Doused with hard water: see the first action to help him

The rise in cases of assault by people who have been splashed with hard water makes us always be vigilant at all times. The reason is, burns due to exposure to chemicals such as hard water can cause severe damage to the structure of the skin tissue. Even these burns can affect your internal organs if the hard water is swallowed.

Hard water itself is a general term used for substances that are strong irritants. Hard water can be a highly acidic or alkaline liquid which is so irritating that it can damage the skin or other exposed surfaces. That is why it is very important to perform proper and proper first aid when someone is present or even if you are splashed with hard water.

Some examples of hard water that can be found around us are battery water and clothes bleach. Avoid these ingredients to keep them safe. If you work with these materials, wear personal protective equipment such as gloves and rubber boots and an apron.

What should I do when exposed to or splashed with hard water?

If someone is exposed to these fluids, there are several steps that can be taken as first aid so that the damage that occurs can be minimized.

1. Wash the wound with running water

When you are splashed with hard water, the thing you have to do is not to panic! As much as possible to stay calm and pay attention to which part of the body is exposed to the hard water. Then immediately flush the affected area with running water for 10 to 20 minutes before seeking treatment at the hospital, the same is done if hard water gets into the eyes.

If it is difficult to find running water, you can use bottled mineral water to wash the wound. The goal is to cool the tissue around the skin so that the concentration of the fluid that sticks to the skin can be reduced. Also, make sure that the running water is not too heavy and that the area that is scalded does not spread to other parts of the body.

However, it must be noted, there are several types of hard water that should NOT be in direct contact with water, namely, phenolic liquids, and metal elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium oxide, magnesium, phosphorus.

2. Remove clothes and jewelry

Take off everything that is contaminated with hard water, such as clothes, jewelry, or other objects that are being worn. The goal is to make it easier for the water to flow to the area exposed to the hard water.

3. Do not use ice cubes

People who are exposed to hard water will generally feel a hot skin sensation like burning. Even so, it is not recommended to use or stick ice cubes to the area splashed with hard water. The reason is, giving ice will actually make skin damage that is exposed to exposure to hard water even worse. That is why it is very important to avoid using ingredients that cause the wound to get worse, one of which is using antibiotic ointments, creams, or oily substances such as butter to the area that has burns.

4. Cover the wound with sterile gauze

Wrap areas exposed to hard water with sterile gauze or a clean cloth loosely - not tightly closed. The point is to minimize the wound contamination with other substances which cause the wound to get worse on the way to the hospital.

5. Seek medical help immediately

It depends on the type of chemical liquid, but when the skin is exposed to hard water, it will often cause damage to the skin which causes permanent scars.

You should go to the hospital immediately if:

• Burns larger than 5 centimeters
• Burns are on the face, hands, feet, groin, or buttocks
• Burns occur over vital joints, such as your knees
• Pain cannot be controlled with pain medication
• The victim has signs and symptoms of shock such as shortness of breath, dizziness, low blood pressure, and even fainting

That is why, after making the first aid steps possible, immediately take the victim to the hospital for further medical assistance.