Burn Injury Resource Center

Treatment:

Emergency medical attention should be sought when there is suspicion of poisoning:

If there is skin contact, treatment may include:

• Removing the contaminated clothing.
• Rinsing the wound area with copious amount of water.
• Calcium or magnesium solutions, it can be given in the form of topical gel and may also be given in the form of injection.
• Pain medication.
• Monitoring the patient for signs of systemic poisoning.

For swallowing: treatment may include

• Avoid inducing vomiting.
• Gastric lavage (inserting a tube to the stomach though the nose to empty the stomach).
• Pain medication.
• Endoscopy to visualize the internal organs because of high risk of viscus perforation.
• Endotracheal intubation to keep the trachea (wind pipe) open.
• Calcium and magnesium solutions to neutralize the acid.

For inhalation treatment may include:

• 100% oxygen through a face mask.
• Intubation for severe injury.
• Delivering calcium into the lungs through breathing treatments.
• Pain medication.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.