5 Hospitalised After Consuming Dry Ice in Gurugram: What Is It And Understanding Its Dangers – News18

An alarming incident unfolded at a prominent café in Gurugram, Haryana, where five individuals were hospitalized after accidentally consuming dry ice instead of a regular mouth freshener. A viral video caught the incident on camera in which the diners can be seen vomiting blood shortly after consuming the substance. Ankit Kumar, among the affected group, promptly alerted authorities and rushed his companions to the hospital.

He described his ordeal in a police complaint in which he revealed that what they thought was a harmless mouth freshener turned out to be potentially lethal dry ice, as confirmed by medical professionals.

The professionals told Ankit about how dry ice is lethal for the human body and can lead to death.

What Is Dry Ice?

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO2) which is often used for quick cooling because it turns directly from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid. This makes it great for temporary refrigeration. It’s mainly used to keep things cold, but it’s also used in theatre fog machines to make cool effects. Dry ice is colder than regular ice and doesn’t leave any residue behind, except for some frost if there’s moisture in the air. It is convenient for keeping frozen foods like ice cream cold when regular cooling isn’t available.

Dangers Of Dry Ice

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has classified dry ice as a hazardous substance. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also cautioned against handling dry ice directly with bare hands.

Dry ice is safe if handled carefully in places with good ventilation. However, because it’s super cold (-78.5°C or -109.3°F), it can be harmful to your health. Prolonged exposure to dry ice can cause severe skin damage through frostbite. When dry ice turns into gas, it releases a lot of carbon dioxide, which can be dangerous if there’s not enough fresh air. So, it’s important to only use dry ice in places with good airflow. If swallowed, it can cause discomfort, bloating, and stomach pain as it turns into gas inside your body. These symptoms might seem like regular stomach problems, but they could be serious if not treated on time.

Dry Ice: Treatment

Dr. Ashutosh Shukla, Medical Advisor and Senior Director of Internal Medicine at Max Hospital, Gurugram, advises, “The first thing to do if someone has eaten a lot of dry ice is to stop exposure right away. Give the person an antacid or cooling agent for quick relief. You must stabilise the vital organs of the person exposed to dry ice by taking them to the hospital.”