizer. And Meyers, ever the investigator (apparently), did just that — after digging for an undisclosed amount of time through comments on fire hazard videos. “Did you know that you 'Should Not' leave hand sanitizer in your cars that could get over 70 degrees!” Cathy Pagendarm posted on Facebook May 19. Western Lakes Fire District in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, fueled the online confusion when it posted a similar claim and identical photo on May 21. This story has been shared 192,086 times. “Keeping it in your car during hot weather, exposing it to sun causing magnification of light through the bottle — and particularly being next to open flame while smoking in vehicles or grilling while enjoying this weekend — can lead to disaster,” they explained. “You should edit the image that you used, which was not caused by hand sanitizer, and adjust your 'warning.'”. May 22, 2020 | 11:34am | Updated May 22, 2020 | 3:53pm. Meyers continued, “I’ve found stories of bottles that swelled and ‘exploded’ (due to pressure, not combustion) that were in hot cars, but nothing about bottles of hand sanitizers spontaneously combusting. Thank you for supporting our journalism. For it to spontaneously combust with no other, external ignition source other than self-heating alone, you’d have to reach over 700 degrees F!”. That report noted that the temperature inside a car would have to approach 600 degrees Fahrenheit to cause hand sanitizer to explode. “We thankfully have not and are doing our best to keep it that way,” WLFD responded to the comment. “This is fake I have kept hand sanitizer in my car for years and almost all my coworkers do the same,” one user commented. Wisconsin fire fighters deleted a warning that hand sanitizer could explode if left in hot cars after it went viral recently and apologized for causing "confusion." Home A video of a car on fire. "Hand sanitiser is very important in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, therefore it is is essential we debunk this myth. Leaving hand sanitizer in your vehicle on a hot day will not cause a fire, despite circulating claims from several reports online. Terms of Use OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – A Wisconsin fire department has issued an alert about keeping hand sanitizer inside vehicles. Recommended to you based on your activity and what's popular • Feedback Roy Wilsher, NFCC Chair said: "We want to reassure people that this product will not combust if left in a car - even on the hottest day. 43,420, © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved The first responders, who use their social-media presence to educate their community on common fire hazards, added that clear water bottles also pose an explosion risk. “While infrequent, there have been cases in the recent past were reflecting light placed through a clear bottle was able to focus onto a combustible surface and cause a fire,” WFLD wrote. On May 22, NFPA published another video to debunk alcohol-based hand sanitizer car fire claims. NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code sets guidelines for safe storage. Cathy Pagendarm, Quanta Services Inc. and WLFD have not responded to USA TODAY's requests for comment. One user asked WLFD if they’d ever responded to an ABHS car fire. Don't leave hand sanitizer in hot cars 01:48. Pagendarm posted a photo of a flyer titled “Safety Alert: Risk of Leaving Hand Sanitizer in Hot Vehicles,” which depicted an image of a burnt car door and the specialty contractor company Quanta Services Inc. logo. The Western Lakes Fire District of Oconomowoc, WI, took to social media to spread the warning that hand sanitizers have the potential to catch on fire when left in a warm car. A fire department in Wisconsin is issuing a warning on the dangers of leaving hand sanitizers inside the car during a hot day. Privacy Notice A further study, Poynter noted, found hand sanitizer would need to reach a temperature of approximately 300 degrees to combust, while vehicles, which can … Dr Hilary Jones has played down fears that hand sanitiser could cause car fires amid the current UK heatwave. In the caption, it says that alcohol-based hand sanitizer caused the fire. Storing hand sanitizer in a car for more than a few hours can lead the alcohol to evaporate, which can make it less effective. The flyer described a car fire involving a 250ml container of ABHS and urged readers not to make the same mistake. warns about leaving hand sanitizer in your car on a warm day, sparking controversy Hand sanitizer and face masks are set out as church goers return to in … ‘The alcohol hand sanitiser is becoming heated resulting in flammable vapours being released. In the YouTube comments, a viewer asked if ABHS could spontaneously combust in a hot car. “From a fire safety standpoint, it is not unsafe to leave hand sanitizer inside a hot vehicle.”. “But you shouldn’t be leaving it in the car indefinitely.”. Dr. Greg Boyce, Florida Gulf Coast University department of chemistry and physics associate professor, said hand sanitizer should not be kept in a car for more than a few hours during a March 26 interview with ABC. To recap: Yes, hand sanitizer can explode in a hot car — if it’s as hot as a commercial pizza oven. Firefighters say, under the right conditions, it could cause a fire. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. “Using a hand sanitizer is a suitable alternative to hand-washing when protecting yourself from things like COVID-19 and that’s way more important than worrying about your hands spontaneously combusting,” NFPA staff writer Angelo Verzoni said in the video. Leave your hand sanitizer in a hot car and your vehicle’s interior could end up a fire scene. The National Fire Chiefs Council confirmed that "hand sanitiser kept in cars do not pose a fire risk", after NHS bosses issued a warning to staff. Godspeed! Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-fire-department-hand-sanitizer-cars “This is a TOTALLY irresponsible post,” one wrote. The Western Lakes Fire District in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, posted a photo of a burnt car door on Facebook, cautioning people not to leave hand sanitizer in … SUBSCRIBE NOW $1 for 3 months. WFLD warned about the effects of exposed flames and sun magnification with ABHS, although it had not seen any incidents with ABHS before. Watch the stinging moment when a 7-Eleven employee in Bangkok... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Although leaving small amounts of ABHS in your car does not pose a significant fire risk, it should not be kept in vehicles because high temperatures can lower its disinfectant ability. "Hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol has a flash point of 21 deg C. "The photo below is from hand sanitizer igniting in a hot vehicle that reached 35 deg C. inside the vehicle… “I hate these fear creating posts,” another wrote. Colonna stressed that because most ABHS containers are small, extreme heat is more likely to burn away the alcohol and make the containers leak than ignite a fire. “We thankfully have not and are doing our best to keep it that way,” the fire department wrote. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged the low threat of ABHS fires and released guidelines for safe storage in health care facilities. Warning issued about COVID-19 vaccine after patients suffer reaction, The spy who shagged 'em: Suspected Chinese agent reportedly slept with, courted pols, NYC Chipotle besieged by rats feasting on avocados, biting employees, Man on trial for killing schoolboy who threatened to reveal 'intimate' relationship, Grinding to a halt: 'Highest-earning sex worker’ sues over lost wages. “While we never made the claim that the photo utilized was from our district or from an exploding container of hand sanitizer, it has become clear that that inference and speculation made is seem as though it was,” WFLD wrote. “We would also champion you searching your most trusted and enjoyed sources for more information,” they added in a later response. Your California Privacy Rights “By its nature, most hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and therefore flammable. Fire dept. Claiming the WLFD has an “ethical duty” to back up this claim, Meyers and others had finally goaded a response. Keep it away from recognized ignition sources, but I don’t think the contents sitting in a car is what we should be concerned about.”. “If you want it to remain effective, in terms of killing the virus or bacteria, you wouldn’t want to keep it in your car anyways,” Verzoni said. Otherwise, it’s safe to be sanitary this summer, drivers. Fire brigade bosses have rubbished claims that bottles of hand sanitiser could catch fire if they are left in hot cars. © 2020 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. “You should be aware of this material being flammable and handle it appropriately. ", ABC 7, "Experts say hand sanitizer should not be left in your car". They included a link to the National Fire Protection Association’s YouTube video with more warnings on hand sanitizer combustion. The WLFD has since redacted its stance that alcohol-based hand sanitizers could ignite in a hot car. The Western Lakes Fire District of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, shared an explosive photograph Thursday as a warning to all you motorists trying to be hyper-vigilant about the coronavirus this summer. Verzoni also warned that storing large amounts of hand sanitizer, more than 5 gallons, poses a significant fire risk. In the last week, their viral Facebook post has been shared more than 6,500 times. The post linked to an April 17 YouTube video from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) titled “Fire safety considerations for hand sanitizer,” which says hand sanitizer … The vapors generated at the flashpoint of hand sanitizer discussed in this video still require an ignition source (like a flame from a candle) to cause the vapors being released by the liquid to ignite. 51,621, This story has been shared 46,020 times. Local I-57 31 mins ago As summer arises and the coronavirus pandemic continues, concerns about the flammability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) are flooding the internet. “And from the cited youtube video comments,” he followed up alongside a screenshot, a question to the National Fire Protection Association from one Ken K. “Say my car is sitting in the hot sun in the summer, should I be worried if my hand sanitizer is in the glove box, can it spontaneously combust just from heat?”, The NFPA responded, “Thanks for your question, Ken! Claim: A bottle of hand sanitizer will spontaneously combust if left in a hot car. Wisconsin Fire Department Post Warns About Leaving Sanitizers in the Car. According to the National Fire Protection Association, hand sanitizer would have to be heated to temperatures above 700 degrees Fahrenheit to ignite. We rate the claim that alcohol-based hand sanitizer stored in hot cars can ignite FALSE because it is not supported by our research. Fact-checked by: Agência Lupa. For hand sanitiser to cause a fire it would need to come into contact with a spark. “The fire appeared to be caused by the owner’s small bottle of hand sanitizer that was left on the dashboard," the Waukegan Fire Department wrote on Facebook. One day after a bottle of hand sanitizer caused a family's car to go up in flames in suburban Waukegan, the fire department is warning the public to … Hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol has a flash point of 21 deg C. The photo below is from hand sanitizer igniting