What Are the Treatments for Hydrogen Fluoride Exposure?

Hydrogen fluoride is a dangerous chemical that poses great health risks to those who have been exposed to it. The inhalation, skin contact or ingestion must be treated quickly in order to avoid serious and life-threatening complications such as tissue damage, hypocalcemia and shutting down of the heart. There are several treatments for exposure which should be administered by a medical health professional whenever available.

Rapid Decontamination

• Rapid decontamination is crucial to avoid long-term injury and possible death. Remove all clothes exposed to hydrogen fluoride, bag them so that no one else can touch them and dowse affected skin areas with saline for at least 30 minutes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposed skin should then be covered with a calcium-containing gel of 2.5 grams calcium gluconate. Flush the eyes with similar amounts of saline and water for 20 minutes.

Water and Milk

• In situations where a solution of hydrogen fluoride has been ingested, conscious victims should be given 4 to 8 ounces water or milk. According to the CDC, 2 to 4 ounces of a magnesium-containing antacid should also be administered. The magnesium will bond with elements of hydrogen fluoride and work to prevent deeper injuries that could result within the body.

Respiratory Compromised Patients

• Those that have their airways compromised through vapor inhalation or ingestion of hydrogen fluoride must be intubated and have their breathing stimulated through artificial respiration or bronchial dilators. According to the CDC, patients who ingest or inhale hydrogen fluoride may also develop hypocalcemia (low serum calcium levels) and should be treated with injections of calcium gluconate at 10 percent for those that have swallowed the chemical, and at 2.5 percent for those that inhaled the vapors.