How to Use an Emergency Eyewash Station
An emergency eyewash station is an essential tool to use in any setting where chemicals or small particles can come in contact with a person's eyes. The use of an emergency eyewash station can help alleviate the pain of having something in your eye while you wait for emergency crews to arrive.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Remove any contact lenses immediately if a chemical or other substance gets into your eye. The contact can hold the substance to the eye, causing major amounts of damage.
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2
Forcibly hold your eyes open and place them on the designated spot on the eyewash station. This is probably the hardest thing to do but also the most important.
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3
Continue to hold your eyes open and have someone else turn the water on. Stations are designed to deliver continuous flushing under gentle pressure to ensure that the substance is flushed from your eye.
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4
Have one of your co-workers call the emergency response unit while you continue to irrigate your eyes. Irrigation should last for at least 15 minutes, even after the emergency crews arrive.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always following safety procedures like wearing goggles will significantly lessen your chances of getting something in you eye.
Even if the substance is only in one eye, always flush both eyes. This just guarantees that both eyes are free of the substance.
When you get something in your eye, DO NOT RUB!! Rubbing the eye will just grind whatever is in your eye into it and do much more damage.
