Acting Quickly for Eye Injuries is Important to Saving Vision

Approximately 2,000 workers in the United States have a job-related eye injury each day.  Even though most of these injuries are preventable, eye accidents do occur. In the event of an injury, proper first aid immediately following is crucial.  Here are some tips on how to take action following an accident:

 - Set up easily accessible eyewash stations and educate employees on their location and use

 - Understand and train employees on basic first-aid techniques.

Basic first-aid techniques include the following:

For Particles in the Eye

 -Do not rub the eye 

 -Flush the eye with a generous amount of water 

 -If particles does not wash out, or if pain or redness continues, see a physician

For Punctures, Cuts, or Objects Piercing the eye

 -Do not try to remove an object stuck in the eye 

-Do not wash out the eye

 -See a medical professional at once

For Forceful Impacts to the Eye

 -Apply a cold compress – but do not apply pressure. 

 -Tape a plastic bag containing crushed ice to the forehead and let it rest gently on the injured eye. 

 -If there is decreased vision, continued pain, blood in the eye, or discoloration, which indicates possible internal eye damage, seek medical help immediately.

Chemical Burns

 -Immediately flush the eye with water. Continue flushing for a period of 15 minutes. For caustic solutions, continue flushing until medical personnel are available to assist. 

 -See a physician at once