The safety data sheet lists the first-aid measures per substance that non-experts can take. This 'very first aid' should be followed-up as soon as possible by assistance provided by properly trained experts. In other words, assistance provided by, for example, qualified first aiders or in-house emergency officers, should be followed up with professional medical assistance provided by, for example, (company) nurses, (company) doctors or ambulance personnel.
Everyone should try to stay calm as much as possible and gain a rapid insight into the situation at hand. If you work to a set schedule, this will help when it comes to cooperating with other emergency staff. You should therefore always work in accordance with the following 5 points:
If so, keep your distance and alert the emergency services first! This may be the case in a situation in which large quantities of flammable vapours (volatile organic compounds, such as solvents) or large dust clouds escape.
Has the incident led to anyone losing consciousness? If so, only access the area if you have suitable respiratory protection against the fumes or dust particles.
If anyone has been injured but coming into contact with corrosive substances, you should approach them wearing protective clothing and gloves.
Assess the scene
Can you see a leaking pipe or vessel, or any spillage on the ground? If so, you should be mindful of the presence of hazardous substances!
Assess the victim
- Has the victim lost consciousness? Position your cheek above their mouth and look to see if you can see their chest and abdomen moving as they breathe.
- If the victim is not breathing, you should start CPR and ask a colleague to call 112.
- If the victim is conscious, you should speak to them and gently shake their shoulders.
- You should look for obvious signs of exposure to harmful or corrosive substances such as dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, redness or burns on the skin, wet clothing, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath and rapid or shallow breathing.
Ask what happened
- Ask the victim what happened.
- Ask any bystanders what happened.
Ask about symptoms
- Ask the victim what symptoms they have.
- Ask about dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, burning eyes, burning skin, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath.
Try to reassure them, tell them that help is on the way and that you are going to stay with them.
Provide clear information on:
- the location
- the number of victims
- the condition of the victim(s)
- what has happened
You should then alert any in-house emergency officers or first aiders the company might have available.
- If the victim needs to be moved, you should lift them under their arms and gently drag them out of the danger zone, for example to protect them from possible exposure to hazardous substances.
- If the victim lost consciousness, they should be brought to some place where there is fresh air.
- If you know which substance the victim was exposed to, you should consult the specific first aid advice on the chemistry chart or safety data sheet as soon as you possibly can. You should then contact the company doctor, who can then call the National Poisons Information Centre (NVIC) run by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM) on telephone number +31 (0)30 274 88 88.
- Only allow the victim to drink if they can do so independently! This is because they may choke if they are not fully conscious.
- If their eyes or skin have been affected by corrosive substances, you should rinse for as long as possible using a steady flow of lukewarm water.
- You should never induce vomiting!