Drain cleaner explosion leaves Hanoi woman seriously burned

Hospital E in Hanoi confirmed it had admitted the woman with serious burn injuries caused by a toilet drain cleaner that violently reacted during use.

According to doctors, the patient had purchased a powdered drain-cleaning chemical advertised online as a low-cost solution for clearing long-standing pipe blockages.

The product, priced at about VND20,000 (US$0.8) to VND40,000 ($1.6) per packet, depending on weight, was marketed as a powerful mixture of highly corrosive substances.

These reportedly included sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, chemicals known for their strong corrosive properties and their tendency to generate heat and intense reactions when being mixed with water.

The woman told doctors that she followed the instructions printed in very small text on the packaging.

However, when she poured the powder directly into the toilet bowl, there was a loud explosion.

A column of water mixed with chemicals shot upward, splashing her arms and the corner of her mouth.

She immediately felt intense burning pain.

At home, she initially tried first aid by soaking her hand in cold water and applying an oil of unknown origin.

Her condition worsened rapidly, with blistering and increasing pain at multiple burn sites.

She was rushed to Hospital E late on Thursday night for emergency treatment.

At the hospital, doctors thoroughly washed the chemical burns and administered antibiotics.

Medical staff said the patient was relatively fortunate, as the chemicals only splashed limited areas of her arms and lightly affected the corner of her mouth.

As a result, her chances of recovery are considered good.

Dinh Thi Le Thanh, deputy head of the Department of Allergy, Immunology and Dermatology at Hospital E, said this case was only one of many similar incidents recently treated at the hospital.

Patients have suffered chemical burns from drain cleaners and industrial-strength cleaning agents, which can be extremely dangerous.

These powders contain highly corrosive chemicals and can cause severe damage to the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, or digestive system, especially with prolonged exposure or high concentrations, the doctor said.

Thanh gave urgent first-aid advice for chemical burns, saying that victims should immediately rinse the affected skin under running water for 10-20 minutes to remove the chemical and cool the burn.

If chemicals get into the eyes, continuous rinsing with clean water for at least 20 minutes is critical before the victim goes to the hospital.

Thanh strongly warned against wiping chemicals off the skin with wet towels or cotton pads, as this can spread the chemicals to other areas.

The doctor also advised against applying toothpaste, ointments, or home remedies, which may worsen the injury.

Anyone providing first aid should carefully remove contaminated clothing, preferably while wearing protective gloves.

If clothing is stuck to the skin, it should be cut away instead of being pulled off to avoid further injury.

After initial rinsing, the burned area should be covered with a clean, dry dressing and the patient should be rushed to the nearest medical facility as quickly as possible.

Doctors urged the public to avoid using unverified or industrial-strength chemical cleaners at home, warning that misuse can pose serious risks to health.