I guess there are many ways to be effected or killed by it, this is the first time I have ever heard of Dry Ice being the culprit.

My brother Jerry posted this about one of his co-workers that died from it.

"Everyone should know the following about dry ice. When "melting" (technically sublimating), dry ice emits carbon dioxide gas. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, and when it transitions directly from a solid to a gas without going through a liquid phase, it releases carbon dioxide gas into the air. We lost an employee to carbon dioxide poisoning this past Friday night, 9-13-24. After work, she went to a friend's place to pick up some beef and placed it in the back of her small SUV. The meat had been packed in a cooler with dry ice but was not sealed well. After picking up the meat, she went to a Christian concert. After the concert, she got into her little SUV to go home, started it and that is where they found her Saturday morning with the engine still running. Until this happened, I had no idea of the danger of melting dry ice."

Wow, sad deal.

She basically created a confined space. It's not exactly poisoning. The CO2 will cause carbon dioxide asphyxiation. Dry ice is pretty safe if well ventilated.

Ask anyone who has been trained on OSHA or MSHA confined space safety stuff.


Nitrogen also can be a real silent odorless deadly killer and it's in 80% of the air we breath.

Wow, what a terrible tragedy. Prayers for her family.

This potential problem was posted here previously also. I do not recall who posted but I am glad that they did because it saved my wife from a problem!

She was getting ready to transport a large ice chest full of meat packed with 35 lbs. of dry ice to family members in Georgia. The weather was hot so she would have turned the A/C to recirculate for the 11 hour drive. Instead, she kept it on outside air with the fan fairly high and a window cracked - and stayed vigilant for signs of O2 deprivation.

Sad deal and sorry to hear. But the cooler with the dry ice wasn't sealed for a reason. They have to stay ventilated or the gas will expand and explode. Someone dropped the ball and didn't cover the safe use of dry ice with this gal. I've got a specially modified cooler I use on fishing trips that has a vent added so I can fly with dry ice.

I saw an old couple crash into a brick wall. On arrival they were both passed out. It turns out the old man’s gas can spilled in the trunk and that caused them to pass out. They came to and ended up ok

I remember we used to have dry ice at HS parties. I guess there was always enough ventilation 'cause I'm still here.

There was an episode of CSI about 20 years ago where dry ice was used as the murder weapon...it's how I learned about the dangers.

Terrible tragedy. Condolences to her friends and family. I’ve always been fascinated by how well dry ice works. I was unaware of the potential danger associated with dry ice in confined spaces…

thats what killed payne stewart, right?

Yes and no. Payne Stewart and the flight crew died from lack of oxygen due to the plane’s cabin depressurization.

There have been several cases of this happening. Very few people know about it.