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#AskPracMed – How do I flush debris out of my eye on site?

The best way to flush debris from an eye is with a purpose-built eye irrigation device that fits over the eye and provides a thorough, controlled flush across the entire eyeball. Any potable water works, it does not need to be saline. A small saline tube produces too concentrated a jet and not enough volume to do the job properly. After flushing, cover the eye with an eye shield or cup,  tape it in place, and get the person to hospital. Eye injuries are medical emergencies and should always be assessed professionally, even if the debris appears to have been removed.

Shop Eyewash Irrigation and eye shields.

Eyewash Irrigation Bottle

Eye Shield

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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.