I wish to let you know about the efficiency of Diphoterine after an incident that occurred in our factory in May 1995.

Mr X., trainee in our laboratory, let fall a bottle containing concentrate soda 85g/l that splashed on his face, right arm and right foot.

Mr X., immediately sprayed Diphoterine on his face and arm and then rinced the burned areas with water.

The occupational nurse examined him 15 minutes later and noticed that soda had penetrated through the shoe of his right foot. The occupational nurse sprayed his right foot with Diphoterine and then rinsed with water.

The local treatment of the different burn areas was done with Biafine, fat dressing and sucking up of phlyctenes.

The evolution D0, D1, D2 enabled to note that :

• Lesions on the face and the right arm (immediate us of Diphoterine) : 1^st degree burn
• Lesion on the right foot (non immediate use of Diphoterine) ;: 2^nd degree burn.

I reckon that not having used Diphotérine^® on the face would have entailed an important 2^nd degree burn and even a 3^rd degree burn because of the product causticity.

The use of Diphotérine^® in the form of sprays, eyewashes, Autonomous Portable Shower is very common in our company as the chemical risk is important.

The Direction and the Medical Department have decided to communicate this accident to the employees in order to insist on the efficiency of Diphotérine^® when it is used immediately.

Such an accident can certainly enforce the staff sensitisation to the chemical risk and to its treatment.

Best regards,

The Occupational Doctor,

B. SAMAIN