What is the initial action when caring for a patient with a dry chemical on their arm?

The appropriate initial action when caring for a patient with dry chemical on their arm is to brush away the chemical before flushing with water. This approach is crucial because simply rinsing the area with water without removing the chemical first can lead to further skin damage or spread the chemical over a larger area.

Brushing away the dry chemical helps to remove the source of contamination and minimizes the skin’s exposure to the irritant. Once the majority of the chemical has been removed, it is safe and effective to flush the area with large amounts of water to continue the decontamination process and to wash away any remaining residues.

This step ensures that the patient's safety is prioritized, preventing additional harm that could occur if the chemical remains on the skin. Other methods, such as using forceful streams of water or trying to deactivate the chemical with substances like vinegar, may not be appropriate as they can cause more damage or fail to effectively remove the chemical. Therefore, the initial focus should always be on safely removing the chemical before any irrigation takes place.