How long should you flush your eyes at an eyewash station after exposure?

How long should you flush your eyes at an eyewash station after exposure?

• A. 2 minutes
• B. At least 15 minutes, continuing until advised otherwise.
• C. 5 minutes
• D. 20 minutes

Answer: (B)

When eyes are exposed to a chemical or irritant, the goal is to dilute and remove as much of the contaminant as possible from all surfaces of the eye. The standard guidance is to flush for at least 15 minutes and keep rinsing until medical personnel or a supervisor tells you to stop. This ensures a thorough cleanup because different agents and varying severities can require more time to wash out completely. Stopping early can leave residues that continue to irritate or damage the eye, so the instruction to continue until advised helps account for the unknowns of the exposure. Use a steady, continuous flow of tepid water or an approved eyewash, keep the eyes open, and gently roll the eyes to expose all areas. If possible, remove contact lenses during the rinse. Always follow any specific chemical or SDS guidance, but the baseline practice is a minimum of 15 minutes of irrigation and continuing longer if advised by medical personnel.

When eyes are exposed to a chemical or irritant, the goal is to dilute and remove as much of the contaminant as possible from all surfaces of the eye. The standard guidance is to flush for at least 15 minutes and keep rinsing until medical personnel or a supervisor tells you to stop. This ensures a thorough cleanup because different agents and varying severities can require more time to wash out completely. Stopping early can leave residues that continue to irritate or damage the eye, so the instruction to continue until advised helps account for the unknowns of the exposure. Use a steady, continuous flow of tepid water or an approved eyewash, keep the eyes open, and gently roll the eyes to expose all areas. If possible, remove contact lenses during the rinse. Always follow any specific chemical or SDS guidance, but the baseline practice is a minimum of 15 minutes of irrigation and continuing longer if advised by medical personnel.