They contain alcohol components which may catch fire when left in the sun.
The Abu Dhabi Police have issued fresh warnings about the dangers of leaving hand sanitisers inside vehicles.
The cops said hand sanitisers and gloves are flammable and if they are left under direct sunlight or kept inside vehicles for a long time during hot weather, they can catch fire.
“Sanitisers contain alcohol components that are flammable and shouldn’t be left inside cars. People should be careful and adhere to the requirements of fire safety,” said authorities.
The warning follows the daily use of the hand sanitisers by majority of people in the country as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“If sanitisers are exposed to the sun or high temperature when left inside the vehicles, it could lead to explosion and causing fire,” said police.
The force also urged drivers not to completely close the car windows, especially when parked directly under the sun.
Motorists were also told not to leave other flammable materials, such as perfume and lighters, inside vehicles.
Police advised families not to come near open flames in a kitchen immediately after using hand sanitisers.
Residents were also told to avoid exposing hand sanitisers and gloves to open flames, especially in the kitchens.
“Parents should educate children and other family members on the risks of sanitisers and how they should protect themselves while in the kitchens”, said the police.
How sanitisers can start a fire
Hand sanitisers that can deactivate the coronavirus have 70 per cent ethanol content – and this makes them flammable, according to Jude Medard, a safety, health and environment expert in the UAE.
“Generally, ethanol has a significantly lower boiling point and lower vapor pressure than water which means it evaporates much faster than water,” Medard told Khaleej Times.
On a very hot day, significant pressure could build up inside a bottle of hand sanitiser, causing the container to rupture but the result wouldn’t be a combustion-type scenario. “But if there is a source of ignition, like a naked flame or static electricity and the expelled material caught fire, that would cause a good deal of damage,” he said.
This is why the material safety data sheet (MSDS) of hand sanitisers will recommend that people store them in a cool and well-ventilated place, he added.
Don’t litter face masks and gloves on streets
Meanwhile, police have warned residents against dumping used face masks and gloves on the streets and at public facilities.
Abu Dhabi Police said some people also have a habit of throwing used masks and gloves out of the car windows, which is a violation of traffic laws. The masks and gloves also pose threat to public health and destroy the environment.
“The masks and gloves that have been used are contaminated and may lead to the spread of diseases,” police said, adding that people should have good manners and avoid such bad behaviour in order to protect the environment.
Officers said people caught dumping waste such as masks and gloves on roads would face a Dh1,000 fine and six traffic points.
