How to Give First Aid If You Witness an Acid Attack

Due to the rising number of acid attacks, it is important to know what first aid should be given to victims.

In July 2017, 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.

If it is a limb or an arm that has been burnt, then splash as much water as possible on the burnt area. Keep splashing water until the chemical stops dispersing and the burning stops. It might take up to an hour before the burning sensation begins to fade away. Use clean water or the contamination might worsen the burn.

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:

In acid assaults, the acids mostly used are Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid. Water dilutes these acids but even in their diluted form, they are harmful. So, water should be used very carefully while helping an acid assault victim. 

Dr Kuldeep Singh

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.

Diphoterine is a buffer solution that neutralises both acids and alkalis. Especially if the acid has entered the person’s eye, then diphoterine must be used to wash the eye within an hour so that it can be saved. 

Dr Kuldeep Singh

According to Dr Kuldeep, the following points should be kept in mind:

• The area must NOT be wiped with a wet cloth as that will only aggravate the wound.
• Do not apply anything on the affected area – no lotions, no ointments, no powder – NOTHING. That should only be done under medical supervision.
• Try and remove any clothing or jewelry that might have come in contact with the acid.
• Get someone to call the ambulance ASAP while you administer the first aid to the victim.

The victim must be rushed to a nearby hospital as soon as possible. Acid assaults are severe injuries which must be treated by medical professionals so that the victims can be saved from extreme disfigurement.

Dr Kuldeep Singh

It is important to remember that these are not complete solutions; in such cases, you are only administering first aid until medical help arrives.