Is It Safe to Keep Medical Alcohol in the Car?
3 Answers
It is not safe to keep medical alcohol in the car. The hazards of keeping medical alcohol in the car are as follows: 1. It can easily cause spontaneous combustion and explosion: Medical alcohol left in the car during summer can self-ignite. The common 75% medical alcohol has a flash point of 20 degrees Celsius. In summer, outdoor temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius at noon, and after the car is parked outside under the sun for a period, the interior temperature can rise to over 50 degrees Celsius, making it very easy to trigger spontaneous combustion and explosion of the alcohol. 2. Ensure timely ventilation: Since the flash point of alcohol is only 20 degrees Celsius, if the interior temperature of the car is too high, it may cause combustion. Therefore, it is best not to keep alcohol in the car. If disinfection is needed, find an open area to wipe the car interior with alcohol for disinfection, and ensure proper ventilation inside the car for a period afterward. 3. Do not use alcohol on leather seats: When using alcohol inside the car, if the seats or steering wheel are made of leather, directly spraying alcohol on the leather can cause damage. Alcohol itself is an organic solvent, and on cars with lower-quality leather, it may change the originally smooth and uniform color into a texture resembling that of a jaguar.
As someone who frequently focuses on automotive safety, I strongly advise against storing medical alcohol in your car. This liquid contains a high concentration of ethanol, which is highly flammable, especially when the temperature inside the car is high. For example, parking in the sun during summer can cause the interior temperature to exceed 60 degrees Celsius, potentially causing the alcohol bottle to expand, contract, crack, or leak vapor. Even a tiny spark could then trigger a fire. I've seen real cases where a rear-end collision caused spilled alcohol to burn out an entire trunk. For safety, consider using pre-packaged disinfectant wipes or small, sealed disinfectant spray bottles stored in a cool place. Also, ensure your car's first aid kit doesn't contain flammable materials and maintain a well-ventilated environment. Checking that items are stored safely before driving is a good habit.
Since I have children at home, I'm particularly cautious about what I keep in the car. Storing medical alcohol in the car is unsafe because it easily evaporates and accumulates in the air inside the vehicle. In case of a lighter spark or electronic device malfunction, it could ignite and harm my family. I remember one summer when temperatures soared, the alcohol bottle in my trunk developed cracks, which scared me into stopping its use immediately. I recommend switching to safer alcohol wipes or gels, as their packaging is well-sealed and less prone to leakage. While I always keep first aid supplies in the car, they're all low-risk items. When organizing the car, I prioritize removing hazardous items to ensure safe travels. During hot weather, temperature fluctuations inside the car are significant, making the exposure risk of alcohol particularly high and something to be avoided at all costs.
