The portable eye wash, also called an eyewash, is essential first aid equipment in case of chemical burns or contamination of the eye by a foreign body. Through the use of an eye decontamination solution, it allows a rapid reaction in order to avoid any damage to the eyes. This emergency device is compulsory in certain fields of activity (industries, chemical laboratories, garages, etc.), when employees are exposed to eye risks.

The eye wash, also called eyewash, comes in the form of a small bottle filled with liquid, equipped with a tip adapted to the shape of the eye, or ergonomic eyecup that adapts perfectly to the contours of the eye. eye, to be able to position it on it. It is a first aid equipment allowing to react quickly and to treat an injury caused by a projection in one eye, or even in both eyes, whether the projection is chemical or related to a physical object projected into the eye. .

The Bottled Eye Wash offers an easily portable, portable solution that is easy to slip into a first aid kit or pocket specially made to hang on your belt. It can also be placed in plain view of employees and directly available to teams with a wall mount.

There are several situations that may require eye washing with an eye wash:

• presence of a solid foreign body, that is to say of an element (grain of sand, dust, pollen, shard of wood or metal, hair) of small size which was thrown by accident;
• splash of a foreign body, i.e. a liquid substance with a composition different from the human body flow (acid, aerosol, solvents, bases, etc.) projected into the eye.

If the eye wash does not fully cure the eye, it at least removes the foreign body and disinfects the injured eye immediately, preventing serious eye damage or infection. The risks obviously depend on the nature of the projection. In the case of chemical burns, the speed of intervention is decisive to minimize the sequelae linked to contamination.

HOW TO USE

• Extract the wall eye wash bottle if it is stored in a box or take it from the company medicine cabinet;
• turn the eye cup half a turn until the protective cap is perforated;
• apply the eye cup to the affected eye;
• tilt your head back;
• gently squeeze the bottle: the eye rinsing solution should enter the eye regularly and continuously;
• keep the eye open so that the liquid flows well over it;
• rinse the eye until the product is used up;
• continue to use another eye wash until it is taken care of by the emergency services.

Conseils d’utilization

• Rinse as quickly as possible, ideally within 30 seconds of the incident;
• for a 200 ml bottle, the recommended rinsing time is two minutes on one eye. If the vial capacity is 500 ml and 1 ml, respectively, the recommended time is 000 and 5 minutes;
• since the recommended rinsing time is 15 minutes, the eyewash rinsing must be completed with a water rinse. The liquid (solution or water) should be between 15 and 25 degrees;
• place an eye wash in all places where there is a risk of projection and injury to the eye;
• place the eye wash at a maximum distance of 15 to 20 meters from the place at risk (8 meters for a laboratory);
• indicate the location of the eye wash using easily identifiable and quickly identifiable signage (pictograms in accordance with ISO EN 7010);
• lShowers designed to rinse a person’s head and body should not be used for rinsing the eyes as the pressure could damage them;
• tap water or any other conventional solution does not allow the dilution effect, and does not prevent burns.

There are two categories of eye wash, depending on the liquid it contains:

• eye rinses containing physiological serum, also called saline or NaCl solution: the pH of the fluid corresponds to the physiological value of our eyes and thus makes it possible to avoid the aggravation of contamination. The use of this type of eye wash is recommended in case of projection of a physical object in the eye such as dust, pollen, a piece of wood or metal etc., the saline solution attracting the disturbing element outwards ;
• eye rinses with buffer solution, or neutral solution, recommended in the event of a chemical splash. The buffer solution makes it possible to clean the eye of the chemical element by neutralizing the pH of the eye which has become basic or acidic depending on the liquid foreign body projected (solvent, oil, etc.). It is then recommended to clean the eye with a saline eye rinse until support by the emergency services.

It should be noted that some eye wash models allow both eyes to be rinsed simultaneously, which can be very useful in eye accidents involving chemicals affecting both eyes at the same time. The eye cup is then designed to help keep both eyes open during treatment and to ensure a fine and even flow of liquid with optimal rinsing time.