Chapter 4 Safety and Infection Control 101 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. The most common chemical injury is a burn. The site of the chemical contact should be fl ushed with water immediately. The skin might simply turn red at the site, but proper fi rst aid must still be applied right away. Various chemicals may also produce harmful gases, which can cause burns to the respiratory tract, shortness of breath, a certain type of pneumonia, or other respiratory distress. To reduce the risk of chemical injury • wear gloves when using chemicals (goggles and protective safety clothing may also be required) • do not use chemicals in unlabeled containers • read chemical labels carefully, double-checking before use • never mix unknown chemicals • use chemicals in a well-ventilated area • clean up all spills immediately using a special spill kit (only if you know what the spill contains and are trained to clean it up) and • immediately fl ush the skin or eyes if they come in contact with a chemical, and continue to do so for up to 10 minutes. Your facility may have a safety shower or an eyewash station for you to use (Figure 4.5). Contact lenses are not protective safety gear. Contact lenses must be protected by safety goggles to prevent serious injury to the eye. Some health- care facilities prohibit contact lens wearers from handling certain chemicals. Check with your facility for guidelines. Every chemical used in your healthcare facility should be accompa- nied by a material safety data sheet (MSDS). Read this sheet carefully—it contains important information about the chemical’s makeup, dilution and mixture concentration, and instructions for use. It also explains the pos- sible hazards of using the chemical and the appropriate fi rst aid treatment needed in case of an accident or spill. These sheets should be placed in easily accessed and known locations for everyone using the chemicals and near where the chemicals are used. material safety data sheet (MSDS) a document containing comprehensive information about a particular chemical used in a healthcare facility each chemical used has a corresponding MSDS Niwat panket/Shutterstock.com Click Images/Shutterstock.com Figure 4.5 You will encounter different types of emergency eyewash stations if you pursue a career in healthcare. Know where these stations are located in your facility.