A bottle of hand sanitizer exploded in a car. (Western Lakes Fire District)

By David Opinko / with files from The Canadian Press

Leaving hand sanitizer in hot vehicles a fire risk; Alberta doctors

May 22, 2020 | 2:32 PM

EDMONTON – Doctors at Alberta Health Services (AHS) say people using hand sanitizer when they are out shouldn’t leave it in their cars for too long because it could lead to a fire.

The advice comes in a daily COVID-19 newsletter distributed to physicians, volunteers, and staff by AHS president Dr. Verna Yui and senior medical health officer Dr. Laura McDougall.

The City of Lethbridge chimed in on the issue as well with a statement by Chief Fire Marshal Heath Wright.

“Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have a very low flashpoint (temperature at which its vapors ignite if given an ignition source) due to the percentage of alcohol required in these products.”

Wright adds that the flashpoint for these products is typically around 20 degrees Celsius.

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AHS says handwashing with soap and warm water is still the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But they note that’s not always practical or possible when outside the home or in a workplace.

Wright is pleading with the public of the heightened risk of storing sanitizers in warm vehicles.

“Storing hand sanitizer in vehicles, especially in warmer temperatures, can increase the potential for ignition. Please ensure hand sanitizers are always stored in a cool, dry place.”

The National Fire Protection Association in the U.S. has made a video on the flammability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. You can watch that below:

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