What should be used to irrigate a phenol chemical burn?

Irrigating a phenol chemical burn requires specific solutions to effectively neutralize and wash away the chemical agent. The correct choice involves using a solution that combines both water and polyethylene glycol. This combination helps to dilute the phenol and facilitates its removal, minimizing tissue damage and promoting healing.

Polyethylene glycol serves an effective role in treating chemical burns due to its properties that assist with solubilizing phenol, allowing for better cleansing of the affected area. This is crucial because phenol can penetrate the skin deeply, and if not properly irrigated, it may cause ongoing injury to the tissues.

In contrast, while normal saline and distilled water are generally used for irrigating wounds, they may not have the specific properties needed to effectively deal with phenol burns. An alcohol-based solution would exacerbate the injury, as alcohol can further irritate the affected tissue and may not adequately remove the chemical from the skin. Therefore, the combination of water and polyethylene glycol provides both efficacy and safety in addressing a phenol chemical burn.