Burning with acids and alkalis

Burning with acids and alkalis: what to do in case of an accident

Acids and alkalis are chemicals that can cause serious harm to human health. If they come into contact with the skin or other parts of the body, they can cause burns of varying severity. In this article, we will look at what to do if you or someone in your environment comes into contact with acids or alkalis.

Acid burns

If you come into contact with acid, the first step is to remove all contaminants from the skin. This can be done with plenty of water. It should be remembered that when doing this, it is necessary to avoid rubbing off dirt, as this can lead to even greater damage to the skin.

After removing contaminants, it is necessary to treat damaged skin. To do this, you can use an alkali solution, for example, soda, chalk, magnesia, slaked lime or soapy water, but you must use a saturated solution. A weak soap solution can worsen skin damage.

If you do not have suitable products on hand, you can use milk. It will help soften damaged skin and reduce pain.

But remember that you should not use vinegar or other acids when treating leather, as this can cause further damage to the leather.

Alkali burns

If you come into contact with alkali, the first step is to remove all contaminants from the skin. At the same time, you should avoid rubbing off dirt, as this can lead to even more damage to the skin.

After removing contaminants, it is necessary to treat damaged skin. To do this, you can use diluted vinegar or water with plenty of lemon juice or citric acid. This will help neutralize the effects of the alkali and reduce skin damage.

If you do not have suitable products on hand, you can use cotton wool or a dry rag to remove the caustic substance from the surface of the skin. After this, you need to pour plenty of water over the damaged skin.

If a person falls into a pit with a solution of lime or soap lye, it is necessary to pull him out of the pit as soon as possible, pour plenty of water on him and put him in a warm bath. After this, you should immediately seek medical help.

In conclusion, it should be noted that burning with acids and alkalis can cause serious damage to the skin and human health. Therefore, when working with chemicals, it is necessary to take all precautions and use appropriate protective equipment. In the event of an accident, immediate measures must be taken to remove contaminants from the skin and treat the damaged areas. If the skin damage is severe, you should seek medical attention.

Even minor burns from acids or alkalis should never be ignored, as they can lead to serious consequences. Remember that prevention is better than cure, so you should take all precautions when working with chemicals and seek qualified help in the event of an accident.