You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye with water, but more serious injuries require medical attention.
How to Help
Foreign Body
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine the eye.
- Flush the eye with water, Optrex or Saline – avoid flushing into the uninjured eye.
- Do not touch, press, or rub the eye itself.
- Do not try to remove any foreign body except by flushing.
- If the foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, the eye should be covered and the patient should get medical assistance.
Embedded Foreign Body
- If an object is sticking out of the eye do not try to remove it.If possible, gently cover both eyes.
- Seek immediate medical assistance.
Chemical Exposure
- Flush the eye as above and continue to rinse the eye(s) as much as possible until the patient has medical assistance.
- Ensure the unaffected eye doesn’t become exposed. Flush the affected eye with the head tilted and the affected eye closest to the ground.
This information is for reference only and comprehensive life saving skills can only be gained by attending a First Aid Christchurch first aid course.