Chemical Exposure First Aid

Acids, caustics, solvents, cement, cleaners and fuels can burn skin, damage eyes and poison the body. The first minutes matter most. In nearly every case, the answer is the same: get away from the chemical, get it off you, and flush with lots of water, then get medical care.

• Construction
• General Industry
• Home

Know your resources before an emergency

• Where the eyewash and safety shower are, and that the path is clear. See Eyewash & Showers
• Where the Safety Data Sheets are kept. Section 4 covers first aid. See Safety Data Sheets
• The Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222 (in the U.S., free, 24 hours)
• Who on site is trained in first aid, and the 911 address of the site

Skin contact

1. Remove contaminated clothing, jewelry and shoes right away, even if you have to cut them off. Don’t pull clothing over your face.
2. If the chemical is a dry powder (like dry cement or lime), brush off as much as you can first, then flush.
3. Flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Use a safety shower if you have one. Use lukewarm water if possible.
4. Wash gently with soap if the SDS says it’s OK.
5. Cover the area loosely with a clean, dry dressing. See Burn First Aid.
6. Get medical care, and bring the SDS or label.

Wet cement and lime can cause deep chemical burns that you don’t feel at first. If it gets in your boots or gloves, take them off and flush. See Corrosives.

Eye contact

1. Go to an eyewash immediately. Seconds count.
2. Hold your eyelids open and flush for at least 15 minutes, rolling your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, take them out if they come out easily, but don’t delay flushing.
3. Don’t rub the eye. Don’t put anything in it except clean water or sterile saline.
4. Call 911 or get to emergency care while continuing to flush if you can.

Breathing it in

• Get to fresh air right away, upwind and uphill if you can. Don’t go back for others without proper protection and training.
• Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, coughing that won’t stop, or any exposure to a gas or vapor with serious effects. Some harm shows up hours later. See Gas Detectors.
• Keep the person at rest and warm. Start CPR if they stop breathing. See CPR & AED.

Swallowed chemicals

• Don’t make the person vomit unless Poison Control or a doctor tells you to.
• Don’t give anything to drink unless the SDS or Poison Control says so.

Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or 911, and have the product label or SDS ready.

Don’t try to neutralize

Don’t pour an acid on a base burn or the other way around. The reaction can make heat and more injury. Water is the standard first aid for most chemicals. A few chemicals need special treatment, like hydrofluoric acid, which may call for a calcium gluconate gel. The SDS and emergency services will say so.

What to tell responders

• The name of the chemical and how it got on or in the person
• How long ago, and how long you flushed
• Symptoms and any medical conditions
• Bring the label or SDS

Report the exposure to your supervisor. It’s a work injury, and the incident should be reviewed. See Incident Investigation and Spill Response.

Chemical first aid checklist

• Away from the source; contaminated clothing off
• Flushed with water for at least 15 minutes
• SDS Section 4 checked; Poison Control or 911 called as needed
• Medical care arranged, label or SDS taken along
• Incident reported

Last updated: October 4, 2026