Important Safety Warning: Never Mix Bleach with Urine or Ammonia-Based Cleaners
A stay-at-home mom wanted to begin some house cleaning after everyone had left the house.
She took her clothes to the bathroom to wash them, then intended to clean, so she poured bleach into the toilet seat and sat to begin washing.
A few minutes later, she started coughing, but ignored it because she thought she was about to get a cold. As she continued to wash, she became weaker and couldn't breathe properly. After that, she passed out.
Hours later, her husband rushed her to our hospital due to her weakness and unresponsiveness. We initiated investigations and management and found out that she had lung injury due to chemical pneumonitis.
But we were puzzled about which dangerous chemical this woman would have come in contact with. In her own home?
We asked: Sir, is there anyone still inside your house?
He responded: Yes, I left my kids at home when I rushed here.
Please call someone to help get them out until we are certain of the cause.
He called and was informed that one of his children was also coughing a little. We instructed them to bring the child.
When the woman was a bit stable, we asked her what happened. The only chemical involved was the bleach she poured into the toilet.
Madam, did the toilet have urine in it?
She confirmed that there was urine from the night, and she was planning to flush the toilet with water after washing due to the recent shortage of water. Chloramine poisoning.
Chloramine, a toxic gas that can kill in higher concentrations, is produced when bleach is mixed with ammonia in urine.
But do you know that ammonia can be found in other cleaning liquids? Make sure to check the label before mixing bleach with any cleaning solution to make sure it doesn't contain 'AMMONIA'.
Before applying, make sure to flush thoroughly.
After days in the hospital, the woman recovered, and the child only had minor irritations.
Sharing this will help prevent it from happening to others.
Dr. Christabel Akinola
@drbelswellness
