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Responding to Acute Exposure to Chemotherapeutic Agents |
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| Type of Exposure | Immediate Care | Follow Up |
| Skin Exposure | Remove contaminated clothing and/or PPE. Wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water (OSHA, 1996). Consult MSDS for drug-specific instructions. | Report to employee health professional. Complete report of employee injury/exposure. Follow organizational policy related to reporting requirements for workers� comp. |
| Eye Exposure | Flush eye(s) with water or isotonic eye wash for 15 minutes (OSHA, 1996). Consult MSDS for drug-specific instructions. | Report to ED. Report to employee health professional. Complete report of employee injury/exposure. Follow organizational policy related to reporting requirements for workers� comp. |
| Exposure by inhalation or ingestion | Acute symptoms may require emergency intervention. Consult MSDS for drug-specific instructions. | Report to employee health professional or ED, based on symptoms. Complete report of employee injury/exposure. Follow organizational policy related to reporting requirements for workers� comp. |
| Source: Polovich M. Safe handling of hazardous drugs. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing 2004. Web site: www.nursingworld.org/. | ||