be careful with carbonated beverages in glass

I know this is kind of obvious, but my aunt-in law just had a terrible accident with a bottled, fizzy lemonade. Apparently the bottom of the cardboard 4-pack was loose, a bottle fell out, hit the cement, and exploded upward into her eye. (She had to get 78 stitches in her lid and eyeball, and is currently undergoing multiple surgeries, and still, may not have full sight again.)

It's normal to look down when you drop something - but if this happens to you, try to resist and look away!

Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up (no pun intended)

Wow -- what a horrible thing to have happen. I hope your aunt is okay soon.

And I don't think it's particularly obvious. I'd expect a glass bottle to break, but not to explode upwards toward my face. Ouch.

Thanks for the warning.

Be especially careful with bottles that have been sitting out in the sun or in a car heating up. Back in my formative landscaping days in Central Florida, the crew would toss bottled Cokes and beer into the cooler full of ice water just to see the spectacular (and dangerous) explosion. Even without the temperature shock, a hot bottle of pop is relatively volatile.

Along the same lines, though not as catastrophic, was the world's record mentos & diet coke fountain.

JeffB wrote:Be especially careful with bottles that have been sitting out in the sun or in a car heating up. Back in my formative landscaping days in Central Florida, the crew would toss bottled Cokes and beer into the cooler full of ice water just to see the spectacular (and dangerous) explosion. Even without the temperature shock, a hot bottle of pop is relatively volatile.

Same can be said for cold weather. I had a bottle of Diet Coke in my car, over a particularly cold winter night. Next morning, Diet Coke ice crystals had been sprayed all over my car's interior.

Interesting that you bring this up because I was just talking with my dad about this. My grandfather, may he rest in piece, lost an eye when a coke bottle exploded in the grocery store he owned in Indianapolis. Be careful!

HI,

In cold weather, a bottle of carbonated soda was a liquid when under the manufacturer's seal. Once opened and has contact with air, then it immediately crystalizes and expands out the top. Carbonated beverages seem to have a lower freeze point than water.

If I leave a pop in the car during the winter and it is still liquid, I now stick it in the refrigerator or leave on the counter to warm up.

Regards,