How to Treat Chemical Burns
- 1). Ensure your safety. Your personal safety is crucial when you attempt to render aid to someone who has come in contact with a dangerous chemical. When you rush in without thinking, you take the risk of becoming a victim yourself. If you are the only person in the area, both the victim and you are now in danger--and no help is on the way.
- 2). Call 911. Before you do anything, call 911 immediately. The operator may be able to assist you in rendering first-aid safely and will have professional help on the way.
- 3). Attempt to determine what the chemical is. If the victim is conscious, ask him what was spilled and where. Ask if it is a dry powder or a liquid. If the victim is unconscious, try to determine this for yourself. If it appears that there is no physical trauma from a fall, move the victim out of the spill zone first. Render CPR and rescue breathing if you find no pulse or respirations.
- 4). Get some water flowing. The primary care for any chemical burn is to wash away the chemical from the person's body. If the chemical is a powder, brush off as much as possible before treating with water. If any clothing is involved, remove the article, being careful not to contaminate yourself as well.
- 5). Keep the water at a copious, but not harsh flow. The area should be flooded with water for at least 20 minutes, or until help arrives and takes over.
