Dry Ice Safety Guide
Emergency Procedures (In Case of Injury):
Frostbite: If dry ice comes into contact with skin and causes frostbite:
-
-
- Do NOT rub the affected area.
- Immerse the affected area in lukewarm (not hot!) water 37 – 40 degress for 10-15 minutes.
- If blistering or skin damage occurs, seek immediate medical attention.
-
Inhalation (CO2 Exposure): If you experience symptoms like rapid breathing, headache, dizziness, or confusion while around dry ice, immediately move to fresh air. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention.
Safety Guide
Handling dry ice requires significant care due to its extremely low temperature and the gas it releases. Following these safety procedures to prevent injury:
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Insulated Gloves: ALWAYS wear thick, insulated gloves (like heavy-duty work gloves, cryogenic gloves, or oven mitts) when handling dry ice. Never touch dry ice with bare skin. Direct contact can cause severe frostbite, similar to a burn. Thin latex or nitrile gloves offer no protection.
Eye Protection: Wear safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from any small fragments or “fog” that might irritate them.
Long Sleeves and Pants/Closed-Toe Shoes: Cover exposed skin to reduce the risk of accidental contact.
2. Ventilation is Key:
Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Dry ice sublimates, meaning it turns directly into carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. CO2 is heavier than air and can displace oxygen, leading to asphyxiation (suffocation) in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Avoid Confined Spaces: Never use or store dry ice in small, sealed rooms, walk-in coolers, refrigerators, freezers, or even tightly sealed vehicles without adequate ventilation.
Cool and Well-Ventilated Location: Store the vented container in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
3. Storage
Vented Containers: Store dry ice in an insulated container that is NOT airtight. A standard foam cooler or a specialized dry ice cooler is ideal, as they allow the CO2 gas to escape.
Never Seal: Do NOT store dry ice in a tightly sealed container (like a glass jar with a screw-top lid, plastic bottles, or sealed plastic bags). As the dry ice sublimates, the accumulating CO2 gas will build up immense pressure, which can cause the container to rupture or explode violently, leading to serious injury.
Cool and Well-Ventilated Location: Store the vented container in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
4. Handling Best Practices:
Use Tongs or Scoop: When possible, use tongs, a scoop, or a towel to move dry ice, minimizing direct handling even with gloves.
Don’t Eat or Drink: Never put dry ice in your mouth or ingest it. It can cause severe internal frostbite. Do not add dry ice directly to drinks unless it is specifically designed for beverage chilling (e.g., specialized “smoking” swizzle sticks that contain the dry ice).
Supervise Children: If dry ice is being used for a demonstration or effect around children, ensure constant adult supervision and explain the safety rules clearly.
5. Disposal:
Avoid Damaging Plumbing: Never dispose of dry ice down a sink, toilet, or drain. The extreme cold can cause pipes to crack or burst.
Sublimate Naturally: The safest way to dispose of unused dry ice is to place it in an open, well-ventilated area (like outdoors or in a garage with an open door) and allow it to sublimate (turn into gas) naturally.
Do Not Trash: Do not put dry ice in the regular trash, as it can pose a hazard to sanitation workers and potentially damage waste containers.
High Quality Dry Ice
US OXO Dry Ice delivers reliable, high-quality dry ice solutions tailored to your business’s requirements.