NORTH BAY — Forget all those rumours about hand sanitizer bottles bursting into flame inside hot vehicles. North Bay Fire Chief Jason Whiteley says it won't happen.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer has received considerable attention as a way of helping to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and so have claims that containers of sanitizer will catch fire or spontaneously combust if left in a hot vehicle.
"Engineers with the Office of the Fire Marshal Investigations Services have looked into this concern and advise that the rate of vapour leakage from a personal container of hand sanitizer left in a hot vehicle would not result in sufficient vapour density to fall within flammable limits in air," says Whiteley. "This supports information posted by the National Fire Protection Association that says it is not unsafe to leave hand sanitizer in a hot vehicle."
If you are keeping hand sanitizer in your car, North Bay Fire and Emergency Services suggest that containers should be kept in an upright position and properly sealed to avoid spillage. As an added precaution, containers of hand sanitizers left in a vehicle should be kept out of direct sunlight to avoid leakage from over-pressurization of the container.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is flammable and may give off flammable vapours which could ignite if exposed to open flame or an ignition source.
"Caution should be used to keep away from open flames and avoid sources of heat; and it is imperative that users read and follow directions and warnings on the labels," warns Whiteley. "When using hand sanitizer, hands should be rubbed together until they are completely dry. People should be especially careful if attempting to smoke, light candles, or use a gas stove immediately after applying hand sanitizer."
