Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [19]
After following the procedures below, seek medical assistance. Take the chemical container or the name of the chemical with you to the emergency department. Have the victim wear sunglasses because their eyes will be sensitive to light.
Treatment:
1. Quickly wash your hands with soap and water to make sure there is no chemical on them.
2. If the victim is wearing them, have them carefully remove their contact lenses.
3. If at home, have the victim get into the shower and flush the eye(s) with lukewarm tap water for at least 20 minutes.
4. If not at home, place the victim’s head under a water faucet. Have them turn their head to the side, then flush the eye(s) with lukewarm tap water for at least 20 minutes.
5. Lay young children in the bathtub then pour a gentle stream of water over the affected eye(s) for at least 20 minutes.
Corneal Abrasion
The cornea is the clear, protective "window" at the front of the eye. Dust, dirt, sand, wood shavings, metal particles and even paper can scratch or cut the cornea. This is called an abrasion. A corneal abrasion that becomes infected can result in a corneal ulcer, which is a serious medical problem.
Corneal abrasions often occur when playing sports, performing home repairs, or playing with young children. The cornea can also be damaged by contact with chemicals, such as antifreeze or household cleaners, or substances. For first aid if this happens, see Chemicals in the Eye.
Because the cornea is extremely sensitive, abrasions are painful, and victims often feel as if they have sand in their eye(s). Symptoms of corneal abrasion include:
• Tearing
• Blurred vision
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Redness around the eye(s)
• Headache
Treatment:
1. Use saline solution or clean water to rinse the eye. Rinsing the eye may wash out the offending foreign body.
2. Fill a small, clean glass with tepid water and position its rim against the bone at the base of the eye socket.
3. If a job site has an eye-rinse station, use it.
4. Have the victim blink several times. Blinking may remove small particles of dust or sand.
5. Gently pull the victim’s upper eyelid over their lower eyelid. The lashes of the lower eyelid can sometimes brush a foreign body from the inside of the upper eyelid.
6. Never remove an object that’s embedded in the eyeball even if the object is large and prevents the eye from closing.
7. Don’t allow the victim to rub their eye(s). Touching or rubbing can worsen an abrasion.
9. Don’t use tweezers, cotton swabs or other instruments. These can also worsen a corneal abrasion.
Foreign Object In Eye
For objects embedded in a victim’s eye(s), do not try and remove them, even if they prevent the eye from closing. Seem medical attention immediately. Do not allow the victim to rub the affected eye(s).
Treatment:
1. Wash your hands and have the victim sit in a well-lighted area.
2. See if you can see the object by gently pull the lower eyelid down and having the victim look up, then pulling the upper lid up and having the person look down.
3. Use an eyecup or a small, clean glass positioned beneath the eye to flush the eye with either saline solution, or clean lukewarm water.
4. Seek medical attention immediately if the victim experiences abnormal vision, pain, redness or the sensation of the object still being in the eye after it has been removed.
Foreign Objects
Contents
Foreign Objects
Foreign Object in Ear
A foreign object in the ear can cause pain and hearing loss. Adults usually you know if an object is stuck in your ear, but small children may not be aware of it.
Treatment:
1. Use gravity by tilting the victim’s head to the affected side.
2. Never use a tool such as a cotton swab or paperclip, to remove a foreign object. You risk pushing the object farther into the ear and damaging the sensitive