TREATING BURNS CAUSED BY HYDROFLUORIC ACID

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Anthony Summers is a nurse practitioner in the emergency department at Redlands Hospital, Cleveland, Queensland

Emergency Nurse 19(3):p 12-15, June 2011.

Hypocalcemia caused by contact with acid in commonly used domestic solutions must be treated quickly and correctly, says Anthony Summers

Summary

Hydrofluoric acid is an ingredient of many common household and industrial solutions. Even seemingly minor burns caused by this acid can have catastrophic effects if they are treated inappropriately or late. This article describes the signs and symptoms, the pathophysiology and the emergency management of hydrofluoric acid burns.