A child’s casual gesture—opening the freezer for a colder drink—turned into
a nightmare that no parent can ever forget. The can, left in the freezer to chill “just a bit faster,”
had become a pressurized bomb. As the liquid expanded and CO₂ built up, one twist of the
tab triggered a violent burst, sending jagged metal into the boy’s face and leaving him with 38 stitches and a lifelong scar.
This wasn’t an isolated accident. Doctors report growing numbers of similar injuries,
all rooted in the same careless habit: putting the wrong things in the freezer. Carbonated drinks,
tightly sealed alcohol, and even dry ice can all turn a refrigerator
into a hidden explosive risk. The solution is painfully simple—cool drinks in the fridge, use ice buckets,
store dry ice in ventilated containers, and teach children never to experiment with
the freezer. One moment of attention can prevent a lifetime of regret.
