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Safety When You’re Taking a Known Hazard Medicine

Contact with eyes or skin

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​What if the medicine or my body fluid has contact with someone’s eyes, skin, or clothes?

If the medicine or body fluids have contact with a person’s eyes, skin, or clothes (including bedding), take care of the person first, and then clean up the spill. (See Cleaning up spills.)

Contact with eyes

To flush eyes that had contact with the medicine or body fluids:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
  2. If the person is wearing contact lenses, take them out and throw them away.
  3. Flush the eyes with warm, fresh running water for 15 minutes while keeping eyes open.
  4. Wash hands with soap and water.

Immediately call Health Link at 811 or get medical help right away.

Contact with skin, clothing, or bedding

To clean skin that had contact with the medicine or body fluids:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
  2. Take off the clothing or remove bedding that had contact with the medicine or body fluids. (See Doing laundry​ to learn how to wash clothing and bedding safely.)
  3. Use soap and water to wash the skin for 15 minutes. Do this in the shower if needed.
  4. Pat the skin dry.
  5. Wash hands with soap and water.

If the skin gets irritated or a rash starts, call your clinic, family doctor, or Health Link at 811.​




Current as of: March 31, 2022

Author: Provincial Hazardous Medication Committee, Alberta Health Services