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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not know wtf to do if witnessing an acid attack?!

95 replies

Lwrenn · 10/02/2024 15:42

Another day, another shit thread title, sorry.

Today I've made my Google history more grim than usual by finding out a bit more than I knew about acid attacks since the attack on the poor family just hit the news.
It occurred to me I know what to do if there is a shooting/stabbing or fire burn, but not large scale chemical burns and sadly it seems that the rates of acid being used to harm and disfigure people isn't slowing down.

I'd be happy for any medical professionals to point me into any more information but I found the main advice (I had planned to link it but my phone is being somewhat arsey with me) was to wash as much of the chemical away as possible, using water, milk or cola if that is all there is to hand.

I couldn't find if it's best to remove the victims clothes but I presume getting acid off of them would dictate removing their clothes, I've read stories that people have needed hair shaving instantly to stop the burning. (Not suggesting anyone starts stripping and shaving victims, I'm just hoping someone will have more answers!) So if you have information on that I'd appreciate it.

I'm hoping that buying corossive substances become more difficult, that acid attacks sentencing carries a life sentence and is tried as attempted murder, I'm hoping that there is going to be medical advice handed out by the government and NHS what to do if you're victim of or witness an attack.

I'm aware there is a go fund me set up for the family of this heinous, cowardly attack online, and I'll chuck into that what I can for the family, but I think now that this is such a terrible way forward for women to be abused, we do need as the public, more training in this.

Ideally, we'd just tell men to not acid attack us, but like we ask them to not hit us, rape us, murder us, doesn't always make a massive amount of difference.

Either way, it's one of the scariest most abhorrent, cowardly crimes and I hope nobody ever experiences it ever again, but equally, because they will, I hope we're taught what to do in this case.

OP posts:
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NorthernGirlie · 10/02/2024 15:46

I need to read up on this too.
We were chatting about this in class last week after the recent attack.

A student said that her friend got "squirtied" (Northern term maybe? Not sure - the kids say lots of people round our way carry "squirties" which are bottles of acid) when they were enjoying their last day of Year 11 bash on the beach.

The child ran into the sea - I have no idea whether that was the right thing to do? I was horrified, she seemed unfazed...

CakedUpHigh · 10/02/2024 15:47

Water, lots and lots of water. Chemicals will stop burning when they are diluted. Don't remove their clothes or you'll get burned too and their skin will come off with the clothes. Call an ambulance.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 10/02/2024 15:52

I think the substance used in the Clapham attack was caustic soda, which is alkali, not acid. I don't know if that changes the advice about what to do.

petalsandstars · 10/02/2024 15:56

Look up the remove remove remove protocol. And basically rinse with loads of water - shower if possible.

RhubarbGingerJam · 10/02/2024 15:57

I thought water.

Secondary school science teacher drop a strong acid over her self and rushed out class screaming - luckily lab assistance sorted her out and she was completely fine.

She came back in after a bit - we were all very quiet and worried and said way she behaved was not how to deal with the situation - water lots of water as soon as possible - acid or alkaline spill.

Milk is not ph neutral but I suppose at a push would dilute as not that far off but not sure about coke that's acidic.

I'd also not muck around with clothes but source water and focus on eyes and call for help - or ring 999.

OneTC · 10/02/2024 15:57

Whatever it is your only realistic option is going to be pouring as much water on it as possible. If it's outside your garden then a hose to hand even better. Don't touch the person. Drench the hell out of them and keep on going until the ambo arrives

Queijo · 10/02/2024 15:58

Yes it’s mainly getting them under water somehow, if you’re in a city try and find a restaurant as the kitchen will usually have a spray hose attached to the sink, and that is generally the best bet. Diluting whatever substance that has been used as much as possible, especially around the eyes, nose and mouth.

Iwasafool · 10/02/2024 16:02

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 10/02/2024 15:52

I think the substance used in the Clapham attack was caustic soda, which is alkali, not acid. I don't know if that changes the advice about what to do.

