Man Engulfed In Flames While Lighting Cigarette After Using Hand Sanitizer

A man in India was engulfed in flames when he lit a cigarette after using a hand sanitizer.

The victim, identified as Ruban, returned home from work Saturday night and used a sanitizer to clean his hands as soon as he entered the residence. A few drops of the sanitizer fell on Ruban’s shirt, which was noticed by a family member who warned him. However, Ruban did not pay heed to it and said he would change his clothes after taking a shower, The News Minute reported.

The victim then lit the cigarette and some sparks fell on his shirt. Within moments, the 50-year-old was engulfed in flames. The incident took place at his home in the southern city of Chennai.

Upon hearing his cries, Ruban’s family members rushed to his room and put out the fire. They took him to a local hospital in a critical condition. Doctors told the family he had suffered severe burns to his face, torso and said his condition was serious, local daily The Times of India reported.

Sanitizers have high alcohol content, which makes them flammable. Hence, experts advise people to use a sanitizer in a place where there is no fire or heat.

"The high ethyl alcohol content of up to 62% makes a hand sanitizer highly flammable. Never use a sanitizer near a fire or a heated place. It is always advisable to use a limited quantity and allow it to dry," Dr. Sivalingam, who works at a private hospital in Chennai, told The Times of India after the incident.

He added even though using a sanitizer during the pandemic was necessary, it should be handled with care.

The incident comes months after a Texas woman suffered severe burns after her hand sanitizer allegedly caught fire when she was trying to light a candle at her home. She was hospitalized with severe burns injuries to her entire body and was in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the time.