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Recently, a 35-year-old mother in Uttar Pradesh had acid poured over her for the fourth time in 6 years, while two teenagers were arrested in London after they attacked five people with acid in a span of 90 minutes.
In India alone, a total of 249 cases of acid attacks were recorded in the year 2015 as per the Acid Survivors Foundation India (ASFI).
In a world where acid attacks top the list of most heinous crimes, it becomes important to know what first aid should be given to a victim of an attack.
Remember: It is important to act quickly to try and minimise the damage.
So, what should be done to provide some relief to the victim until medical help arrives?
Your first priority should be to try and stop the acid from spreading.
While water dilutes the acid, it also splashes and spreads it so it is very important that the person who is helping the victim stays at a safe distance. Try to ensure there is no spilled acid on the floor or near the victim that might hurt others.
Speaking to The Quint, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said:
For acid burns on the face and especially the eyes, Dr Kuldeep recommends washing the area with diphoterine, which will save the eyes from severe damage.
According to Dr Kuldeep, the following points should be kept in mind:
It is important to remember that these are not complete solutions; in such cases, you are only administering first aid until medical help arrives.
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Published: 17 Jul 2017,07:23 PM IST