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#AskPracMed – Someone has chemicals in their eyes — what do I do?

First, check the Safety Data Sheet for the specific chemical if available — it will tell you the correct management. If you don’t have that information, flush immediately and flush thoroughly. The solution to pollution is dilution. When flushing a single eye, make sure the affected eye is facing downward so the chemical doesn’t wash into the unaffected eye. If both eyes are affected, tilt the head back to prevent chemical running into the mouth and airway. Cover both eyes after flushing and transport to hospital — this is a medical emergency regardless of the chemical involved.

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Simon Carkeek

Simon is a former NZDF Recon Operator and Patrol Commander with over a decade of service, including two deployments to Afghanistan, Solomon Islands peacekeeping, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami. Domestically, he responded to the Christchurch earthquakes and the Scotts Ferry floods. After service, Simon spent nearly five years in private contracting across Asia Pacific and the Middle East — working as a PSD Team Medic, Site Security Manager, and setting up medical clinics in austere environments where the nearest hospital was a long way away. He's a former action guy and a self-described meatball medic. He founded PracMed NZ because most first aid training wasn't preparing people for real emergencies. It still isn't, everywhere else.