Imagine your child screaming in pain because of something as innocent as a soda can. For one Shanghai family, this became reality when their five-year-old suffered severe facial lacerations from an exploding beverage. The incident highlights a little-known hazard in homes worldwide.
The boy had placed his fizzy drink in the freezer—a common shortcut during hot weather. But physics turned against him: as the liquid froze, it expanded, building unbearable pressure inside the sealed can. When he popped the tab, the pressurized contents erupted violently, slicing his face with the ruptured metal.
Emergency room staff see these injuries more frequently than most realize. Beyond soda cans, two other freezer hazards demand attention:
Alcohol bottles can explode from internal pressure, while dry ice sublimates into gas that may blow open freezer doors. Even sparking fridge components could ignite flammable vapors from liquor.
The traumatized parents now advocate for kitchen safety education. Their message? Resist the urge to quick-chill drinks in the freezer. Use the fridge compartment instead, or better yet—old-fashioned ice cubes. Because no beverage is worth a trip to the ER.
