Treatment of alkali burns

If the body comes into contact with alkali solutions during production, rinse it immediately with boric acid or clean water. The effects of alkali burns are severe; even after coming into contact with water to remove the alkali, the burn will continue to progress. Therefore, after contact with the alkaline solution, continuous rinsing should be carried out until the pain no longer progresses. Previously, in the workshop, I was drenched from head to toe with large amounts of 20% alkaline solution, so I turned on the fire hydrant, sat on the ground to wash myself, and asked my colleagues to get me some clothes. The water in the north is very cold in April; I caught a cold from the cold, but I wasn’t burned by the alkali – only a lot of my hair was damaged. There were instances where female workers fell into lye, and by the time they returned to their living quarters to change clothes, severe skin burns had occurred. This post was last edited by haining on 2009-2-20 08:42.]

Rinse immediately with plenty of clean water. The first few minutes after the skin comes into contact with alkaline substances are crucial in determining the severity of the burn. Once alkaline substances penetrate the skin, they react with the fats in the skin and gradually kill the tissue. Some studies suggest that vinegar can be used; it neutralizes alkaline substances 15 minutes faster than plain water. However, it is still necessary to rinse away the alkaline substances from the skin with clean water before using vinegar. This post was last edited by yzhms on 2009-3-4 12:26.]

First aid measures: In the case of skin burns caused by alkalis, remove any contaminated clothing and rinse the affected skin with plenty of flowing water for 20 minutes or longer. In the case of alkali burns, rinse until the wound surface no longer has a soapy, slippery feel ； Apply a warm compress with 5% boric acid solution for about 10–20 minutes, then rinse with water; avoid using acidic liquids to rinse, as this could generate heat through neutralization and worsen the burn. 　　In the event of an eye burn, rinse it immediately with plenty of flowing water. The affected person can also submerge their face in a container filled with flowing water, turning their head and keeping their eyes open to facilitate cleaning; this should be done for at least 10–20 minutes. After that, rinse the area with saline solution, and apply cortisone drops as well as antibiotics.

As a supplementary note: if clothes are also wetted by alkaline liquid, they should be removed immediately and rinsed with water; in severe cases, seek medical attention right away.

In the case of caustic soda burns, it is necessary to immediately wash the affected area with plenty of flowing water for at least 15 minutes; longer washing time is required for larger areas. The affected area should not be rubbed, as this can worsen the injury. Where possible, a 3% boric acid cleaning solution should be used to neutralize the caustic soda remaining on the skin after cleaning with plain water. If it is severe, and the skin becomes red, swollen, and damaged after pre-treatment with rinsing, burn oil can be applied. Be careful to avoid infections in the later stage. In severe cases, medical attention should be sought promptly after premenstrual irrigation. If the eyes are burned by caustic soda, they should be washed with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes as quickly as possible, using a gentle flow of water. With the help of someone else, the residual alkali in the eyes was neutralized using a 3% boric acid solution in drop form, after which the person was taken to the hospital for further examination and treatment. If the head is burned by alkali, care should be taken to protect the unharmed eyes while cleaning it. Avoid letting water containing caustic soda, carried in after rinsing, enter the eyes and cause damage.

The first thing to do is to rinse with plenty of clean water, and the sooner the better. I experienced an accident that was quite impactful: a faulty flange gasket caused about 11% of the alkaline solution to spray out at a 90-degree angle, resulting in injuries to the faces and eyes of two people. Since there was only one source of water nearby at that time, those with milder injuries had to run about 30 meters to another water source to wash their wounds. As a result, those with more severe injuries were able to recover after just two days of observation in the hospital, while those with milder injuries had to stay in the hospital for two weeks.

Rinse immediately with plenty of water.