GuidelinesOther guideline
Burns (Adult) - Chemical
Special considerations in chemical burns
Developed by Prof H Rhode, Dr Albie van der Merwe, Dr Stephan Fourie & Prof A Millar & released as Circular H62 of 2011
(& updated 2016 by Dr S Cox, Dr R Martinez & Prof H Rhode)
Special considerations with chemical burns (consult burn centre)
- Remove all clothing.
- Brush powdered chemicals off the wound, then flush chemical burns for a minimum of 30 minutes using copious volumes of running water. Be careful to protect yourself.
- Reminder: Never neutralise an acid with a base or vice versa.
- Irrigate burned eyes using a gentle stream of saline. Follow with an ophthalmology consultation if transportation is not imminent.
- Determine what chemical (and what concentration) caused the injury.