FW: FYI~~Microwaving Water ~~Good Info

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Sandra Bailey

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Mar 10, 2009, 9:26:42 AM3/10/09
to VFLS...@googlegroups.com

 

 

From: Deborah Barger-Rindahl
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 10:17 AM
To: Raine Davis; 'annie...@aol.com'; air...@aol.com; April B. Davidson; 'all4b...@aol.com'; 'blue_s...@comcast.net'; bettyr...@comcast.net; Christopher B. Hamlet; Candace L. Berry; 'Dee Bogetti'; 'Susan Brucker'; Joan Davis; Joni Davis; Kelly Madrues; Lee S. Bailey; 'KRISTY LEE'; Melissa M. Mozeleski; Mary K. Sellars; Melanie C. Parsons; Maria R. Davenport; 'NKWARRA...@aol.com'; 'nkpdblue'; 'newke...@cox.net'; Rebecca L. West; 'Russt...@aol.com'; Sherry N. Cox; 'Todd.Landrum'; Sandra M. Bowles; Sandra Bailey; Sarah A. McLaughlin; 'Tom Mears'
Subject: FW: FYI~~Microwaving Water ~~Good Info

 

 

Debbie Rindahl

New Kent Sheriff's Office

804-966-9503

 


From: Crystal Small [mailto:csm...@cbsva.com]
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 9:37 AM
To: Wendy Woods; Wanda Vincell; Victor and Cindy Bryant; Vicky Accashian; VALERIE LONG; Tsedale Wallace; Terry Nash; Stephanie Adams; Shelley Keck; Sharon Clayton; Sarah Griffith; Robyn & Tony Cooper; Richard and Teresa Morris; Remle Sherman; Randy Chenault; Penny Mayton; Pam Stokes (tupperware); Pam Murphy; Pam; NORMA ADAMS; MYA BURTON; LISA HILL; Linda Vickory; Laurie Colon; Laura Monnin; Krystal (Talbert) Evans; Kristy Jeter; Kim Parramore; Kim Mitchell; Kim Evers; Kellie Harris; Katie & David Mackay; Karen Smith; June Small; Jean Shepard; James & Carnell White; Gay Wade; Graham & Joyce Donner; Heather Rouze; Emmie; Diane Dahmen; Deborah Brooks; Deborah Bell; Deborah Barger-Rindahl; Dawn; Daryl Sorensen; Charles & Linda Leasure; Cameron Small; Brenda; Betty Gary; Betty Deluke; Becky Wallace; ARLENE ADAMS; April Davidson; Anna Fincher; AMY Bryant; Angela Seeley; Angela Hines; Angela Bratcher; Amy Haynes
Subject: FW: FYI~~Microwaving Water ~~Good Info

 

I hope this will help keep this from happening to anyone else. How terrible. I heat stuff in there all the time now I know I wont  take it out so soon.

 

Microwaving Water!

A 26-year old man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the! water was not boiling, but suddenly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand, but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face which may leave scarring.

He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc.., (nothing metal).


General Electric's Response:


Thanks for contacting us, I will be happy to assist you. The e-mail that you received is correct.. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup. After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds! before moving it or adding anything into it.

Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the matter: 'Thanks for the microwave warning. I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a cup).

What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point.

What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having been shaken.'


If you pass this on
you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and suffering. 

-----


 

 


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Tiffany....@roanokeva.gov

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Mar 17, 2009, 4:30:24 PM3/17/09
to Sandra Bailey, VFLS...@googlegroups.com
Does anyone know if this injury took place in Virginia? I have a news
station wanting more info - I think they are going to run it . . .
Tiffany Bradbury
Fire Prevention Specialist
Roanoke Fire-EMS
An Internationally Accredited Agency
713 Third Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
(540) 853-5785
tiffany....@roanokeva.gov







"Sandra Bailey"
<sba...@co.newke
nt.state.va.us> To
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Subject
[VFLSC411:774] FW: FYI~~Microwaving
03/10/2009 09:28 Water ~~Good Info
AM











From: Deborah Barger-Rindahl
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 10:17 AM
To: Raine Davis; 'annie...@aol.com'; air...@aol.com; April B. Davidson;
'all4b...@aol.com'; 'blue_s...@comcast.net'; bettyr...@comcast.net;
Christopher B. Hamlet; Candace L. Berry; 'Dee Bogetti'; 'Susan Brucker';
Joan Davis; Joni Davis; Kelly Madrues; Lee S. Bailey; 'KRISTY LEE'; Melissa
M. Mozeleski; Mary K. Sellars; Melanie C. Parsons; Maria R. Davenport;
'NKWARRA...@aol.com'; 'nkpdblue'; 'newke...@cox.net'; Rebecca L.
West; 'Russt...@aol.com'; Sherry N. Cox; 'Todd.Landrum'; Sandra M.
Bowles; Sandra Bailey; Sarah A. McLaughlin; 'Tom Mears'
Subject: FW: FYI~~Microwaving Water ~~Good Info


Debbie Rindahl
New Kent Sheriff's Office
804-966-9503


David Chaplin

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Mar 17, 2009, 10:10:45 PM3/17/09
to Tiffany....@roanokeva.gov, VFLS...@googlegroups.com
Here's a web site that explains the Internet-based story (out there since
1999), and some truth to the "rumor":

http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave.asp

Check it out; it is possible, but the story is likely made-up or details
long forgotten.

David


_________________________________
David Chaplin, CFPS, CHS IV

Integrated Fire & Life Safety Solutions
P O Box 828, Salem, VA 24153
Office: 540-375-9114 / 800-815-4749
www.iflss.net
 
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