DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

If the injury is from a chemical:• Call your local Poison Control Center (or 1-800-222-1222in the U.S.) and have name of chemical handy, if possible.• If victim is wearing contact lenses, ask Poison Control ifthey should be removed and whether to keep or dispose ofthem! If okay and able to take out, ask victim to removelenses.• Have victim lean over sink, lie down, or get in shower -hold eye(s) open, and gently flush with lukewarm waterfor at least 15 minutes. (If only one eye has chemical in it,make sure head is turned so it doesn’t pour into the othereye.)• Tell victim to roll eyeball(s) around while flushing towash entire eye.• DO NOT press or rub the eyes!• May want to cover eyes with clean dressing & bandagesbut ask Poison Control or check label on bottle. For example,if chemical is mustard gas (sulfur mustard) youshould not cover eyes ... but wear shades to protect them.• Get medical attention immediately!Things you should NOT do…• DO NOT try to remove an object that is stuck into the eye!• DO NOT try to remove their contacts (if any)… let thevictim do it!• DO NOT try to move the eyeball if it comes out of thesocket!Things you SHOULD do…• Protect your eyes with safety glasses or goggles whenplaying sports or working with tools or chemicals ... andwear shades during the day (to help reduce UV exposure).• When an eye injury occurs, have an ophthalmologist (aneye physician and surgeon) examine it as soon as possible.You may not be realize how serious an injury is at first.Also may want to review TERRORISM (in Section 2) for information, signs& symptoms, and treatment on several chemical and biological agents thatmay cause eye injuries or discomfort.186 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325