Story ID: 
Facts about dry ice
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: A contingent of U.S.
Word Count: 131
A contingent of U.S. Air Force flight attendants participated in this year’s NBAA Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians conference, not just to learn from their peers but to share their own experiences using dry ice as a cooling medium to keep food safe on long trips. It turns out that a sufficient quantity of dry ice allows for weeks of operation and proper food storage. There are important safety considerations when using dry ice. Special storage containers that can hold dry ice without becoming brittle and cracking are available. Dry ice vapors are pure CO2, so proper venting is critical. And protective gloves must be used when handling dry ice. The Air Force team’s presentation on safe dry ice handling is available at: www.nbaa.org/events/fa-ft/2011/presentations.