My lips are on fire
 

A more light hearted, yet techincal post:

An ATPL AGK manual that I am currently reading states: Grease and oil should not be present in an oxygen system as this may cause combustion to occur........

Now heres my question: We have a smoke incident in the cockpit and the masks are donned, 100% oxygen is selected. One of the Pilots is wearing lip balm for his cracked lips, whats the chance if any that they will catch on fire?

I would assume the balm would start a fire. Was there not an incident with an RAF pilot many years back, 20 at least. As I remember it, he ate a cheese sandwich then used an oxygen mask. Maybe someone else can remember this event?

Oil and grease can combust with oxygen. This goes for margarine as well. And yes, as far as I know there has been more than one incident with burning margarine. I used to fly a long range aircraft where we had to wear oxygen masks. Butter had to be used in the crew sandwiches.

Better for you as well, make no mistake.

I can just see the headlines now " Pilot spontaneously combusts over the Atlantic , Packed Lunch to blame"

Chemistry is definitely not my strong point, but are you telling me that margarine and pure oxygen = spontaneous combustion under some circumstances??

Can anyone please provide examples of incidents where this has happened? I'm fascinated.

Thanks.

Safety Data Sheet for breathable oxygen

Safety Data Sheets - BOC UK

Note the hazards

From Flight International, 10th Oct 1987
st bernard | bernard plastics | threat assess | 1987 | 2061 | Flight Archive

I'm sure that happened to an RAF pilot in identical circumstances many years ago. Possibly mentioned in Airclues.

Well, my gast is flabbered!

Thanks gents!

This also took me by surprise, as during flights I use "Vaseline lip care". Captain turned to me and said "What's in that?", so I looked and it said "100% Petrolium Jelly". He then asked what happens when you put 100% Oxygen to a fuel.

I was very surpised, it had never crossed my mind.

Security alert
 

Perhaps these should be banned along with toe nail clippers and tubes of super glue.

glf

MYTHBUSTERS tested this very same scenario................. If i remember correctly, their dummy had a little bit of flame after about the 3rd attempt to Combust him.

(a) I lump MythBusters in the "not-very-rigorously-done-but-definitely-for-popular-entertainment-consumption" class of investigative authorities

(b) we had a case in Oz, not all that long ago, where a surgical patient died as a result of oxygen igniting a (presumably synthetic) stent in the trachea .. same sort of consideration

(c) most of us have seen various training films (or demonstrations) wherein an oxygen stream ignites a flammable substance without any external ignition


I think the earlier comment I was very surpised, it had never crossed my mind is pertinent for most folks.

Russian Roulette probably is an apt term to apply to careless use of oxygen ....

It was a part of our safety training in the sixties, that if a female passenger was to be administered oxygen, her lips must first be thoroughly cleaned of lipstick (Men didn't wear lipstick in those days, well, not many). The reason was that in those times, lipstick contained Petroleum Jelly, and there was a significant risk of severe lip burns.

Petroleum Jelly is no longer a base for modern lipstick (or so I'm told).

Regards,

Old Smokey

Re: Cheese sandwich
 

I remember hearing this story back in the eighties at Abingdon. This time he was a rigger carrying out oxy flow checks in an F4 over lunch. He chomped on the cheddar sarnie and his teeth blew out! Another urban myth perhaps? :}

I used to work as a paramedic driving ambulances and you'd be surprised what can happen if the oxygen bottle is not closed properly after use.

Example that was used teaching us:

Two paramedics had a smoke outside their car during a break, oxygen bottle not closed properly >>> both suffered life-threatening burns. :uhoh:

Not sure if I'd want to risk it :=

I amazed at the responses, I thought it would be technically possible but never actually occur, but this thread proves the point that it could be very dangerous indeed!

Our cabin crew always had to make sure to wipe the an "incapacitated" pilot's mouth before fixing the oxygen mask during training. I thought it was industry standard.