If a casualty has chemical exposure to the skin, what should you do with contaminated clothing?

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Multiple Choice

If a casualty has chemical exposure to the skin, what should you do with contaminated clothing?

When skin is exposed to a chemical, the priority is to remove the source of exposure and wash the skin thoroughly. Contaminated clothing can keep the chemical in contact with the skin, causing further irritation or damage and increasing absorption. So you should take off the clothing that’s been contaminated and then rinse the skin with clean running water for at least 20 minutes to wash away the chemical and dilute any residue. If the clothing sticks to the skin, cut the fabric away rather than pulling it off forcefully, but don’t delay rinsing. Washing the clothes alone won’t remove chemical from the skin, and leaving clothing on continues exposure, while partial removal can still leave chemical against the skin.

When skin is exposed to a chemical, the priority is to remove the source of exposure and wash the skin thoroughly. Contaminated clothing can keep the chemical in contact with the skin, causing further irritation or damage and increasing absorption. So you should take off the clothing that’s been contaminated and then rinse the skin with clean running water for at least 20 minutes to wash away the chemical and dilute any residue.

If the clothing sticks to the skin, cut the fabric away rather than pulling it off forcefully, but don’t delay rinsing. Washing the clothes alone won’t remove chemical from the skin, and leaving clothing on continues exposure, while partial removal can still leave chemical against the skin.

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