Safety Tips: Battery Acid
If there's one thing you don't want to play around with, it's battery acid. If you are using batteries, though, you may come into contact with it. But as long as you're aware of the top safety tips for handling and dealing with battery acid, you should be fine, so please keep the following tips in mind.
Contain a Leaking Battery
When batteries are punctured or otherwise damaged, they usually leak acid. Battery acid is an electrolyte, which is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water, and so it is unsafe if it leaks. There's no way to safely repair a battery that's leaking acid profusely, so the first thing you need to do is contain it. Do so by sealing it in a plastic bag and pour some baking soda in with it. Baking soda is a highly effective acid neutralizer. You should also refer to the cleaning method below and use it to handle any spills that have occurred.
Safely Dispose of Leaking Batteries
Try not to put a leaking battery in the trash. No matter where you live, there's sure to be an official battery recycling center within a relatively easy driving range. Take the battery there to dispose of it properly. This will help to prevent environmental damage, and you can breathe easy in the knowledge that the battery is being handled properly.
Stock Up on Acid-Neutralizing Agents
You probably already have at least a few acid-neutralizing agents handy. As mentioned above, baking soda works well. Ammonia and soda ash are effective too. Just mix your agent with an equal amount of water, and you'll be able to neutralize acid safely and effectively.
Clean Up Spills Safely
Always clean up battery acid spills quickly because it could be very harmful for someone to come into direct contact with it. To clean a acid spill safely, cover it with an acid-neutralizing solution. After waiting a few minutes, rinse the area with cold water. This method works fine for small spills however for a major leak you should call the local fire department. They are equipped to deal with these kinds of things, and they will make sure that the acid doesn't cause serious environmental problems.
Additional Battery Acid Safety Tips
If acid from a battery gets in your eyes, get over to a sink or eye washing station right away. Force your eyes open and flood them with water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. To be absolutely sure that everything's okay, proceed to the emergency room or an urgent care center right away.
