Skills drill: Eyeflush

Facilitator: Medics:
Patients: Protester
Time: 20 mins; 1505-1525
Actual time:
Learning Objectives:

Idea: a waterfall of water that washes the chemicals out of the eye and on to the ground (not on the other eye)

Model/Process/Practice

Model Water Eyeflush

Narrator and 2 trainers with one protester.

  • One medic does scene assessment, the other takes lead

  • Deep breath, glove up, approach

  • Protester's name, medic intro, consent (consent and introductions are especially important, since this person is probably blinded and scared)

  • Ask patient not to rub eyes; reassure; get permission to touch; guide patient to safe enough space (communicate with scene assessment buddy)

  • Flush!

Flush procedure:

  • Standing patient braces hands on knees and leans toward lead medic

  • Ask about contacts, and if they have glasses on, hand them their glasses so they do not get misplaced

  • Tilt patient's head to side, hold eye open -- ask patient to help

  • Flush from nose side of eye to outside. Hold bottle like a football and use a strong stream

  • Tell pt repeatedly to blink

  • Try not to drip water on pt

  • Tilt head to other side, hold other eye open, flush

  • Remind pt not to touch eyes

  • Repeat as needed, to max of 3 flushes per eye

Process

What did you see? (class verbalizes steps in model)

Practice

  • Find out who has contacts. These people don't get their eyes flushed

  • Make sure everyone can do a decent eyeflush

  • Make sure the students are saying all the right things: asking about contact lenses, not rubbing eyes, keep blinking

Types of Eyeflush Solutions

Saline Eyeflush

Gentler on the eyes. Just add 1/4 tbsp of salt per gallon of water

LAW Eyewash

Equally effective to water eyeflush, but less forceful stream. Biggest disadvantage: way more expensive than tap water

Ingredients: 50% Maalox brand liquid antacid and 50% water in a squirt-top water bottle

Antacid requirements:

  • Liquid antacid (Maalox is best, generic with SAME ingredients is also okay). Maalox has been tested, so we know it works and does not do harm

  • Key ingredients are aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide

  • Plain is best, but flavors are okay. Mint is generally considered the best flavor for LAW

  • Do not get antacid that contains alcohol (chemical names ending in --ol)

  • If someone asks, the anti-gas ingredient simethicone is not known to be dangerous

LAW eyewash is a less forceful stream. Can be used to buffer pepper spray on skin and in mouth (for some this also helps them breathe more easily). For mouth: swish and spit, swish and spit, swish and swallow. For skin: put on a 4x4 and offer.