Dry Ice in the Car

Remember this esp when we 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 pack of ice cream and to prevent it from melting,

the seller put the dry ice amongst the ice cream. My friend put it at

the back seat (not the back of the car) and he started to drive with the

windows closed and the aircon on (as what we all do). Soon after that,

he had difficulty to breath and it was getting worser 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 can breathe easily. Only later, when my friend has

returned to office and told his colleagues about his story, they pointed

to him that the dry ice was the problem. WHY?

Dry ice was made of CO2 and when it "melts", it becomes CO2 gas straight

away 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

con circulation and caused CO2 poisoning. So, dont put the dry ice

inside your car if you are using aircon with fully closed windows. You

must leave the windows open for such situation.