Rank: Forum user 
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Earlier this year (March) we had an incident where an employee needed to use the safety shower due to chemical burns. After some time in the emergency shower (mains water fed) it was decided that the water was too cold and there was a risk of hypothermia and shock / collapse. Therefore the casualty was moved to the changing room showers. These are a mixer tap / electric shower type. As the casualty was suffering burns this was actually too hot to be comfortable for the casualty and the temperature could not be reduced. What do we do? Use the unheated shower and risk hypothermia and collapse or not cool the skin sufficiently? Any advise gratefully received.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Wavy Davy wrote:Earlier this year (March) we had an incident where an employee needed to use the safety shower due to chemical burns. After some time in the emergency shower (mains water fed) it was decided that the water was too cold and there was a risk of hypothermia and shock / collapse. Therefore the casualty was moved to the changing room showers. These are a mixer tap / electric shower type. As the casualty was suffering burns this was actually too hot to be comfortable for the casualty and the temperature could not be reduced. What do we do? Use the unheated shower and risk hypothermia and collapse or not cool the skin sufficiently? Any advise gratefully received. From my experience - cold is better than burnt! make sure you write into your emergency plans considerations for warming a casualty up, also consider freezing pipes in the winter - you need the showers to work! I had a casualty in an external shower in the north east in winter for about 20 minutes until ambulance arrived. he was very cold and only in his undies! - Ambulance crew insisted he get back in the shower!! he was not a happy bunny. Risk assessment and reasonably practicable has to apply here - the water needs to be cold - it might be a heat burn! Cold patients can be warmed up, but this needs consideration! Time taken going to some nice temperate showers might = too long? Again risk assessment - where are you? Cornwall vs Scotland? Type of chemical - Chromic acid vs vinegar how likely is contamination - I worked on chemicals plants for 5 years and textiles for 3 - only every saw a few people need emergency showers! Etc etc I don't think there is an answer to your question.... this isn't about welfare this is about saving someone's life!!!!
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Rank: Forum user 
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The likelihood of someone being in the shower long enough to induce hypothermia or other similar injury is very very low. They would have to be in there for ages!
If the casualty had total submersion in the chemical then yes keep them in the shower. But of it is localised, why not just put their hands in (or whatever part affected)?
Like teh-boy said, it's about balance of injuries. Severely injured or a bit of a chill?
As an aside, the emergency services mass decontam units have water heaters for the showers. But if push came to shove, it would be a hose and a drain to stand over!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Only once have I found myself in a situation where I had to drag someone to an emergency shower and forcibly hold them there, try to stop them struggling, and remove their outer clothing.
Yes, it was cold water discharging from a fixed wall mounted shower head in a main corridor. It ruined the flooring - bizarrely a parquet floor in an old university laboratory - but it did the trick.
I never want to be in that situation again. Nor do I want a bunch of idiots at the other end of the corridor standing watching, and thinking it was just a game, when I really needed help.
If it happened again, with me as the victim, I would accept ANY water, hot or cold. But hot may exacerbate injury or pain response, and controlling the water temperature is just an additional bother that in such circumstances is best avoided.
For serious chemical eye exposures, pick up the individual and force their head under a running tap - unless you have a dedicated eye irrigation system. Those who prefer a wall mounted 500ml bottle of sterile water in a fancy green grab box should pat themselves on the back for providing these, but ask themselves what happens when the 500ml is exhausted and the individuals sight is still at risk? Stick their head under a tap, using force if necessary.
Ignore the screams and later they will be grateful to you.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks everyone. Totally agree with the points raised.
It was actually very hot caustic solution.
Casualty back at work. Skin grafts and some residual burn damage but overall he is very healthy.
There was a perceived risk of the casualty collapsing in the external shower, we had first aiders holding the guy up. What those boys did saved his life, his eyesight and his livelihood. So NEVER underestimate the value of emergency showers.
Maybe we should get a stool (if there are no burns to legs, backside, etc.) so the first aiders are not taking all of the weight as they support people in the shower.
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Rank: New forum user
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At our workplace ( a process plant with chemicla stroage) we have a number of emergency showers some also have combined powered eyewash stations incorporated into the installation,
Does any one know of a good generic type guidance note I could use? This is in order to send out safe use information at operator level within the organisation.
Thank you
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Rank: Super forum user
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@Anthony
In addition to SSoW etc? - as i'm asuming everyone is trained in this already???
Try manufactures for pictures / posters / leaflets?
But best bet: make your own - then you can incorporate real pictures, locations, how to operate, length of time for various chemicals unique to you etc??
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Rank: Forum user
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The basic rule is "get under the shower as fast as possible. Totally undress under running water (this includes underclothing). Stay there for at least 10 minutes"
You may wish to scream whilst doing the above. Please feel free to do so. It can only help.
The underclothes ruling followed a reported incident where a tanker driver splashed with acid got into the shower ok but refused to remove his underpants. The only burns he suffered were to the more sensitive parts of his body.
One of my plants had an electroplating department. We had a training video made (backs to the camera) and had all of the (mixed) staff sign that they had understood the dangers and would fully comply with the procedure.
The men were a bit reluctant but the ladies saw no problems.
You just hope it never happens to you.
Merv
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Rank: Super forum user
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To make sure it is effective, the rule -if there really is a rule - is not "get under the shower as fast as possible". It's put, pull, push, drag, roll, force them under the shower as quickly as possible. Get under there with them if necessary.
The victim may be in agony, affected by fumes, burns, fear and panic etc and will not necessarily act in a rational way. They need help, forcibly if necessary.
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Rank: Forum user
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Wavy,
with respect to your original question re temperature of the shower, have you considered trace heating?
Holmezy
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Rank: Forum user
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IMHO a drench shower is a piece of first aid kit, it solves the immediate problem, ie cooling and cleansing – giving the doctors administering secondary and tertiary care a fighting chance.
My only problem with drench showers is when they are fitted with temperature controls they get used as normal showers when the fitness fanatics have been for a lunch time run. They should only be cold water fed.
Quite a few years ago, I was unfortunate enough to hear the screams from a mechanical fitter who had decided he knew best and to lower the stuck, raised 22,000lb Forklift Carriage, he undid the bottom hose of the hydraulic cylinder and gravity took over.
The hot hydraulic oil covered him from head to foot and as he had positioned himself between the cradle of the forks and the body of the machine he was trapped as the cradle lowered uncontrolled to its bump stops. Lucky not to be crushed, he had to wait until we could raise the cradle with another machine to get him out. Thankfully he had passed out by the time this happened. During the process and while waiting, a quick thinking first aider ran and got the fire hose and began dowsing him with cold water. I believe it was this action that saved his life. There was certainly never a thought about what the water temperature was or if it was too cold or not. The guy survived (just) and all the medical services said he would not be here if he had not been dowsed, thereby removing the contaminant and preventing the condition becoming worse. – A familiar term for any First Aiders out there. I doubt a bit of Hyperthermia would have been an issue!
Regards
Clive
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