I wondered about that. How awful if you used water and that wasn't the right thing to do. I don't know if you treat acid the same as alkaline.

Zanatdy · 10/02/2024 16:02

I think all you can do is pour as much water as possible onto the patient. It’s such a disgusting crime

OneTC · 10/02/2024 16:02

Iwasafool · 10/02/2024 16:02

I wondered about that. How awful if you used water and that wasn't the right thing to do. I don't know if you treat acid the same as alkaline.

Always water regardless of acid or alkaline

RhubarbGingerJam · 10/02/2024 16:06

I don't know if you treat acid the same as alkaline.

Water is Ph neutral and best thing to dilute with.

The not touching is also important - I read that was why so many bystanders got burnt - they were comforting and thus touching the children which frankly was probably unavoidable in such a situation as the instinct to comfort a distress child with a hug is so strong.

EasterMummie · 10/02/2024 16:08

If you follow the Katie Piper foundation on insta/social media they put a message out with advice on this the other day, plus a link to the families Go Fund Me.

scorpiogirly · 10/02/2024 16:09

I'd love to be able to grab it and pour it on the perpetrator

Wishicouldthinkofagoodone · 10/02/2024 16:10

Water, water and water. Do not stop.

alkali can take a while to develop burns (4 hours) while acid is almost immediate. So even if they say it feels ok keep them under water.

running water- you’re washing the chemical off. Still water will soak in the (albeit diluted) chemical.

don’t stop until a medic tells you to. Once they get to hospital they can monitor the ph and keep washing until the skin returns to a stable, normal ph.

Iwasafool · 10/02/2024 16:11

RhubarbGingerJam · 10/02/2024 16:06

I don't know if you treat acid the same as alkaline.

Water is Ph neutral and best thing to dilute with.

The not touching is also important - I read that was why so many bystanders got burnt - they were comforting and thus touching the children which frankly was probably unavoidable in such a situation as the instinct to comfort a distress child with a hug is so strong.

Edited

Thank you, I hope I never witness such a thing but it is good to know what to do. My biggest fear would be making it worse even wth the best of intentions.

EasternStandard · 10/02/2024 16:11

The increase in this crime is so awful

DreadPirateRobots · 10/02/2024 16:12

Iwasafool · 10/02/2024 16:02

I wondered about that. How awful if you used water and that wasn't the right thing to do. I don't know if you treat acid the same as alkaline.

Water dilutes every substance alike. It is always the right answer when dealing with a caustic substance. Speed matters - even professionals aren't going to muck about with guessing which end of the pH scale they're dealing with when what you need is water water water right away.

TheSnowyOwl · 10/02/2024 16:13

Number one rule is to make sure you don’t do anything to put yourself in danger or at risk. If you are in doubt at all about the best treatment or action to take, call for help and you can provide verbal support from afar and give directions for emergency services.

StarTwirl · 10/02/2024 16:14

Water, water and more water

Take all clothes off that have been affected

OneTC · 10/02/2024 16:15

EasternStandard · 10/02/2024 16:11

The increase in this crime is so awful

Thank savid javid and his war on red tape

OneTC · 10/02/2024 16:16

StarTwirl · 10/02/2024 16:14

Water, water and more water

Take all clothes off that have been affected

Only if they can be cut off. Pulling them off risks spreading it about it rubbing it in

And tbh I wouldn't risk touching someone to do that

EasternStandard · 10/02/2024 16:17

OneTC · 10/02/2024 16:15

Thank savid javid and his war on red tape

Really?

Reading up on where it’s prevalent and why it seems other factors are involved

dizzydizzydizzy · 10/02/2024 16:18

Dial 999
Remove clothing
Rinse with lots and lots of running water

To not know wtf to do if witnessing an acid attack?!
OneTC · 10/02/2024 16:22

EasternStandard · 10/02/2024 16:17

Really?

Reading up on where it’s prevalent and why it seems other factors are involved

Yeah deregulating the sale made it far more widely available and broadly correlated with it's return to fashion

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