Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratory - libdoc.who.int

100 Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratoryAlkali splashes on the skin●●Wash the affected area thoroughly and repeatedly with water.Bathe the affected skin with cotton wool soaked in a 5% solution of acetic acid(or undiluted vinegar or lemon juice).Alkali splashes in the eye● Wash the eye immediately with large quantities of water sprayed from apolyethylene bottle (or rubber bulb); squirt the water into the corner of the eyenear the nose (see Fig. 3.76). Alternatively, wash the eye with running waterfrom a tap (see Fig. 3.77).● After washing the eye with water, bathe it with a saturated solution of boric acid.● Send for a physician. Continue to apply boric acid solution to the eye until thephysician arrives.Swallowing alkalisIf alkali is accidentally swallowed:● Send for a physician.● Immediately make the patient drink a 5% solution of acetic acid (or lemon juiceor vinegar diluted 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water).● Make the patient gargle with the same acid solution.● Give the patient three or four glasses of ordinary water.● If the lips and tongue are burned by the alkali:— rinse throughly with water, then— bathe with a 5% solution of acetic acid.PoisoningThis can be caused by:— inhaling toxic vapours or gases (e.g. chloroform)— accidental swallowing of a poisonous solution.In all cases:●●Send for a physician or qualified nurse, specifying the toxic substance involved.Place the victim in the open air while waiting for the physician or nurse.Burns caused by heatThese fall into two categories:● Severe burns (e.g. burns caused when burning ether or boiling water is spilledover the victim).● Minor burns (e.g. burns caused by hot glassware or a Bunsen flame).Severe burns● If the victim is on fire (e.g. splashed with burning ether or other flammablesolvents), roll him or her in a blanket to extinguish the flames.●●●Inform the physician on duty at the casualty department immediately, specifyingthat a patient with severe burns will have to be moved.Lay the victim on the ground. Do not remove any clothing. Cover the patient ifhe or she is cold.Do not apply any treatment to the burns: this must be left to the physician.