This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
On June 24, 2020, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) issued a warning to its citizens about the potential fire hazard posed by hand sanitizers left in hot cars.
The warning was prompted by a series of viral social media posts claiming that hand sanitizers were responsible for burnt cars. According to the NHS, the warm weather can cause the alcohol in the hand sanitizer to evaporate, releasing flammable vapors that can ignite and cause fires inside cars.
Additionally, pressure can build up inside the bottle, forcing it to rupture and explode. The NHS advised citizens to avoid leaving hand sanitizers in their cars, especially during warm weather.
Similar incidents were reported in the UK this summer, and the warning comes as a precautionary measure to prevent further accidents.
As reported by the Illinois fire department in the USA, a bottle of hand sanitizer with high alcohol content helped spark a fire in a parked car. The department posted photos on Facebook showing the melted dashboard and black soot covering the windshield.
