HELP-AMMONIA BURNS?

[fleamarketer]

I was working on my 1981 Winnebago Warrior scraping the ceiling off in a ceiling repair.I had the land line pluged in to run the roof A/C and play the radio without draining the batteries.There is a strip that has the (real old norcold 774R)frig pluged into it(It's in the compartment outside of the MH) and has a extentsion cord that goes to run a TV on a counter next to the frig.Well this frig hasn't worked since I bought the RV and I intend to replace it.So I decided to test the circuit by pluging in a drill that I had inside.Sure enough the drill worked.I continued to work for awhile and then I smelled ammonia.This old frig was filled with ammonia back then.I must have moved the plug enough to have the frig make contact and start running.So you know the movies where there is a monster outside and you wonder why the devel the actor goes outside to see it?.LOL Yeppers-I opened the frig to see if it was running.Got a good shot of Ammonia and slamed the door shut.Right away my nose and eyes burned.After coughing for afew mins I went outside and unpluged that thing.Grrrrrrr.Does anyone know if being exposed to ammonia like that will effect me say tomorrow?.Not feeling to bad now,but don't know about in the mornning.Blew my nose a lot and seem to have cleared anything that was there.First thing tomorrow that frig is coming out.

[fleamarketer]

I was working on my 1981 Winnebago Warrior scraping the ceiling off in a ceiling repair.I had the land line pluged in to run the roof A/C and play the radio without draining the batteries.There is a strip that has the (real old norcold 774R)frig pluged into it(It's in the compartment outside of the MH) and has a extentsion cord that goes to run a TV on a counter next to the frig.Well this frig hasn't worked since I bought the RV and I intend to replace it.So I decided to test the circuit by pluging in a drill that I had inside.Sure enough the drill worked.I continued to work for awhile and then I smelled ammonia.This old frig was filled with ammonia back then.I must have moved the plug enough to have the frig make contact and start running.So you know the movies where there is a monster outside and you wonder why the devel the actor goes outside to see it?.LOL Yeppers-I opened the frig to see if it was running.Got a good shot of Ammonia and slamed the door shut.Right away my nose and eyes burned.After coughing for afew mins I went outside and unpluged that thing.Grrrrrrr.Does anyone know if being exposed to ammonia like that will effect me say tomorrow?.Not feeling to bad now,but don't know about in the mornning.Blew my nose a lot and seem to have cleared anything that was there.First thing tomorrow that frig is coming out.

[GaryKD]

This might help.
If ammonia gets on your skin or in your eyes, flush the areas with clear water for at least 15 minutes to rinse away all ammonia. If water is not available, cool coffee, milk, cola, juice or other nontoxic liquid may provide temporarily help. An ammonia blast to the face could freeze eye lids closed. Never force eye lids open with your fingers, instead, apply water to the lids and continue flushing until they open. When ammonia is sprayed on your clothes, flush the clothing with water for a few moments until it is thawed, then remove the clothing and continue to rinse the skin for at least 15 minutes.

Always seek medical attention after an exposure to ammonia. Proper medial treatment will reduce the severity of the injury and speed the recovery process. Never apply salves or ointment to ammonia burns. Your physician will advise you on the proper treatment of ammonia burns.

Even after time has passed, consider rinsing your eyes with water.

[fleamarketer]

Sorry I should have been clearer.It isn't the liquid ammonia but the flumes from it.

[TallPaul]

As far as I know, brand new RV fridges are still run with ammonia. I got a blast from my old fridge. After pulling it from the RV, I walked by it in the yard and my eyes and nose stung. Just fumes, but nasty. I basically stayed away from it after that and was fine. Wish they had some innert type gas to run these things.

[TXiceman]

HERE is a link to get you started on ammonia exposure. The threshold limits between where it is an irritant and where it causes harm are pretty far apart.

I doubt if you did any damage other than an irritation of the wetted surfaces of the mouth,throat and nose.

You could go to the Doctor, but he will probably tell you to take it easy for a few days if you are not feeling well.

Ken

[fleamarketer]

Yep-I'm ok today.Hit me like a ton of bricks and scared the heck out of me.Not something I would want to do ever again.

Thanks

Gary

[Ray,IN]

I suspect you now know why ammonia capsules are used by the medical profession to revive people. This is why it is difficult to locate a repairman for RV refrigerators sometimes. It's nasty stuff if you are not trained to handle it. Glad you are well.

[TXiceman]

I have worked around ammonia for about 35 years now and it can get you. It is caustic and you can get chemical burns, cold burns and all sorts of respiratory problems but it takes a pretty good hit for damage to be long term.

Glad you are O.K..

Ken