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Chemical Burns To The Skin |
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Many chemicals are so strong that they can quickly burn the skin. These types of chemicals are referred to as being "caustic." All chemicals should always be stored out of the reach of children.
COMMON CHEMICALS THAT MAY CAUSE SKIN BURNS INCLUDE: - acids, such as tile cleaners, car battery acid, and swimming pool acids
- drain cleaners, such as Drano, Liquid Plumber, and other products with alkali ingredients
- gasoline
- wet or dry cement
- lime and
- strong oxidizers, such as chlorine
First aid for skin exposure to a caustic chemical is simple. Rinse it off thoroughly with running water. Continue rinsing for a minimum of 15 minutes. This is often best done with a garden hose or by stepping into a shower. If it is possible, remove contaminated clothing while flushing the affected area. After rinsing for 15 minutes, call the Poisons Information Centre for further advice. It helps to have the chemical container with you when this call is made. Do not try to neutralise a chemical, by putting an alkali chemical onto skin that has been exposed to an acid. This can produce a powerful chemical reaction resulting in the production of heat, further burning and even an explosion. Article #4904 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
