Our eyes are the windows to our psyche, so we must take care of them. Here’s how to give first aid to your eyes: If you suspect a head injury, a foreign object in the eye, or a chemical splash in the eye, call the emergency services. The eyes are the windows to our psyche, so we must take care of them. Here are some first aid methods for your eyes: If you suspect a head injury, a foreign object embedded in the eye or a chemical splash in the eye, call the emergency number. If there is blood in the eye, cover the eye with a clean cloth and take the patient to the hospital. If there is active bleeding in the eyes, elevate the patient’s head so that it is positioned above the heart, cover the eyes with a clean cloth and take him to a nearby hospital. Note: If head, neck or back injury is suspected, do not move the patient and call emergency services. Symptoms: eye injury or laceration , inability to open the eye , pain in or around the eye, light sensitivity, bleeding from the eye , impaired vision, dry, itchy eyes, headache, tearing, unequal pupils bilaterally, blinking rapidly and frequently Chemical splash in the eye NOTE: Don’t waste any time, flush the eye with water right away and make sure that water enters underneath both eyelids. Do not treat eyes with anything other than water. Do not allow patient to rub eyes. 1. Flush eyes with water. If you cannot find a faucet, rinse the eye with a cup of water for 15 minutes and make sure the water enters the inner corner of the eye. Flush the eye, keeping it open and rinsing it under running water for at least 15 minutes, so that the water enters the eye before it flows out of the eye. If both eyes are damaged, flush both eyes with water. 2. If the patient wears contact lenses, have them removed. 3. Cover the affected eye. After rinsing, cover the affected eye with a clean cotton cloth and bandage to cover both eyes to minimize movement of the affected eye. If possible, identify the chemical that burned the eye, or at least tell the doctor if the chemical was wet or dry. Foreign bodies: CAUTION: Do not try to remove a foreign body embedded in the eye. If the foreign body is large, such as a pen, make a hole in a paper cup and place it over the eye to hold the foreign body and secure the cup. Cover the other eye with a cloth to avoid movement of the affected eye. If the foreign body is small, cover both eyes with a cloth and secure more loosely. 1. Wash your hands with soap and water. 2. Look for the foreign body. Have the patient slowly rotate the eye so you can find the foreign body. Note: Do not allow the patient to rub the eyes. 3. Prompt the patient to tear. If you find a foreign body, gently pull the upper eyelid down to cover the lower eyelid. This will cause tears to flow and may flush the foreign body out. 4. Remove the visible foreign body. If the foreign body cannot be washed out by tears, the foreign body should be rinsed out with running water or made to be removed with a clean cloth. The patient may also be allowed to blink under water. Once the foreign body is dislodged, the patient should be allowed to remove the contact lens. Note: Do not use cotton or other objects to remove the foreign body. Do not remove the foreign body from the iris or pupil opening. 5. Remove the foreign body in the lower eyelid. If a foreign body is found in the lower eyelid, rinse with clean water or use a clean, wet cloth to remove the foreign body. Once the foreign body is removed, the patient should remove the contact lens. To remove the foreign body from the lower eyelid, have the patient look upward and then pull the lower eyelid downward to remove the foreign body with a clean, damp cloth. Note: Do not use cotton to remove the foreign body. 6. Remove the foreign body from the upper eyelid. If no foreign body is found in the lower eyelid, the upper eyelid should be pulled open. If a foreign body is found at this point, flush it out with water or use a clean, wet towel to remove it. Once the foreign body is removed, the upper eyelid should be repositioned. The patient should be instructed to remove the contact lens. Note: Do not use your hands or cotton to remove the foreign body. Lift the upper eyelid. Ask the patient to look down and use a cotton swab, matchstick, etc. to place across the eyelid and pull the upper eyelid upward so that the upper eyelid folds over the matchstick. 7. If necessary, bandage should be applied to cover both eyes and the patient should be taken to the hospital. If you fail to find the foreign body or fail to remove it or if the patient has significant pain or impaired vision after removing the foreign body, cover both eyes with a clean cloth and send the patient to the hospital after bandaging and immobilization. Cover both eyes. Cover the affected eye with a clean cloth and wrap the patient’s head with another cloth so that both eyes are covered.