In case of a chemical burn, what should be the FIRST step in treatment?

In the event of a chemical burn, the first critical step in treatment is to wash the affected area with water. This is essential because flushing the area helps to remove the chemical agent from the skin, minimizing further damage and reducing the risk of complications such as infection or deeper tissue injury.

Immediately diluting and washing away the chemical can prevent it from continuing to react with the skin and causing more severe burns or injury. Depending on the chemical involved, some substances can cause significant damage very quickly, so rapid intervention is vital.

While neutralizing the chemical or covering the burn could be part of later steps in the management, they should only be performed after the initial cleansing of the area, as applying neutralizing agents can sometimes cause additional injuries or complications. Assessing the patient's pain level is also important but should occur after ensuring the immediate and most effective treatment of washing the burn site. Thus, washing with copious amounts of water is the priority for initial management.