I just took the anual 8-hour HAZWOPER (First responder at operations
level) HAZMAT course; one of the areas covered by our instruction was on
protective equipment. He told us of an incident in Lynn, MA; the FD
responded to a fire at a chemical company. The fire was in an area where
there was a 100-pound vat of molten sodium. One of the firefighters
threw a shovel ful of sand on the sodium.
In solid form, sodium is highly reactive. In molten form, if it comes in
contact with ANY water, it explodes.
Maybe there had been some water on the shovel..or maybe in the sand.
Either way, the vat exploded.
There were seven firefighters in the room. All seven had disregarded
instructions, and had their turnout gear in various forms of disarray.
All seven suffered severe, third-degree burns where their turnout gear
wsasn't as it should be. All seven are now permanently disabled.
1) ALWAYS use protective gear properly.
2) Never, NEVER mess with elemental sodium!!!

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americans"

Theodore Roosevelt