This Man Was Rushed To The Emergency Room After His Sodastream Blew Up On Him

From Delish

This week's startling news that a whipped cream can kill you gave us pause. What other pressurized containers and appliances are we using in the kitchen that we should be wary of?

After a bit of digging, we discovered that CO2-related accidents and injuries are more common than you think. And if you own a carbonating machine, you should be very careful about using it. Like a whipped cream dispenser, seltzer machines (like Sodastream and Drinkmate) require cartridges containing carbon dioxide to inject bubbles into water. This gas is highly pressurized and can cause accidents if not dispensed properly.

Most recently, comic book writer Jim Starlin experienced a Sodastream machine that "blew up," sending him to the emergency room with a black eye, fractured hand, and multiple lacerations. The images he posted to Facebook are pretty horrifying ("yeah, that's my blood on the floor" he wrote).

In this case it is less clear if the machine malfunctioned, the CO2 cartridge failed, if user error played a role - or even all of the above. However, back in February, the brand recalled 58,600 of its carbonating bottles sold in the U.S. and Canada, stating there was a risk they could burst under pressure. The cause of the recall, according to the company, was a manufacturing defect that affected a small portion of the 13 million bottles it produces every year.

Before this, back in 2015, multiple accounts claim that either the carbonating element ejected from the machine or the bottom of the water bottle blew off, causing damage to both people and their homes. One woman told an attorney's office that "the unit exploded and sent metal and plastic parts more than 30 feet in al directions."

Sodastream notes on its site that it is "absolutely" safe to use its machines at home: "SodaStream cylinders are manufactured to exacting specifications that include many unique safety features to protect consumers. Cylinders are safe at virtually any altitude (our customers in the Swiss Alps can attest to that!) and are specially equipped with a safety valve that will harmlessly release the gas in the unlikely event that the pressure within the cylinder rises above threshold levels. Please do not expose your cylinder to extreme heat (such as travel in the trunk of a car, or right next to an oven, stove or fireplace.) Please see above for more information on cylinder safety."

Of course, there are many brands on the market: Hamilton Beach, Drinkmate, KitchenAid, Soda Plus, iSoda, the list goes on. Introducing a pressurized CO2 cartridge is risky no matter which brand you choose - even if you're using an old-timey soda siphon.

So it's still a bit unclear exactly what all of this means in terms of making sparkling water at home, but all we can say is that you should take the proper precautions (reread the manufacturer's instructions to confirm you are installing and using it properly, only use the appropriate branded CO2, and carefully depress the carbonating element with it facing away from you) and seltzer safely.

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