in a hot vehicle that reached 35 deg C. inside the vehicle.” Facebook user, 19 May 2020 Although alcoholic hand sanitisers are potentially flammable, there would need to be a spark to start a fire at temperatures this low. “Please quote your sources,” echoed Sara Morgan. That’s not a temperature your car’s cabin … “If you are running errands and want to keep it in the car, that’s fine,” Boyce said. FALSE: A video of a car on fire. Hand sanitizers use either ethyl or isopropyl alcohol as the basis for their formulas. “Although the incidence of fires related to ABHS is very low, it is vital that ABHS is stored safely and that bulk dispensers are installed and maintained correctly,” its website says. WLFD linked National Fire Protection Association’s April 17 video “Fire safety considerations for hand sanitizer” to their post. “For it to spontaneously combust with no other, external ignition source other than self-heating alone, you’d have to reach over 700 degrees F!” NFPA wrote on May 21. The nonprofit National Fire Protection Association which provides training and standards for firefighters says that hand sanitizer can be a dangerous material. After responding to the incident, officials said the fire was caused by hand sanitizer left in a hot vehicle and warned against keeping it in cars during the summer months. We've received your submission. 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Hand sanitizer probably won't spontaneously combust in a hot car, but there is a reason it's not a great idea to leave a bottle of it in your vehicle. “By its nature, most hand sanitizer is alcohol-based and therefore flammable,” the fire officials wrote on Facebook May 21, alongside a photo of a driver-side door interior that had been mangled and melted by hand sanitizer. ‘These vapours are reaching their “flash point” and … A small bottle of hand sanitizer left on the dashboard caused a small car fire Thursday in Waukegan, according to the Waukegan Fire Department. 46,020, This story has been shared 43,420 times. posted a similar claim and identical photo, Fire safety considerations for hand sanitizer, NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged the low threat of ABHS fires, posted a statement apologizing for the confusion, published another video to debunk alcohol-based hand sanitizer car fire claims, Western Lakes Fires District Facebook Post, National Fire Prevention Association, "Fire safety considerations for hand sanitizer", Center for Disease Control and Prevention, "Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings", Western Lakes Fire District Facebook Post, National Fire Prevention Association, "Can hand sanitizer spontaneously ignite in a hot car? You might be aware that plastic water bottles can become a fire hazard in your car due to direct sunlight. Your Ad Choices With the makeup of most alcohol-based hand sanitizers being made up of 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, the flashpoint is only around 63 or 64 degrees Fahrenheit. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Thanks for contacting us. (no mention of fire risk).”. 192,086, This story has been shared 51,621 times. So consider keeping your hand sanitizer in a cooler place for efficacy reasons—not in an effort to avoid a spontaneous car fire. Keeping it in your car during hot weather, exposing it to sun causing magnification of light through the bottle,” WLFD wrote. The National Fire Protection Association said in a … According to the National Fire Protection Association, the hand sanitizer would indeed have to reach up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit for it to catch fire without the presence of a flame or spark. “Additionally, there is a potential fire risk to storing hand sanitizer in your car. Others replied to Meyers’ query claiming they had parsed the links provided in the original Facebook post, but none pointed to proof of the hand sanitizer blast theory. “Has WLFD seen incidents of either of these two things happening?” asked Jeff Meyers. NFPA’s video describes how hand sanitizer is ignitable if met with a “viable ignition source” because of its 60% alcohol but does not mention the risk of car fires. The district claimed sanitizer could spontaneously combust if left in a hot car, but that is not true; the damage in the photo was caused by an existing fire that consumed a bottle of sanitizer. Leave your hand sanitizer in a hot car and your vehicle’s interior could end up a fire scene. Experts say alcohol-based hand sanitizer is flammable, but can only ignite if a flame is introduced. © 2020 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Zappos founder's dad, brother named estate administrators after fatal fire, Manhattan church resumes services online after fire destroys building, Massive NYC fire destroys historic church, California wildfire leads to evacuations as 4,000 acres burn, Driver's racing future in peril after posting 'abhorrent' groping video to Instagram, No drinking alcohol for two months after COVID-19 vaccine, Russia tells citizens, Nurse stops practicing after mocking COVID-19 rules on TikTok, Pornhub cracks down on illegal content following exposé, Inside Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner's new $23.5M Miami estate. WLFD later removed the warning and posted a statement apologizing for the confusion and clarifying that the image was not its own. 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Part by a grant From Facebook their formulas claim, Meyers and others had finally goaded a response ago! ” verzoni wrote it would need to come into contact with a spark the car during a hot day sanitizers! Fire it would need to come into contact with a spark user asked WLFD if they d... Viewer asked if ABHS could spontaneously combust in a hot car s fine, ” the fire in!