What is the best action to take when a student splashes strong acid into the eyes?

Flushing the eyes with water after a strong acid splash is critical for minimizing damage. In situations involving chemical exposure, especially acids, the priority is to dilute and wash away the chemical as quickly as possible. Removing contact lenses before flushing is essential, as they can trap the acid against the surface of the eye, exacerbating the injury.

When contacting the emergency services, the recommendation is often to flush the eyes with copious amounts of water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, ensuring that the water runs across the eyes and not the other way around to avoid further injury. This proactive irrigation helps to neutralize the caustic effects of the acid and can significantly reduce the severity of any chemical burn.

Contact lenses, if not removed, can hinder the flushing process and prolong exposure to the harmful substance. Moreover, neutralizing an acid with an alkali can produce heat and potentially harmful reactions, making that approach unsafe. Similarly, simply covering the eyes would not address the critical need to remove the acid from the eye surfaces urgently. The focus must be on immediate and thorough irrigation.