The NHS has issued an urgent warning to those leaving hand sanitiser in their cars during the hot weather.
In a public notice, they stated that alcohol-based sanitiser is a potential fire risk, as it becomes too hot when left inside a vehicle in the heat.
Releasing shocking pictures of cars that have literally *melted* as a result of this, they made clear why it was so important to bring yours into the cool.
"This quick share is to alert all colleagues to the potential fire risk in vehicles, caused by alcohol-based hand sanitiser," they wrote.
Advert
"We have received a number of reports of hand sanitiser being the cause of fires when left in vehicles in the hot weather the UK is currently experiencing."
Fires start because the alcohol in hand sanitiser releases flammable vapours when heated.
If temperatures are 25 degrees Celsius outside the car, they could reach as high as 55 degrees inside the car.
The notice explained: "These vapours are reaching their "flash point" and then ignite in normal air conditions, setting fire to flammable components within the car.
Advert
"Remove all alcohol-based hand sanitiser products from vehicles when they are not occupied, do not leave hand sanitiser in unattended vehicles.
"It is no surprise to see pictures circulating on social media showing severely damaged vehicles due to hand sanitiser bottle that had ignited inside a vehicle sitting in direct sunlight," an expert from safety training company CE Safety said.
Pressure can also build up inside the sanitiser bottle when it overheats, meaning they could rupture and explode, causing possible injury.
The warning comes as we could face the hottest day of the year this week, with temperatures set to reach 30 degrees in some areas of the country today.
Advert
Of course, hand sanitiser is still a very important means of protecting yourself from coronavirus.
Just make sure you're bringing it in from the car afterwards!
Featured Image Credit: PA