DOES CAR BATTERY ACID BURN SKIN?

The liquid in acid batteries may leak out due to damage, therefore you must be very careful while using them. However, if you get in contact with battery acid, then you must follow some treatment and then seek medical help. Car batteries contain sulfuric acid and therefore, they are more dangerous than normal household batteries. This article provides you with more information on what happens when you accidentally get in contact with car battery acid and burned your skin.

Here also the treatment and precautionary measures are covered that help you understand what you have to do when you get in contact with battery acid.

v What Is Battery Acid?

Different types of battery acids are present in different types of batteries. Different types of battery acids affect your skin differently. The liquid in the battery may leak out if it is damaged and it may cause serious harm to you.

Let’s have a look at the different types of battery acids and how these acids damage your skin, also the preventive measures and treatment of acid burn are discussed in this article.

v Different types of battery acid

Different batteries have different types of battery acid in them. Some common types are:

Household batteries

Batteries that are a part of your household appliances and electronics are alkaline. These alkaline batteries are not as harmful as compared to the batteries present in your vehicles.

When household batteries get corrosive, potassium hydroxide gets leaked out of them. It can cause some burns on the skin but they are not much damaging and can be rinsed off very easily.

Car batteries

Car batteries contain sulphuric acid. It may cause serious burns and they take some time for their neutralization.

These can also damage your eyes. If you get in contact with car battery acid, seek medical care immediately as these acids can cause serious burns.

The treatment

Car battery acids contain sulfuric acid which is very harmful to the skin and may cause serious burns on your skin. All you need to do is to follow these simple steps and call an emergency center as soon as possible.

Neutralize car battery acid on the skin by following these steps

Flush the area with a solution of warm, soapy water immediately. Keep doing this for 20 minutes. Rinsing that area with water may make symptoms even worse.

Apply Burn gels and burn dressing to the affected area. You may feel stinging in that area for some time but you need to continue the treatment.

Continue applying burn gels or other burn dressing products onto the affected area and call your nearest healthcare provider. You need to see the doctor immediately.

Symptoms of Battery Acid on Skin: What you will experience at first

• Itching
• Pain
• Immobility
• Redness
• Irritation
• burning
• Blisters
• Blackened skin

Complications of battery corrosion on the skin

These may cause skin infections, serious burns, eye damage, and infection in the respiratory system.

ü  Contact dermatitis

Any kind of redness or irritation on your skin is scientifically described as a condition of contact dermatitis. This condition is temporary.

ü  Chemical burns

Contact with battery acid may cause chemical burns on your skin. These burns, also known as caustic burns, do not show up immediately, rather it takes some time for appearing the symptoms. Redness and skin irritation may occur on the skin.

ü  Eye damage

Battery acid when gets into contact with the skin also causes some serious damage to your eyes.

There is also a great risk of permanent eye damage due to the fumes of battery acid. In severe cases, blindness may also occur. If these fumes get anywhere in your eyes and cause a burning sensation, then rinse off your eyes with water immediately, for almost 20 to 30 minutes. And seek medical attention, if the burning gets worse.

ü  Difficulty in breathing

Sulfuric acid present in a car battery acid may irritate the respiratory canal resulting in difficulty in breathing and tightness of the chest. Exposure to battery acid fumes may be hazardous for the respiratory system and cause nausea and dizziness.

SAFETY FIRST

When working around batteries, take precautionary measures to keep yourself safe from the harmful effects of battery acid on your skin. Take special care when the battery is damaged.

• Wear safety goggles
• Wear gloves
• Stay away from battery acid
• Don’t taste any liquid that comes out of spilled battery.

CONCLUSION

Battery acid can cause serious burns. If you accidentally come in contact with battery acid, seek medical attention immediately

The treatment of acid burns depends on the type of battery acid. For a household battery, the alkaline one, rinse with clear water. For a car battery acid, rinsing with water may make symptoms even worse. It is advised to use a mixture of warm water with a soapy solution and then flush your skin with it.

FAQ’S

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that you people have asked about the effects of car battery acid burn on your skin. We have tried our best to give you the most satisfactory answer to these.