Question

A mother of a 6-year-old-child calls a nurse who lives in the neighborhood and tells the nurse that her child accidentally rubbed waterproof sunscreen in his eyes. The nurse should tell the mother to immediately:

a) Rinse the child's eyes with cold water.

b) Apply an antibiotic ointment to the eyes.

c) Cover the eyes with a cold compress.

d) Leave the eyes untouched and observe for any irritation.

Answer 1

If a child rubs sunscreen in their eyes, the best immediate action is to rinse the eyes with cold water to flush out the irritant and alleviate discomfort.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a 6-year-old child accidentally rubs waterproof sunscreen in their eyes, the immediate response should be to rinse the child's eyes with cold water. Doing so will help to wash out the sunscreen and alleviate any potential irritation. Application of antibiotic ointments or cold compresses may be necessary in cases of infection or significant discomfort, but only after flushing out the irritants—these are not initial steps. Observation for irritation should follow after the eyes have been rinsed, not before.

It's crucial to handle such situations quickly to prevent discomfort and possible damage to the eyes. Although preventive measures such as silver nitrate or antibiotic drops are used at birth to protect against infections, they are not relevant in the context of sunscreen exposure. Immediate flushing out of the irritant provides the best chance of reducing discomfort and preventing further irritation or damage.