What do you do if you cannot get undressed?
- Blot, do not rub, your skin, face, hands, and hair with a moist wipe, wet cloth, or damp paper towel to remove the chemical. If a sink is available, wash your skin, face, hands, and hair with soap and water.
- Take out contact lenses and put in a plastic bag. Close it up, and put it in a second plastic bag.
- Flush your eyes for 10-15 minutes with water if your eyes are burning or you can’t see normally. Use a hose or bottled water. Do not use eyedrops.
- Do not drink fluids, and do not make yourself throw up if you swallowed the chemical.
- Dry your hair, face, hands, and skin to remove any remaining chemical. Use anything that will soak up water. Put the used things in a plastic bag, close it up, and place it in a second plastic bag. Close it up, too.
- Try not to touch anything you think might be contaminated.
- Get help by calling the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 or calling 911 or going to the nearest hospital.
What do you do with the contaminated clothes and other things you used to decontaminate?
- Wear gloves and put the plastic bags in a closed container where they are unlikely to be opened by accident to prevent others from coming in contact with the chemical.
- If you do not have gloves, use plastic bags to cover your hands. Do not put the bags in the regular trash!
- Listen to the radio, television, or check your phone or mobile news app for updates from police, fire, or local officials for instructions on what to do with your contaminated things.
Page last reviewed: March 31, 2022
Content source: National Center for Environmental Health