- Never handle dry ice without protective gloves. With a temperature of -78 ºC, dry ice is much colder than water ice. Direct skin contact can cause severe frostbites. First aid: cover the frostbites with a clean, dry dressing and seek medical assistance.
- Never put dry ice in your mouth. First aid: seek immediate medical assistance.
- When transporting dry ice in a passenger car, keep the dry ice isolated from the driver and other passengers and keep up the ventilation.
- Do not store or use dry ice in cellars or cramped non-ventilated spaces. The authorities have classified dry ice as a harmful substance, with a Known Harmful Concentration of 0.5% over 8 hours. Since carbon dioxide displaces oxygen, the excessive concentration of carbon dioxide in room air causes a risk of suffocation. First aid: the patient is transferred into fresh air and artificial respiration and oxygen is administered as necessary. After this the patient must be taken to a doctor.
- Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than air; therefore the concentration of carbon dioxide is highest at floor level.
- The seams of boxes containing dry ice must not be closed tightly, for example using adhesive tape. Never store dry ice in a gas-tight container, excessive pressure will develop inside the container. A 10-kilogram package of dry ice generates about 5 cubic meters (5 m³) of gas.
- Keep dry ice out of reach of children. Even a small piece of dry ice can cause an accident on skin contact or ingestion.
Observe safety precautions. Follow the handling instructions.
