Remember this, especially when you buy lots of ice cream
during Baskin Robbins' 31st day offer!!!
They normally put dry ice in your ice cream pack if you
buy a lot. A friend bought four packs of ice cream and to
prevent it from melting, the seller put the dry ice
amongst the ice cream.
The friend put it at the back seat (not at the back of the
car boot) and he started to drive with the windows closed
and the air-cond on (as what we all do).
Soon after that, he had difficulty breathing and it was
getting worse by minutes. Luckily, he was in a traffic jam
and when he almost fainted, beside him was an
ambulance. He dragged himself to the ambulance and got
the oxygen treatment. He was getting better on the way
to the hospital.
The ambulance officer drove his car to the hospital and
he had the same experience. However, before his
condition worsen, he opened up the window and he could
breathe easily.
Only later when the friend returned to his office and told
his colleague about his story, they pointed out to him
that the dry ice was the problem.
WHY?
Dry ice is made of CO2 and when it "MELTS", it becomes
CO2 gas straightaway without leaving any wet mark. That
is why it is called dry ice. CO2 is easier to be tied up in
our blood and thus, when the dry ice sublimes into CO2
gas, it fills the car room with it along with the air-cond
circulation and caused CO2 poisoning.
So, don't put the dry ice inside your car if you are using
air-cond with fully closed windows. You must leave the
windows open for such situation.
Hope this will help prevent any fatality just from a small
negligence like this. Imagine if you have your children
inside, they might likely be the first victim.