Question

During a skin care treatment, a chemical solution has dripped into a client's eyes. What is the first step the esthetician should take?

1) Flush the eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes
2) Apply eye drops to soothe the irritation
3) Rub the eyes to remove the chemical
4) Ignore the situation and continue with the treatment

Answer 1

The esthetician should immediately flush the client's eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes to dilute and remove the chemical irritant, such as hydrogen peroxide.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a chemical solution has dripped into a client's eyes during a skin care treatment, the first step an esthetician should take is to flush the eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes. This is critical because chemicals such as irritants can cause significant damage to the eyes and need to be diluted and washed out promptly to minimize harm. It is not recommended to rub the eyes, as this can cause further irritation or damage. Nor is it appropriate to ignore the situation or simply apply eye drops without flushing the eyes first. Substances like hydrogen peroxide are labeled as irritants and can cause significant discomfort and damage if not promptly and properly flushed out.