When caring for a patient whose arm is covered with a dry chemical, you should:

• A. Brush away the chemical before flushing with water
• B. Quickly irrigate the arm with large amounts of water
• C. Deactivate the chemical with a 5% vinegar solution
• D. Use forceful streams of water to remove the chemical

Answer: (A)

When a dry chemical is on the skin, start by physically removing the contaminant before using water. Brushing away the dry powder minimizes how much chemical remains to interact with moisture and helps prevent spreading or intensifying the burn, since some dry chemicals can react or generate heat if left in contact with water. After most of the chemical has been brushed off, rinse the area with copious amounts of clean water to wash away what’s left and cool the skin. Using a vinegar solution isn’t standard practice and could introduce another chemical interaction, and directing a forceful stream isn’t necessary beyond thorough irrigation after removing the residue.