You’re walking down the street
when a stranger approaches you
and suddenly throws
a cup of liquid in your face.
Your skin and eyes start burning,
and you can’t see anything.
What was in that cup?
And what is it doing to your body?
Acids are cheap and easy to purchase
compared to knives,
guns or other weapons.
They're an easy method
of inflicting damage.
Chemical burns can extend
into your tendons and bones.
And the damage could be so severe
you need to have your limbs cut off.
According to the London-based
Acid Survivors Trust International,
there are 1,500 cases of acid attacks
recorded every year worldwide.
They're most likely to occur in Pakistan,
India,
the United Kingdom
and Uganda.
And 80% of acid attack victims
are women.
These attackers
don’t want to kill their victims.
Instead, they want to disfigure
and scar their victims for life
by ruining
their future romantic prospects,
career opportunities
and social status.
In March of 2021,
a stranger poured a cup
of battery acid
on a woman’s face
outside her home in Long Island.
One of her contact lenses
seared to her eye,
and the acid ran down her throat.
Her mother, a nurse practitioner,
rushed the woman inside the house
and rinsed her face with water.
After several weeks in the hospital,
she still has trouble eating,
painful burns on her face
and her eyesight
might be compromised forever.
But she likely would've died
if her mother hadn't acted quickly.
Rinsing yourself with water
within the first minute after the burn
can reduce your risk of complications,
limit the long-term effects of scarring
and reduce your need for surgery.
So flush the burned area
for at least 20 minutes.
If you're attacked with acid,
the following seconds are a crucial time
for limiting the severity of your wounds.
When a chemical like sulfuric acid
comes in contact with skin,
coagulation necrosis starts.
This is the accidental
death of cells or tissue
that occurs when the strong links or
bonds in proteins are denatured,
or broken down, by the acid.
It's essential
to contain this damage immediately
using a soapy solution,
as sulfuric acid feels hot
when you add water to it.
After rinsing the area with water,
put clean gauze over the burn
to keep it clean.
But don’t try to remove the skin or blisters.
And don’t use any lotion or ointment
unless a doctor tells you to.
And if the burn is larger than 7.6 cm (3 in)
or located on your hands,
feet, face or groin,
you'll need to go to a hospital
and have your wounds
checked by a doctor.
After you apply a sterile gauze to the burn,
a cool compress can help relieve your pain.
But do not put ice on the burn,
as this will cause
further damage to the skin.
Also, do not scrub or rub the burn.
Chemical burns are responsible
for one-third of burn-related deaths.
Along with the burn,
first responders need to monitor
your vital signs like breathing,
heart rate
and level of consciousness.
You still have a long
recovery ahead of you,
but you're just thankful to be alive.
At least you weren't attacked
with a deadlier weapon,
like a gun.
How would you survive that?
Don't worry,
we've got just the video for you.