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Safety when you’re taking a potential or reproductive hazard medicine

Contact with eyes, skin, or clothes

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​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. (For spill cleanup, see Cleaning up spills.)

Any clothes, towels, or bedding that has contact with the medicine or your body fluids can be washed normally.

Contact with eyes

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

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

Call Health Link at 811 or get medical help if needed.

Contact with skin, clothes, or bedding

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

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Caregivers should also put on disposable gloves.
  2. Take off the clothing or remove bedding that had contact with the medicine or body fluids. Wash clothes or bedding as you normally would.
  3. Use soap and water to wash skin.
  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: June 24, 2022

Author: Provincial Hazardous Medication Committee, Alberta Health Services