A client is brought to the emergency department by an emergency medical services (EMS) squad after being burned with unknown chemicals

Question

The client's body is covered with a white, powdery substance, and the client cries out, "Get this stuff off me! It's burning me!" Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Have the client take a shower, and bag all clothing.
b. Brush the substance off the client and re-move clothes.
c. Call poison control to try to identify the chemical.
d. Start an IV line and prepare to administer analgesics.

Answer 1

B
A priority first action in burn care is to stop the burning process. Chemicals can continue to burn the client even after they have been removed, so removing them from the client is an important action. With unknown dry substances, adding water could potentiate their action, so the best ac-tion is to brush off as much of the chemical as possible from the client and clothing, then remove the clothing. Calling poison control would take too long if the chemical could be identified, and analgesics should be given after the burning process has been halted by removal of the offending substance.