Needlestick/sharps injuries:

• Encourage the wound to bleed, ideally holding it under running water.
• Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. Use the hand wash sink. 
• Dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing.

Procedure in the event of a contamination incident [PDF 167KB] 

General chemical burns: 

• Remove any chemicals from the skin by running the affected area under cool tap water for a minimum of 20 minutes in the hand wash sink.
• Ideally you should not use the lab sink as there may be trace chemicals that could make the situation worse.
• If the chemical involved is in powder form, such as lime, brush it off the skin before running the skin under water.
• Remove any jewellery or clothing that may have been exposed to the chemical.
• Cover the burnt skin with a dry sterile dressing or cling film. Put the cling film in a layer over the burn, rather than wrapping it around a limb. A clean clear plastic bag can be used for burns on your hand.
• If your casualty experiences an increased sensation of burning, rewash the skin for a further 10 minutes.
• Take your casualty to hospital along with information on the chemical (safety data sheet).

First Aid for Burns 

Hydrofluoric acid exposure:

• Immediately decontaminate with high flow water for a minimum of one minute
• Apply calcium gluconate gel and massage into the burnt area wearing gloves appropriate to the level of decontamination. Continue to massage while repeatedly applying gel until 15 minutes after the pain in the burnt area is relieved, if necessary during the ambulance transfer to hospital.
• All HF exposure incidents should be sent to hospital as a precautionary measure

First Aid for Hydrofluoric Acid Exposure

Phenol exposure:

• Phenol burns to the skin must be treated with Polyethylene glycol 300 (PEG).
• Remove any chemicals from the skin by running the affected area under warm tap water for 20 minutes to remove any phenol which may be lying on the surface of the skin (not yet absorbed).
• After the initial irrigation with water, swab / wipe affected area repeatedly with a solution of Polyethylene Glycol 300 (PEG) for 30 minutes, frequently changing the swab for a fresh swab soaked with PEG.
• Chemicals burns should be assessed by a Health Care Professional, either at A&E or an NHS walk-in centre depending on the depth, size and extent of the burn area / pattern.

Phenol Use Guidance