How To Handle Dry Ice Safely

Make Dry Ice a Cool Part of Your Summer Fun

Dry ice isn’t just a novelty item for film sets or spooky Halloween displays. And it’s not just for science class either. There are lots of fun and practical ways to use dry ice during the summer months. And dry ice is relatively inexpensive and easy to purchase. It’s also very user-friendly, provided you handle it properly. So, whenever using dry ice, make sure to take all the necessary safety precautions. And when it’s time to purchase your dry ice, trust Irish Carbonic as your dry ice dealer.

Let’s take a moment to review how to safely handle dry ice as well as how to store and dispose of it safely.

Staying Safe With Dry Ice

Although dry ice is relatively user-friendly, it does need to be handled with care to avoid injury. First and foremost, keep dry ice away from unsupervised children.

If you take the necessary safety precautions outlined below, you and your family can have lots of safe fun with dry ice.

Here are a few safety reminders for using dry ice:

• Children: Never leave children unattended near dry ice. Make sure the children in your household can’t access the dry ice without adult supervision.
• Ventilation: Always use dry ice in a space that’s well-ventilated. If you’re in a space with dry ice and notice your breathing is becoming rapid, you begin developing a headache, or your fingernails or lips are turning blue, those are signs you’ve inhaled too much carbon dioxide and need more oxygen. Leave the area immediately and move to a well-ventilated area—preferably outside.
• Handling: Dry Ice is extremely cold at -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit (or -78.5 degrees C). So never touch dry ice with your bare skin. Prolonged exposure can cause an injury similar to a burn. Instead, wear cloth or leather gloves when handling dry ice. Oven mitts and towels can also be used.
• Storage: Use an insulated container to store your dry ice. The thicker the container, the longer your dry ice will last. However, never store dry ice in an airtight container. The sublimation (going from solid to gas) of the dry ice could cause the container to expand or even explode. Also be sure to store dry ice in a well-ventilated area.
• Disposal: Don’t throw dry ice down the garbage disposal, sewer, or garbage chute. Leave it in a well-ventilated area and it will sublimate (change from solid to gas) until it’s completely gone.

Uses for Dry Ice This Summer

There are lots of fun and practical ways you can use dry ice this summer. You can use it when shipping perishables to friends and family or to keep your food cold for a picnic or camping trip. Dry ice can also do some cool things around your New York home.

Here are some household uses for dry ice:

• Bait and trap insects like bedbugs, mosquitoes, and moths.
• Fix dents in your vehicle.
• Flash freeze fish and other food items.
• Make your own carbonated drinks.
• Preserve your food during a power outage.
• Remove old floor tiles.

There’s so much dry ice can do!

You may not know how much you need. Don’t worry. The pros at Irish Carbonic will help you calculate exactly how much dry ice you’ll need for your project and give you tips on how to make it last for as long as possible.

Convenient Pick-Up & Delivery

If you live in central or western New York, you can arrange to have your dry ice delivered to your home or come and pick it up in Buffalo or Rochester.

At Irish Carbonic, we offer a variety of dry ice products and services. We also sell dry ice in diferent sizes:

• 10” cube blocks (sliced to your specifications and wrapped in poly or craft paper)
• 9/16” diameter nuggets
• 1/8” diameter rice pellets (available wrapped in poly or craft paper)

Get the dry ice you need just the way you need it from Irish Carbonic. We’ll deliver your order when and where you want it or make it available for pick-up.

Contact Irish Carbonic today to learn more or to place your order for dry!