A chemical burn differs from a thermal one: the substance keeps destroying tissue while it stays in contact with skin or eye. The hero here isn't cold but removal — copious continuous rinsing that starts immediately and lasts far longer than instinct suggests.

In short — what to do

  1. Protect yourself first: gloves if available — never touch the chemical bare-handed.
  2. Remove contaminated clothing and jewellery immediately (cut clothes off rather than pulling them over the face).
  3. Brush off dry powder (like lime) with a cloth before water, if the substance is a powder.
  4. Rinse with copious running water for at least 20 minutes — a full hour for eyes or strong alkalis. Don't stop early "because the pain eased".
  5. Never try to "neutralise" — no vinegar on alkali, no soda on acid: the reaction generates heat that worsens the burn.
  6. While rinsing: have someone call 998 or poison control, and keep the container to show the team.

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Rinse under running water at least 20 minutes — and never try to
Rinse under running water at least 20 minutes — and never try to "neutralise"
The full details

The steps

  1. Protect yourself first: gloves if available — never touch the chemical bare-handed.
  2. Remove contaminated clothing and jewellery immediately (cut clothes off rather than pulling them over the face).
  3. Brush off dry powder (like lime) with a cloth before water, if the substance is a powder.
  4. Rinse with copious running water for at least 20 minutes — a full hour for eyes or strong alkalis. Don't stop early "because the pain eased".
  5. Never try to "neutralise" — no vinegar on alkali, no soda on acid: the reaction generates heat that worsens the burn.
  6. While rinsing: have someone call 998 or poison control, and keep the container to show the team.

A drop in the eye?

Rinse immediately and continuously: head tilted, injured eye DOWN (so it doesn't contaminate the good one), lukewarm water flowing from the nose outward while holding the lids open — at least 20 minutes, then straight to the ER, continuing to rinse on the way if possible.

Always to the ER after rinsing if

  • The substance is a strong alkali (oven/drain cleaners) or strong acid.
  • The burn is in the eye, on the face, or larger than a palm.
  • Persistent pain, white/blackened skin, or fumes were inhaled.

One moment

With chemicals: the first minutes of rinsing are worth weeks of treatment later. Rinse longer than you think is enough — then a little longer.

This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.

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