Chemical cocktails created by cleaning products are impacting Londoners safety says Fire Brigade

Isabelle Crow
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By accidentally combining common household cleaners, Londoners are putting themselves at risk as they create dangerous chemical cocktails. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has highlighted how the combination of common cleaning products can trigger a chemical reaction and unleash dangerous fumes.
Since 2023, the LFB has responded to over 150 incidents involving cleaning chemicals that have triggered a dangerous reaction. Chemical incidents require the Brigade to deploy specially trained and equipped officers to identify and deal with these dangerous combinations.
A chemical incident will trigger a larger response from the LFB, this is due to the need to send specialist hazardous material crews to the scene, alongside responding firefighters. These specialist crews are trained to identity the chemicals and the risk they pose.
The Fire Brigade’s Group Commander, Matt Hayward’s statement
The Fire Brigade’s Group Commander Matt Hayward, is warning Londoners to always read the labels and instructions on your cleaning products. He said: “Always follow the instructions on the container to ensure you are using your cleaning products safely. People often think that cleaning products will be twice as effective when mixed, but it can be a recipe for disaster.”
“If you do accidentally mix chemicals and start to feel unwell, make sure you leave your property immediately and stay out whilst you call 999 for assistance. We have crews that are trained and equipped to deal with these incidents, so we are ready to help if required.”
Santosh’s story
In one incident highlighted by the LFB, Santosh Karma, an IT worker in Canary Wharf, was exposed to dangerous gases after mixing two common cleaning products. This caused a dangerous chemical reaction at his house in Plumstead, leading to the ambulance and LFB being called to the scene.
Santosh recalled: “I poured bleach into the wash basin, toilet and the bath. I then used a drain cleaner. The mixture then started to produce gases and as I continued cleaning the bathroom I began to have trouble breathing and started coughing. I opened the small bathroom window, but it didn’t help.
“After a few minutes I was struggling to breathe. I went to my bedroom, opened the window and hung out to breathe in fresh air. It was scary not being able to breathe properly and it felt like it was having a serious impact on my health.
“When the ambulance crew arrived, there were firefighters in breathing apparatus too. I was surprised to see London Fire Brigade at our house, but the ambulance crews had called them.
Santosh also commented on how important the firefighters presence where during the incident and what they did to ensure his home was a same environment again. He remembered how: “The firefighters checked the air quality in our house to make sure it was all ok for everyone to return inside. The ambulance crew took me to hospital for checks. I did some blood tests and fortunately everything was ok. “
The impact of chemical cocktails created by cleaning products on Londoners safety: Summary
The Fire Brigade have discussed what they recognise to be an increased number of Londoners creating dangerous chemical cocktails through using a variety of common cleaning products.