What is the immediate step to be done if your skin comes in contact with chemicals?

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Step 1. Stop the source
Step 2. Clear the lungs
Step 3. Flush the eyes
Step 4. Clean the skin
When to call your healthcare provider
While you wait for help
Chemicals on Skin or Clothing
Chemicals in Eyes
Chemical Inhalation
Accidental Ingestion of Chemicals
Accidental Injection of Chemicals
What is the first thing you should do when a chemical spills on you?
What steps should be completed if you spill a chemical on your skin or in your eyes?
Which action should you take first in the event of accidental skin contact?
What happens if you get chemicals on your skin?

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Some chemicals cause burns. Others may be absorbed through the skin or lungs, causing hidden damage. If possible, always refer to the particular chemical's Safety Data Sheet or contact the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222) for expert advice. In general, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Stop the source

Remove the person from contact with the chemical spill, airborne particles, or fumes. (Wear gloves or use other safety equipment as needed to protect yourself from exposure to the chemical.)
Take off any clothes or jewelry that have been in contact with the chemical. Chemical injuries, just like heat burns, get worse as long as the source is in contact with the body.

Step 2. Clear the lungs

Take the person to fresh air. This may mean going into another room or leaving the building.
Do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), if there is no pulse or breathing.

Step 3. Flush the eyes

Flush the affected eye with water for at least 15 minutes. Make sure the water is cool, especially if its source is an outside hose or eyewash station.
Don't accidentally flush chemicals into an unaffected eye. Hold the head so that the injured eye is on the bottom. Flush from the nose downward.

Step 4. Clean the skin

Brush water-activated chemicals, such as lime, from the skin, instead of using water. Be careful not to brush particles into the eyes.
If the chemical does not react with water, flush the affected skin with cool water for at least 15 minutes. Make sure the water flow is not forceful enough to cause pain or break blisters.
Don't brush away chemicals with your bare hands.

When to call your healthcare provider

Chemicals may cause serious damage not only to the outside of the body, but also to the inside. If absorbed into the blood, chemicals may start a silent attack on the kidneys or liver. Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following is true:

A chemical has come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth.
The Safety Data Sheet calls the chemical hazardous or likely to cause damage.
The container label warns of corrosive contents, which can wear away skin.

Call 911

Call 911 right away if the victim has:

Symptoms of shock
Trouble breathing
Burns over a large area

While you wait for help

Reassure the person.
Do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if there is no pulse or breathing.

Online Medical Reviewer: Eric Perez MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN

Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2019

In the event of an emergency, call 911 or activate a blue light phone.

If you've been exposed to a hazardous material, follow these first aid measures and report all incidents to your manager, supervisor or principal investigator, regardless of severity.

Seek treatment at University Health Services at McCosh Health Center or the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.

Chemicals on Skin or Clothing

1. Immediately flush with water for no less than 15 minutes (except for Hydrofluoric Acid, Flammable Solids or >10% Phenol – see below). For larger exposures, use a safety shower.

For flammable solids on skin, first brush off as much of the solid as possible, then proceed to step 2.
For hydrofluoric acid, rinse with water for five minutes and apply calcium gluconate gel, then get immediate medical attention. If no gel is available, rinse for 15 minutes and go immediately to University Health Services at McCosh or the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.
For phenol concentrations more than 10%, immediately irrigate or swab the affected area with polyethylene glycol (PEG). If PEG is not available, rinse with large volumes of water for 15 minutes. Do not use ethanol. Proceed to step 2.

2. While rinsing, quickly remove all contaminated clothing or jewelry. Seconds count. Do not waste time because of modesty. Use caution when removing pullover shirts or sweaters to prevent contamination of the eyes.

3. Check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to determine whether to expect delayed effects.

4. Discard contaminated clothing or launder them separately from other clothing. Leather garments or accessories cannot be decontaminated and should be discarded.

5. Do not use solvents to wash skin. They remove the natural protective oils from the skin and can cause irritation and inflammation. In some cases, washing with a solvent may facilitate absorption of a toxic chemical.

Chemicals in Eyes

Immediately flush eye(s) with water for at least fifteen minutes.
Hold eyelids away from your eyeball and rotate your eyes so that all surfaces may be washed thoroughly.
Use an eye wash when possible so that hands are free to hold the eyes open. If an eyewash is not available, pour water on the eye, rinsing from the nose outward to avoid contamination of the unaffected eye.
Remove contact lenses while rinsing. Do not lose time removing contact lenses before rinsing. Do not attempt to rinse and reinsert contact lenses.
Seek medical attention regardless of the severity or apparent lack of severity. Explain carefully what chemicals were involved

Chemical Inhalation

Close containers, open windows or otherwise increase ventilation, and move to fresh air.
If symptoms, such as headaches, nose or throat irritation, dizziness, or drowsiness persist, seek medical attention by calling Public Safety at 609-258-3333, 911 from a campus phone or activate a blue light phone or go to University Health Services at McCosh. Explain carefully what chemicals were involved.
Review the Safety Data Sheet to determine what health effects are expected, including delayed effects.

Accidental Ingestion of Chemicals

Immediately go to University Health Services at McCosh or contact the Poison Control Center at 800-962-1253 for instructions.
Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by a health care provider.

Accidental Injection of Chemicals

Wash the area with soap and water and seek medical attention, if necessary.

What is the first thing you should do when a chemical spills on you?

Wash thoroughly (15 minutes) with water using nearest deluge shower or hand/spray unit. Remove any overlying clothing that may retain the chemical and prevent thorough washing of the skin. Depending on the chemical, additional medical treatment may be required.

What steps should be completed if you spill a chemical on your skin or in your eyes?

If a chemical splashes into your eye, take these steps immediately..

Flush your eye with water. Use clean, lukewarm tap water for at least 20 minutes. ... .

Wash your hands with soap and water. Thoroughly rinse your hands to be sure no chemical or soap is left on them..

Remove contact lenses..

Which action should you take first in the event of accidental skin contact?

It is very important that water flushing start immediately following skin or eye contact with a chemical. It is better if complete water flushing occurs on-site.

What happens if you get chemicals on your skin?

Chemical exposures to the skin can cause temporary or permanent health damage. Temporary skin damage may occur from exposure to chemicals. For example, many workers may experience dry, red, cracked skin from contact with water, soaps, gasoline, and certain types of solvents.