$Unique_ID{PAR00291}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Emergency First Aid:  EYE INJURIES}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Siegfried, Donna M}
$Subject{EYE INJURIES injury injured chemical chemicals foreign object impaled
sharp blow pain redness bleed bleeds bleeding tearing light sensitivity swell
swells swelling discoloration black eye Avulsion Eyeball Eyeballs Eyelid
Eyelids eyes}
$Log{
Impaled Object:  Step 3*0029101.tif
Impaled Object:  Step 4*0029102.tif
Impaled Object:  Step 5*0029103.tif
Chemical in Eye:  Step 2*0029104.tif
Avulsion of Eye:  Step 3*0029105.tif}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


EYE INJURIES


CAUSES

     The eye can be injured by a chemical, foreign object, impaled object,
sharp instrument, or direct blow.


SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  -  pain
  -  redness
  -  bleeding
  -  tearing
  -  sensitivity to light
  -  swelling and discoloration of the area around the eye (black eye)


EMERGENCY TREATMENT

Impaled Object:

1. DO NOT allow child to touch or rub eye.
2. DO NOT attempt to remove object.
3. Cut hole in thick dressing or folded cloth.  Place over both eyes, with
   impaled object sticking out through hole.
4. Position paper cup over injured eye and impaled object.  DO NOT touch eye
   or impaled object.
5. Secure cup in place with bandage or scarf that covers both eyes.
6. Seek medical attention immediately.  Transport child lying down,
   preferably on stretcher.

Chemical in Eye:

1. DO NOT let child rub or close eye.
2. Flood affected eye with clean, warm running water for 15 minutes:
   a) Hold eyelid open and pour water slowly over eyeball at inner corner.
   b) Have child roll eyeball as much as possible to wash out eye.
   c) Let water run out of eye from outer corner.
   d) DO NOT allow water to run into unaffected eye.
3. DO NOT bandage eye.  Seek medical attention.

Foreign Object in Eye:

1. DO NOT allow child to rub eye.
2. Gently pull upper eyelid outward and down over lower eyelid, and hold.
   This causes tears to flow, which may wash out foreign object.
3. If tears do not remove particle, seek medical attention immediately.

Avulsion (Tearing Away) of Eye:

1. Cover affected eye loosely with sterile dressing that has been moistened
   with clean water.
2. Position paper cup over affected eye.
3. Secure cup in place with bandage or scarf that covers both eyes.
4. Seek medical attention immediately.

Cut on Eyeball or Eyelid:

1. Eyeball:  Cover both eyes with clean gauze or folded cloth, and secure in
             place with bandage.  DO NOT apply pressure.  DO NOT allow child
             to touch eye.
    Eyelid:  Control bleeding by gently pressing lid against bone surrounding
             eye.
2. Seek medical attention.  Transport child lying down, preferably on
   stretcher.

Black Eye:

1. Apply ice-cold compress, ice pack wrapped in towel, or ice cubes tied into
   cloth.
2. Keep child lying down with eyes closed.
3. Seek medical attention.

   If your child was wearing contact lenses at time of eye injury, seek
   medical attention and let physician remove lenses.