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Chemical Burns: First Aid

 

 

Chemical burns is one of the types of the burns which may occur due to the accidental exposure to the chemicals, careless handling of the chemicals at home, as a result of the assault or the occupational hazard.

The substances usually are the strong acids or the strong bases and the chemical irritants.

When chemical burns take place the person experiences the burning sensation, irritation, redness of the skin, pain, difficulty in breathing, blisters are formed; if the chemical gets splashed into the eyes, it may result into the loss of the vision.

The steps of first aid for the chemical burns are as follows:

  1. Take the person away from the site of the accident.
  2. All you can do first is to flush out the area exposed to the chemicals with plentiful of cool water to remove out the chemical as much as possible for about 20 minutes.
  3. Preserve the chemical for further investigation.
  4. Provide pain relief by applying the moist clean clothes around the wound.

 

If the chemical burns have occupied the major portion of the skin, seek medical assistance:

  1. Call 911 immediately. Meanwhile assess whether the person or victim is conscious; if conscious, watch for the signs of shock such as dizziness or fainting, low pulse, pale look, signs of hypotension.
  2. Cover the wound area; keep it clean.
  3. Administer the I.V fluids to prevent the hypovolemic shock.
  4. Provide pain relief as advised by doctor.
  5. Give antibiotic preparations as ordered.

 

Prevention Is Better Than Cure:

To prevent the chemical burns, take following precautions:

  1. Occupational exposure can be prevented by the use of safety devices such as hand gloves, goggles, gum boots, etc.
  2. Always be careful while handling the domestic chemicals at home.
  3. Avoid over exposure to any strong chemicals.
  4. Always keep the chemicals under lock and key.

Disclaimer
This site provides you with the general guidelines and information regarding the first aid measures for the various conditions or health related problems. It is not a substitute for the medical advice or the formal first aid training. It will not be responsible or liable in case one tries to make diagnosis based on the provided information. You always need to consult the doctor and emergency department in case of all the serious emergencies rather than just relying upon the supposed guidelines.




 

 

 

 

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