What is the recommended action for flushing eyes during personal decontamination?

• A. Flush their face and eyes with clean water.
• B. Wipe eyes with a dry cloth.
• C. Rub eyes to remove irritant.
• D. Apply lotion to eyes.

Answer: (A)

The ability to minimize eye injury starts with immediate and thorough flushing with clean water. Irritants or chemicals in the eye are most effectively removed by a continuous rinse, which dilutes the substance and reduces contact time with the delicate eye tissue. Gently hold the eyelids apart and let clean water flow over the eye from the inner corner toward the outer corner, continuing for at least about 15 minutes. Use a steady, gentle stream—an eyewash station or running tap water works well. If easy and safe to do so, remove contact lenses. After flushing, seek medical advice if irritation or vision problems persist. Wiping with a dry cloth, rubbing the eyes, or applying lotion can spread contaminants or cause more harm, so those actions aren’t appropriate during initial decontamination.