Bang! The toilet exploded! The man suffered extensive burns! Many people have this thing at home...

"Bang!"

There was a loud bang

An explosion occurred in the toilet of Mr. Lin’s home in Zhangzhou, Fujian!

What's more serious is

His face and neck were extensively burned!

So, what is going on?

How can we prevent it?

According to the attending doctor:

Mr. Lin was using a drain cleaner to unclog the toilet when the sewer burst accidentally. He went to the hospital two days after the injury. At that time, his entire face and neck were covered with burn wounds, and the wounds were severely swollen. The condition was quite serious.

It is understood

The water temperature in the sewer was too high at the time of the incident

The main cause of accidents

The ingredients of pipe unclogging agents are mostly alkaline. When they come into contact with water, the heat and pressure in the narrow space of the pipe increase. At this time, the liquid splashes out from the narrow pipe and releases gas, which is extremely corrosive.

For Mr. Lin, this type of burn is similar to a chemical burn, which is different from ordinary scalds from boiling water or fire. This is because the chemicals contain alkaline substances, which will further react with the skin oil on the face, causing the wound to gradually deepen and leave scars, which are more harmful.

Mr. Lin used a certain brand of pipe cleaning agent.

There are many cases of burns and accidental ingestion.

Now, many citizens have

Pipeline dredging agent

But before use

Everyone will carefully check the instructions

Do you know how to use it correctly?

It is understood that there are many common brands of pipe cleaners on the market, which can be roughly divided into three categories: liquid, block and powder. The main ingredients of most pipe cleaners are sodium hydroxide and aluminum powder.

As a strong alkaline substance, sodium hydroxide can react chemically with common pollutants such as water, grease, and hair to relieve blockage.

Solid sodium hydroxide releases heat when it dissolves in water and reacts with aluminum powder to produce a large amount of gas. However, if the wrong method is used during operation, liquid and gas may splash and burn the skin, eyes, hair and other parts.

In fact

Improper use of pipe cleaning agent

It is not uncommon for accidents to occur.

Many media reports on the Internet show cases of children accidentally ingesting pipe cleaners.

How to use the drain cleaner correctly?

What should you do if you accidentally get burned?

01

When using

Don't look too close to the pipe opening.

In the order of pipe cleaning agent related products, merchants generally provide customized reminder cards to remind consumers that the product is corrosive and will produce violent chemical reactions when it comes into contact with water.

Some businesses even use special reminders to say "Don't look too close to the pipe opening." In consideration of children's safety, the bottle caps are also upgraded to be difficult for children to open.

A card showing instructions for using pipe cleaner in a store

The reporter checked several e-commerce platforms

It was found that some platforms have launched consumption reminders

In pipeline dredging agent, pipeline dredging powder, etc.

On the product details page

Unified official consumption tips have been added:

↑ Product details page of a pipe dredging agent↑

Consumers are advised to store properly and seek medical attention immediately if accidentally ingested

↑ Some merchants will provide gloves and masks when shipping↑

02

If burned

Scientific treatment and timely medical treatment

Doctor's reminder

If a small area is accidentally burned by liquid

Don't apply it yourself

Toothpaste, soy sauce, flour, etc.

Rinse with plenty of water immediately

Rinse away any remaining chemicals

The flushing time can be longer

Then go to the hospital immediately

If you accidentally swallow the pipe cleaner

May cause damage to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach

Severe cases may lead to gastric perforation

Scientific treatment and timely medical treatment are very necessary

If there is obvious discomfort

Large burn area or splashing into eyes

It is recommended to go to the nearest hospital immediately

Source: Science Popularization China WeChat Official Account