Doctors have stressed the important role acid attack witnesses can play in helping victims and have issued advice on what to do.

According to senior figures from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and Barts Health NHS Trust, an intervention by witnesses could “substantially improve the outcome” of a chemical attack.

Writing for the British Medical Journal , they suggest applying “copious amount of water” and removing contaminated clothing are two of the vital steps which should be performed as soon as possible.

Pouring water over the area affected by acid will reduce the scarring risks and also minimise the need for surgical reconstruction.

A poster, published on Thursday (August 3) by St John Ambulance, also provided information to witnesses on what treatment to provide.

More than 800 attacks involving acid have been recorded in London in the past three years

Take a look at their step-by-step advice on what to do if you witness an acid attack.

How to treat chemical burns

  1. Make sure that the area around the casualty is safe. Wear gloves to prevent you coming into contact with the chemical. If the chemical is in powder form, it can be brushed off of the skin.
  2. Flood the burn with water for at least 20 minutes to disperse the chemical and stop the burning. Ensure that the water does not collect underneath the casualty.
  3. Gently remove any contaminated clothing while flooding the injury.
  4. Arrange to send the casualty to hospital. Monitor vital signs, such as breathing, pulse and level of response.

How to treat chemical burns to the eye

  1. Make sure that the area around the casualty is safe. Wear gloves to prevent you coming into contact with the chemical.
  2. Hold the casualty's affected eye under gently running cold water for at least 10 minutes. Irrigate the eyelid thoroughly both inside and out.
  3. Make sure that contaminated water does not splash in the uninjured eye.
  4. Ask the casualty to hold a clean, non-fluffy pad over the injured eye.
  5. Arrange to send the casualty to hospital. Monitor vital signs, such as breathing, pulse and level of response.
An acid attack first aid poster issued by St John Ambulance

'Big increase in acid attacks'

The urgent need for more “public education” about acid attacks was suggested in the British Medical Journal after 400 incidents were reported in the six months leading up to April.

The medics said: “There were 454 attacks in 2016, up from 261 in 2015 and more than reported in the whole of India that year.

“Already 2017 has seen a big increase in acid attacks in the UK, relative to 2016.

“Whereas in the past most of the attacks were related to robberies, corrosive substances now seem to be a replacement for carrying knives.”

You can currently carry corrosive substances legally with no restrictions on volume or strength, although a change in legislation being considered.

Corrosive substances are easy to conceal and have even been used in an attack in a courtroom, as well as in nightclubs.

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