Skin Contact: FOR ACID BURNS TO THE BODY: 1) Remove the victim from the
contaminated area and immediately place him under a safety shower or wash him with a water hose, whichever is available. 2) Remove all contaminated clothing. 3) Keep washing with large amounts of water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. 4) Have someone make arrangements for medical attention while you continue flushing the affected area with water. 5) a) If available, after thorough washing, the burned area should be immersed in a solution of 0.2% iced aqueous Hyamine 1622 or 0.13% iced aqueous Zephiran Chloride. If immersion is not practical, towels should be soaked with one of the above solutions and used as compresses for the burn area. Ideally compresses should be changed every 2 minutes. 5) b) An alternative treatment to 5a is for the physician to inject sterile 10% aqueous calcium gluconate solution subcutaneously beneath, around, and in the burned area. Initially use no more than 0.5 cc per square centimeter and do not distort appearance of skin. If pain is not completely relieved, additional treatment is indicated. 6) Seek medical attention as soon as possible for all burns regardless of how minor they may appear initially. Hyamine 1622 is a trade name for Tetracaine Benzethonium Chloride, Merck Index Monograph 1078, a quaternary ammonium compound sold by Rohm & Haas, Philadelphia. Zephiran Chloride is a trade name for Benzalkonium Chloride, Merck Index Monograph 1059, also a quaternary ammonium compound, sold by SANOFI Winthrop Pharmaceutical, New York, NY. |
Eye Contact: FOR ACID IN THE EYES: 1) Irrigate eyes for at least 30 minutes with copious quantities of water, keeping the eyelids apart and away from eyeballs during irrigation. 2) Get competent medical attention immediately, preferably an eye specialist. 3) If a physician is not immediately available, apply one or two drops of 0.5% Pontocaine Hydrochloride solution. 4) Do not use oily drops or ointment. Place ice pack on eyes until reaching emergency room.
Note to Physician: For burns of large skin areas, (greater than 25 square inches), for ingestion and for significant inhalation exposure, severe systemic effects may occur. Monitor and correct for hypocalcemia, cardiac arrhythmias, hypomagnesemia and hyperkalemia. In some cases renal dialysis may be indicated. For certain burns, especially of the digits, use of intra-arterial calcium gluconate may be indicated. Treat as chemical pneumonia. Monitor for hypocalcemia, 2.5% calcium gluconate in normal saline by nebulizer or by IPPB with 100% oxygen may decrease pulmonary damage. Bronchodilators may also be administered. Medical Surveillance: Provide phycical examinations of exposed personnel every six months including fluoride determinations in urine, studies of liver and kidney function: chest X-ray, annually. Protect from exposure those individuals with diseases of kidneys, liver, and lung.
Hazardous Industrial Chemicals Safety Manual). AN ALTERNATIVE FIRST AID PROCEDURE: Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) is a highly corrosive and toxic acid, even in a dilute form. It can severely damage the skin and eyes causing severe burns which are extremely painful. Additionally, the vapor from anhydrous HF or its concentrated solutions can cause damage to skin, eyes and the respiratory system. HF differs from other strong acids in that it not only causes surface burns but rapidly penetrates the skin, even in dilute solution, and causes destruction of underlying tissue and even bone by the extraction of Calcium. For this reason, washing the burn with water is not sufficient. A neutralizing agent which will also penetrate the skin is required. The effect of HF, i.e. onset of pain, particularly in dilute solutions, may not be felt for up to 24 hours. It is important, therefore, that persons using HF have immediate access to an effective antidote even when they are away from their work place in order that first aid treatment can be commenced immediately while the patient seeks medical advice. HOW TO TREAT HYDROFLUORIC ACID BURNS: It has been conclusively shown (references 1,2,3 and 4 below) that flushing the affected area with water for one minute and then massaging HF Antidote Gel into the wound until there is a cessation of pain is the most effective first aid treatment available. HF Antidote Gel contains Calcium Gluconate which combines with HF to form insoluble Calcium Fluoride, thus preventing the extraction of Calcium from the body tissue and bones. HF Antidote Gel is available in 25g tubes, and since the effects of the dilute acid may not be apparent for some hours, we recommend that any person in contact with HF should carry, or have access to a tube of HF Antidote Gel at all times; ideally with one tube at the work place, one on the person and one at home. For safety's sake, we believe that HF Antidote Gel should be issued to all employees who may come into contact with HF. EYE INJURIES: Irrigate the affected part immediately with copious amounts of cold water. Urgent medical advice must be sought. HF Antidote Gel is NOT for use in the eye. It is imperative that any person who has been contaminated by HF should seek medical advice even when the treatment by HF Antidote Gel has been applied. |