HF Antidote Gel Buying Guide

Hydrofluoric Acid Burns and H-F Antidote Gel

Hydrofluoric acid is the aqueous form of hydrogen fluoride. It is a colourless and highly corrosive acid used by many industrial and manufacturing industries that can cause real damage if it comes into contact with the human body and as such is often considered a ‘contact’ poison.

As the only recommended treatment for this kind of burn, H-F Antidote Gel is an essential part of your first aid supplies.

Which Sectors Should Be Aware of Hydrofluoric Acid Burns?

There are lots of industries that should be aware of the burn risks of hydrofluoric acid,
including:
• Automotive industry
• Chemical processing
• Maritime and offshore mining
• Pharmacies
• Industrial cleaning

Employers within these types of industries need to be aware of the risks associated with hydrofluoric acid and be prepared for immediate emergency treatment should an incident of acid exposure occur. As this kind of acid can also be found in some household cleaning products and as a chemical component for domestic hobbies, it’s also a risk that households should be prepared for.

Hydrofluoric Acid and the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare professionals are more familiar with the impact of acid burns and are highly aware of the need for immediate treatment. For hydrofluoric acid burns, there is only one recommended course of emergency treatment, whether treating on-site or in a healthcare setting such as a hospital and that is the use of a calcium gluconate gel. For healthcare providers, readily-available stocks of this gel are recommended to ensure the appropriate treatment of this kind of burn injury.

What to look out for in a chemical burn

The seriousness of a hydrofluoric acid burn will depend on three main things: how much acid has come into contact with the human body; the way in which it has come into contact with the body; and how long the body has been exposed to the acid.

If hydrofluoric acid is swallowed, it can be fatal as it has an immediate and potentially devastating impact on internal organs. Inhaling the acid can cause internal lung tissue damage and even cause fluid to build up in the lungs which can lead to chronic lung and breathing issues.

The more common incidents of exposure are when acid has contact with skin. This kind of acid can have a delayed reaction to the skin, meaning the immediate reaction is not always felt by the person who has suffered the burn. However, if contact is even suspected, emergency treatment should begin.

Being prepared for hydrofluoric acid burns

H-F Antidote Gel is a calcium gluconate gel, which is the only recommended treatment for this kind of acid burn. Recommended in joint guidance by the Chemical Industries Association (CIA, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE and the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS, the active ingredients in calcium gluconate act to neutralise the impact of hydrofluoric acid, helping to slow down the potential impact of an acid burn to the skin. This guidance recommends having several tubes of this gel available to treat a single burn incident.

H-F Antidote Gel by Bluedot is available in a safe and lightweight 25g tube for easy access and use. Packaged to the highest standards, it can be supplied individually or in boxes of 12, to ensure optimum supplies are always readily available on-site. H-F Antidote Gel is also available as part of a fully-stocked, specialist first aid kit for environments that are at a high-risk of acid-related incidents.

How to treat a hydrofluoric acid burn

Once any contaminated clothing has been removed, treatment can begin. When using H-F Antidote Gel, the following three-step treatment plan is recommended:

Wash the burn area with clean water for at least 60-seconds or longer depending on the size of the exposed area.
Massage H-F Antidote Gel into the wound area for 15-minutes to activate the ingredients and create a neutralising barrier between the acid and the burn site.
Assess whether further medical treatment is needed; whilst this topical treatment may be sufficient to treat smaller acid burns, medical assessment is always
recommended.

Talk to our team of experts today

If you are exposed to hydrofluoric acid in any aspect of life, from the workplace to domestic settings or as a healthcare professional, being prepared is key.

Speak to one of our account managers, to explore how we can support your customers rediness for an acid-burn incident and help get the right supplies their first aid kits.

Hydrofluoric Burns InFocus

Premier H-F Antidote Gel First Aid Kit

Essential H-F Antidote Gel First Aid Kit

H-F Antidote Gel Single Tube

H-F Antidote Gel Tube x 12