Red-faced NHS chiefs withdraw warning of fire risk from sanitiser

Fife bosses repeated discredited claim alcohol could ignite when left in hot cars

Health bosses in Fife have had to make an embarrassing climbdown after mistakenly telling the public hand sanitiser left in hot vehicles is a fire risk.

NHS Fife posted a message on social media urging patients and staff not to store such products in their vehicles after US reports about car fires.

The guidance was issued nationally by NHS Property Services and other health boards, like NHS Tayside, did not issue the same warning amid suggestions the evidence was not there to back it up.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has rubbished the claim of a hand sanitiser fire risk, forcing the NHS to formally retract its previous advice.

Roy Wilsher, NFCC chairman, said: “We want to reassure people that this product will not combust if left in a car – even on the hottest day. For hand sanitiser to cause a fire it would need to come into contact with a spark.

“Hand sanitiser is very important in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, therefore it is is essential we debunk this myth.

“We advise people to ensure they store their hand sanitisers in vehicles safely, which includes keeping bottles closed and out of direct sunlight, such as in the glove box.

“This will ensure the contents do not deteriorate and means bottles cannot be magnified by the sun. Sanitiser should also be kept away from naked flame.”

After reports from media articles in the USA, NHS Property Services issued an internal message to frontline staff, highlighting what it believed was a risk.

A spokesperson said: “This decision to raise awareness across colleagues was made in good faith.

“It is now our understanding that the risks associated with hand sanitisers in vehicles only become apparent when in contact with a spark. We will be issuing a formal alert to our frontline teams to clarify this situation.”

The alcohol in the sanitiser would need to be open to the air to evaporate, it added, while the boiling points of the materials used would need very high temperatures to vaporise.

The NFCC went on to say the vapours would need to reach a “lower explosive limit” form an ignitable mixture, which would then result in a “flash” if ignited, not a sustained fire.

“This product will not combust if left in a car – even on the hottest day. ROY WILSHER NATIONAL FIRE CHIEFS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

Debunked reports from the United States claimed hand sanitiser left in cars could catch alight