Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

When dealing with a chemical exposure, what is the most appropriate care for a patient with a dry powder on their arm?

1. Immediately flush the area with large amounts of water

2. Brush the chemical from the patient's arm and then irrigate with water

3. Cover the area with a sterile dressing before washing

4. Leave the powder on the skin to avoid further contamination

The correct answer is: Brush the chemical from the patient's arm and then irrigate with water

Brushing the chemical powder from the patient's arm and then irrigating with water is the most appropriate care in this scenario. The reason for this approach stems from the nature of dry chemical powders, which can continue to react with moisture and potentially cause further irritation or harm to the skin if washed away without first removing them. By brushing off the dry powder, you aim to minimize the chemical's contact with the skin and reduce the possibility of additional skin damage. Following this step with irrigation using a copious amount of water helps to wash away any remaining traces of the chemical, ensuring that the skin is thoroughly cleansed and reducing the risk of further injury or absorption of the chemical into the body. The other choices are not as effective: immediately flushing with water without brushing first could spread the chemical or activate a reaction that leads to more significant skin damage. Covering the area with a sterile dressing before washing fails to address the immediate need to remove the dry powder, and leaving the powder on the skin is counterproductive, as it could exacerbate the injury and leads to worsening conditions. Thus, brushing and then irrigating is a systematic approach that effectively reduces the risk of injury from the chemical exposure.