Eye On Safety

These first aid tips can help minimize the severity of eye injuries

There are a myriad of ways that your eyes can be injured while on the job site. In this blog post we are going to name the 4 most common ways and the proper way to initially treat those until a medical professional can enter the picture.

Particles in the Eye

1. First things first. If you get a particle of dust, sand, dirt, or something similar in you eye, do not rub it.

2. Use an emergency eyewash and flush the eye to remove the particle.

3. See a doctor if particle does not wash out or if pain or redness continues

Chemical Burnes

1. Immediately flush out the eye with drinkable water. If the water is not pure enough to drink, its not pure enough to touch your eyes. Open the eye as wide as possible and flush continuously for at least 15 minutes.

2. If a contact lens is in the eye, flush over the lens immediately. Flushing may dislodge the lens.

3. See a doctor immediately

Cuts, Punctures, Objects in the Eye

1. Do not wash out the eye.

2. Do not try to remove the stuck objects.

3. Stabilize the eye with a rigid shield to prevent anything else getting near the eye, but without putting pressure on the embedded object.

4. See a doctor immediately

Blows to the Eye

1. Apply a cold compress to the eye without pressure

2. Crush ice in a plastic bag and tape it to the person’s forehead so it rests gently on the injured eye.

3. See a doctor at once if pain continues, vision is reduced, blood is in the eye or discoloration occurs.

The eyes are two of the most sensitive areas of your body. If something harms them, the most important thing is to get a medical professional involved as soon as possible.