Archer Safety/Infection Control Practice Exam

In the case of a chemical exposure to the eyes, the most critical and immediate response is to irrigate the eye as quickly as possible to remove the irritant and minimize damage. When a chemical cleaner enters the eyes, the priority is to flush the eyes with water to dilute and wash out the harmful substance. The action of irrigating the eye should take precedence over other responses because time is crucial in limiting injury.

Checking the pH afterward is an important part of assessing the situation and ensuring all chemical residues have been neutralized, especially if a strong acid or base was involved. This step assesses whether the irrigation was effective and if further treatment may be necessary. The order of operations—irrigation followed by pH assessment—ensures that the immediate threat is addressed before moving on to secondary evaluations.

Documenting the occurrence or assessing visual acuity are steps that are also important but should take place after the immediate care has been provided. These actions might interfere with the timely treatment of the eye, which is the primary concern in cases of chemical exposure. Hence, the selected sequence of actions—irrigating first and checking the pH second—represents best practices in the management of such emergencies.