I read an article on a suppliers site about a little boy that was very badly burned with the lye his mom was going to use to make soap. I thought it was Brambleberry but I can't seem to find it. Can someone send me the link?
Looking for article about a little boy badly burned with lye
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MagiaDellaLuna
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Absolutely horrific, and something I am quite unashamedly OCD about.
ChrissyB
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That poor little boy. I read the update and am very pleased to hear that he didn't suffer any permanent damage. He is very lucky.
There is an Australian program called Medical Emergency, it is set in and around the hospitals and ambulance service in Melbourne. The episode that was on this morning featured a 42 year old man who worked in a chemical factory, who was accidently sprayed with a concentrated caustic soda liquid that was being used to manufacture glue and soap. I presume they mean lye. He suffered chemical burns to 40% of his body, his skin was literally peeling off him as they tried to remove his clothes. The liquid had got into one of his eyes, and he had swallowed some also. They were talking about doing skin grafts to his tongue cos some of the tissue was already necrotic, and they were having to respirate him and prep him for surgery because his airways were giving in from swallowing it.
REally scary stuff and the amount of pain that this man was heartbreaking.
Safety safety safety around lye. I think that these stories serve as timely reminders to those of us that let safety slip a little, we become comfortable with what we're doing and don't think it's as important any more. It absolutely is. This is very very dangerous stuff. And the stronger your lye solution, the more it will damage skin.
Is everyone wearing eye goggles when soaping?
There is an Australian program called Medical Emergency, it is set in and around the hospitals and ambulance service in Melbourne. The episode that was on this morning featured a 42 year old man who worked in a chemical factory, who was accidently sprayed with a concentrated caustic soda liquid that was being used to manufacture glue and soap. I presume they mean lye. He suffered chemical burns to 40% of his body, his skin was literally peeling off him as they tried to remove his clothes. The liquid had got into one of his eyes, and he had swallowed some also. They were talking about doing skin grafts to his tongue cos some of the tissue was already necrotic, and they were having to respirate him and prep him for surgery because his airways were giving in from swallowing it.
REally scary stuff and the amount of pain that this man was heartbreaking.
Safety safety safety around lye. I think that these stories serve as timely reminders to those of us that let safety slip a little, we become comfortable with what we're doing and don't think it's as important any more. It absolutely is. This is very very dangerous stuff. And the stronger your lye solution, the more it will damage skin.
Is everyone wearing eye goggles when soaping?
GoddessMama
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Ok Q? I wear glasses, which makes it difficult to wear goggles, is there an alternative? I just wear my glasses now. I have been doing room temp soaping so the lye is literally out 5 minutes enough time to measure stir and pour into the oils. I know this dose not remove all the risk, but I figure it helps.
Overthemoon
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I where glasses too, but I'm still partial to using goggles. I suppose the best alternative would be a full face mask. Still, they don't seal to your skin the way goggles do so they don't seem as safe.
When I was a child my father was helping with a wood chipper. He was wearing a full face mask. A splinter hit his chest, bounced behind the mask, behind his glasses and into his eye. He permanently lost 30% of the vision in that eye.
I like knowing that the goggles are pretty much sealed to my skin so even in a freak accident no lye is going to jump behind them.
When I was a child my father was helping with a wood chipper. He was wearing a full face mask. A splinter hit his chest, bounced behind the mask, behind his glasses and into his eye. He permanently lost 30% of the vision in that eye.
I like knowing that the goggles are pretty much sealed to my skin so even in a freak accident no lye is going to jump behind them.
I also soap at room temp with a pre-mixed lye and only keep the lye out long enough to measure and pour into the oils. But I always have my goggles and gloves on before the lye even comes out of the cabinet until I finish washing up.
I know you can get a clear face shield which might work better if you are wearing glasses.
I know you can get a clear face shield which might work better if you are wearing glasses.
ChrissyB
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I wear DH's motorbike goggles, they seal to the skin. I also wear a face mask, the disposable ones.
My whole family laughs at my get up when I soap. I tell them I wouldn't be laughing if I got lye in my eye or on my face. I've had it on my hand and it burns.
My whole family laughs at my get up when I soap. I tell them I wouldn't be laughing if I got lye in my eye or on my face. I've had it on my hand and it burns.
GoddessMama
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Poor mama. Its sad that people would bash her like that. Accidents happen. I doubt anyone is 100% all the time safe.
SpottedCat
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Wow - a story like that makes me sit up and take notice how relaxed I've become around lye. I still use the proper precautions, but have been bringing the room temp lye into the kitchen from the garage when ready to make the soap. I will have to be much more careful. I sometimes wear my glasses instead of the goggles, I think I'll go back to the goggles. I bought some goggles from the hardware store that I can wear over my regular glasses. It's quite the "fashion" statement, LOL.
Bubbles Galore
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Thanks for the reminder. :wink:
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