Is Your Gasoline Can Safe? Here’s an Opportunity to Exchange it for One That Is!

Keep Your Children Safe: Use and Store Gasoline Properly

Any veteran parent will tell you that “out of sight” isn’t enough to keep children safe. Gasoline, along with other hazardous household substances, must be kept out of the reach of curious children. Because gasoline is used outside and often kept in out of the way places, parents may not consider safe gasoline storage one of the standard child-proofing measures. Sadly, thousands of children nationwide are injured or killed each year in gasoline fueled fires. Young children can also accidently ingest gasoline if stored improperly, which can lead to serious injury or death.

Exchange Your Old Gas Can for a New Safety Can
Blank Children’s Hospital, along with Safe Kids Greater Des Moines and Metro Waste Authority are proud to sponsor, The Legacy of Christopher Allsup, a gas can exchange program. People attending the event can exchange an old gasoline storage container for a new metal safety can equipped with a flame arrestor.

Gas Can Exchange Highlights:

• Saturday, June 7    8 a.m. to Noon
  Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
  1105 Prairie Drive SW
  Bondurant, IA
• Equal exchange of one gas storage can (any size) for one new Eagle Manufacturing 1-gallon safety gas can with flame arrestor
• Old gas cans will be accepted empty or full (gas cannot be transferred)
• New gas can supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis
• Participants must sign a responsibility agreement

About Christopher
Christopher was a vibrant, energetic and happy young man who had a smile on his face every day. He liked school and playing tag at recess. On September 21, 2013, 10-year-old Christopher Allsup suffered burns over 90 percent of his body when a plastic gas container exploded, showered him with gasoline and then ignited. Christopher died from his injuries five hours later.

Legacy of Christopher Allsup Gas Can Exchange Program

The gas can exchange event came about because Christopher’s family wants to help educate the public regarding the dangers of portable gas containers. Flammable gas vapor (fumes) travel easily out of gas containers not equipped with flame arrestors and, with a single spark, can explode. Also, parents need to store gas containers safely in a locked location so children cannot gain access. Representatives from Blank Children’s Hospital and Metro Waste Authority will be on hand at the event to answer questions.