In the case of an eyewash emergency, which action should you take?

In the case of an eyewash emergency, which action should you take?

• A. Do not squeeze your eyes shut
• B. Close your eyes tightly
• C. Rub your eyes
• D. Ignore and continue working

Answer: (A)

In an eyewash emergency, the top priority is to flush out any contaminant from the eye by continuously rinsing with clean water. Keeping the eyes open during flushing is essential because water needs to contact all surfaces of the eye, including under the lids, to dilute and remove the irritant. Squeezing the eyes shut prevents effective rinsing and can trap chemicals against the cornea, increasing the risk of injury. Rubbing the eyes is also harmful; it can scratch the surface and push material deeper. Ignoring the incident or continuing to work delays proper decontamination and can worsen damage. So, immediately use an eyewash station or running water, tilt the head so the water flows from the inside corner toward the outside, and rinse for at least 15 minutes. If you can do so safely, remove contact lenses. Keep eyes open and gently lift the upper lid and pull the lower lid away to help water reach under the lids. After flushing, seek medical attention if irritation persists, if a chemical exposure is suspected, or if vision changes.

In an eyewash emergency, the top priority is to flush out any contaminant from the eye by continuously rinsing with clean water. Keeping the eyes open during flushing is essential because water needs to contact all surfaces of the eye, including under the lids, to dilute and remove the irritant. Squeezing the eyes shut prevents effective rinsing and can trap chemicals against the cornea, increasing the risk of injury. Rubbing the eyes is also harmful; it can scratch the surface and push material deeper. Ignoring the incident or continuing to work delays proper decontamination and can worsen damage.

So, immediately use an eyewash station or running water, tilt the head so the water flows from the inside corner toward the outside, and rinse for at least 15 minutes. If you can do so safely, remove contact lenses. Keep eyes open and gently lift the upper lid and pull the lower lid away to help water reach under the lids. After flushing, seek medical attention if irritation persists, if a chemical exposure is suspected, or if vision changes.