Windshield Wiper Fluid Safety
While the color blue can represent a few things when it is in a container of windshield wiper fluid, it is a mystery as to why it is the typical color. It looks a whole lot like blueberry Kool-Aid, and it also looks like a freezing agent at the same time.
This color is just too similar to the color of blue Kool-Aid, which is an artificially flavored juice powder mix. It is unfortunate in some cases.
There was a heavily-publicized ordeal where a staff member working at a day care center accidentally poured what she thought was Kool-Aid into the little children’s cups for drinking.
With a question of how she didn’t notice the smell of the methanol, or the labeling of the bottle, she could have caused a lot more damage to the children with her mistake.
What are the effects of ingesting windshield wiper fluid? In fatal cases, the heart could go into respiratory distress, and may stop completely (a cardiac arrhythmia). In extreme cases, the heavily toxic methanol can cause coma and blindness. The acidic nature somehow kills the cells in the retina of the eye, and in the brain.
Why these extreme consequences are happening are due to the process of methanol’s toxic byproducts from breaking down the existing ethanol in the liver.
Ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde , an element that causes liver and kidney damage when there is a high accumulation of it.
The byproduct is called formic acid, and a buildup of that eventually turns into carbon dioxide, which is essentially pollution for your digestive system.
This entire process, when in moderate situations, gives rise to vomiting, pain, headaches, sleepiness and staggering. It sounds very similar to alcohol poisoning, which is the case here since methanol is an alcohol.
You should take quick action to call the poison control center and/or 911. While they guide you and what you should do before the EMT arrives, the EMT will arrive and most likely inject into the IV a dose of ethanol to counteract the methanol.
And what can you do to prevent this whole fatal occurrence from happening? For starters, you should never keep your car maintenance supplies in the kitchen. Second of all, you should look clearly at the package labeling . I’m sure the container said “WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID”, but I’m not sure how the day care center owner missed that. Lastly, the packaging should have child-proof caps on, so if it is that difficult to get the cap off, the package is not busted. It is protecting children from opening it and ingesting it!
As you think of an antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid concentrate to buy, see Ryland Jing’s blog.



