Bomb squad called for first-aid kit
by Denise Ellen Rizzo
Jul 19, 2012 | 3574 views | 4 4 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print
A San Joaquin County Sheriff explosives disposal team member carries a box with the chemically treated bandage in it to the bomb trailer where it was driven to the police firing range to be destroyed.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
A San Joaquin County Sheriff explosives disposal team member carries a box with the chemically treated bandage in it to the bomb trailer where it was driven to the police firing range to be destroyed. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Tracy Police seal off the entrance to Racquet Drive where the San Joaquin Sheriff’s bomb trailer waits to remove a chemically treated bandage from a home.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Tracy Police seal off the entrance to Racquet Drive where the San Joaquin Sheriff’s bomb trailer waits to remove a chemically treated bandage from a home. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
A San Joaquin County Sheriff  explosives disposal team members put on a bomb suit so he can remove a chemically treated bandage from a home on Racquet Drive.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
A San Joaquin County Sheriff explosives disposal team members put on a bomb suit so he can remove a chemically treated bandage from a home on Racquet Drive. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
A San Joaquin County Sheriff  explosives disposal team member readies equipment outside a house on Racquet Drive before they go in to remove a chemically treated bandage.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
A San Joaquin County Sheriff explosives disposal team member readies equipment outside a house on Racquet Drive before they go in to remove a chemically treated bandage. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Tracy Police blocked off the streets 60 yards in all directions from the home where a San Joaquin Sheriff’s explosives disposal team gathered to remove a chemically treated bandage.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Tracy Police blocked off the streets 60 yards in all directions from the home where a San Joaquin Sheriff’s explosives disposal team gathered to remove a chemically treated bandage. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Emergency vehicles block off Centre Court Drive at  Tracy Boulevard as the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team worked to remove a chemically treated bandage.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Emergency vehicles block off Centre Court Drive at Tracy Boulevard as the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team worked to remove a chemically treated bandage. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
A San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team members wearing a bomb suit heads to the house on racquet Drive to remove a chemically treated bandage.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
A San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team members wearing a bomb suit heads to the house on racquet Drive to remove a chemically treated bandage. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Tracy Police crews block off Racquet Drive as San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team members remove a chemically treated bandage from a home.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Tracy Police crews block off Racquet Drive as San Joaquin County Sheriff’s explosive disposal team members remove a chemically treated bandage from a home. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
slideshow
Moe Danante said he had no idea there was cause for concern when he put his vintage Girl Scouts first-aid kit up for sale on eBay, but bomb officials were called in Thursday, July 19, to remove the kit because of its volatile contents.

The 1929 kit had been in Danante’s possession for years, he said, and recently he decided to put it up for sale. He said he priced it at $80 and didn’t think anything more about it until a Girl Scouts museum official wrote to warn him about the danger.

“She said call the bomb squad — it’s highly explosive,” said Danante as he sat outside his Racquet Drive house Thursday, July 19. “I was surprised. I’ve been handling it for years.”

According to Danante, the Scouts official told him the chemicals on the bandage used to treat burns will crystallize over time and become explosive. He said he called the Tracy police, and eventually the sheriff’s county explosive ordinance disposal team was contacted to remove the kit.

As a precaution, the area around the house on the 400 block of Racquet Drive was closed to traffic and pedestrians for 60 yards in each direction, police Lt. Dave Sant said. Residents in the area were also told to remain in their houses while the bomb squad removed the first aid kit.

“EOD was concerned enough that they asked for these precautions,” Sant said.

The bomb squad took the kit and intended to detonate it at the Tracy Police Department firing range off South Tracy Boulevard near Tracy Municipal Airport.

• Contact Denise Ellen Rizzo at 830-4225 or drizzo@tracypress.com.

Comments
(4)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
TankTownTroublemaker
|
July 23, 2012
Yes, that would be picric acid. Used as an antiseptic 100 years ago, and relatively safe in its wet form. Dry it out and you get an unstable crystalline form which is potentially explosive, though the medical grade picric acid isn't as dangerous as laboratory grade. See: http://ocfps.org/info/2011-08-15 HMRT Bulletin - Picric Acid Awareness - Old First Aid Kits.pdf
pinkwillow
|
July 19, 2012
so whats this magical chemical that is on bandages that becomes an explosive over time. didnt anyone think to ask that question, maybe share that with the public?
Bird_Man
|
July 19, 2012
Might have been picric acid. Did a search and that seemed to be - about 80-ish years ago - something poured or otherwise impregnated into gauze that was used as an antibiotic and anesthetic when treating/wrapping a wound.

Can't always trust what you find on the internet though, right?

Isn't there a nurse that posts here quite a bit that can tell us that I missed the boat?
pinkwillow
|
July 20, 2012
Ya, but I think she's busy moving homeless people into her house for the "coalition". Would have been nice if officer sant had gave that info to the press, but he probably didn't even ask himself??


We encourage readers to share online comments in this forum, but please keep them respectful and constructive. This is not a space for personal attacks, libelous statements, profanity or racist slurs. Comments that stray from the topic of the story or are found to contain abusive language are subject to removal at the Press’ discretion, and the writer responsible will be subject to being blocked from making further comments and have their past comments deleted. Readers may report inappropriate comments by e-mailing the editor at tpnews@tracypress.com.