All the contents below are provided for reference only.
Should your eyes be exposed to direct or scattered laser beams, take the following steps as an emergency response:
- Grab a nearby thick and opaque object to block the laser beam to prevent further exposure to the laser.
- Shut down the laser engraving and cutting machine immediately.
- If an eye injury is suspected, a medical examination by a qualified specialist needs to be carried out as soon as possible.
- If an eye injury is apparent, call the local hospital for emergency help.
If a medical emergency occurs in which the extent or nature of the injury precludes you from further actions, sit down on the floor and yell for help. Warn any respondent of laser danger and ask them to turn off the laser engraving and cutting machine before sending you to the hospital.
Lasers can harm the skin via photochemical or thermal burns, which can be treated as could any other burn. Take the following steps as an emergency response:
- If it is a major burn, call for emergency medical care before you take the subsequent steps.
- Remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt area of the skin, but do not move anything stuck to the skin.
- Hold the burn under cool or lukewarm running water until the pain subsides. Use cool, wet compresses if running water is not available.
- After the burned area has been cooled, use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat pain.
- Loosely bandage the burn. Use a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth.
The heating which occurs during laser cutting or engraving can cause charring, pyrolysis, and even combustion of the material being worked on and generate gases or fumes.
Gases and fumes may irritate the airways and potentially be extremely dangerous. Should airway irritation occur, take the following steps as an emergency response:
- Expose the casualty to fresh air.
- Call for medical help.
- If the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or not breathing normally, perform CPR until the person begins breathing or emergency help arrives.
Exposure to gases or fumes may cause the eyes to become red and watery, and induce a grainy feeling. Should eye irritation occur, take the following steps as an emergency response:
- Rinse the affected eyes with room temperature water for 10 to 20 minutes to relieve symptoms. Sterile water or sterile normal saline solution (0.9%) from sealed disposable containers can be used. Press the eyelids wide open and keep them apart while rinsing.
- Transfer the casualty to the hospital immediately for an eye examination and further treatment.
Gases or fumes may trigger asthma in a person with an asthma history. Should an asthma attack occur, take the following steps as an emergency response:
- Sit the person upright.
- Give 4 puffs of blue reliever puffer. Ensure you shake the puffer, put 1 puff into a spacer at a time, and get the person to take 4 breaths of each puff through the spacer. Remember: shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths. If you don’t have a spacer, simply give the person 4 puffs of their reliever directly into their mouth. Repeat this until the person has taken 4 puffs.
- Wait 4 minutes. If there is no improvement, give 4 more separate puffs as in Step (2).
- Keep giving reliever. Give 4 puffs every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives.
Laser engraving and cutting can present a significant fire hazard due to the extremely high temperature caused by the laser beam. Should a fire occur, take the following steps as an emergency response:
- If the fire is small (no larger than a small trash can), you can use an extinguisher to put it out. Remember to cut electrical power before dousing the flame.
- If the fire is large, do not attempt to fight it yourself. Call for help immediately by pulling the nearest alarm.
- Move quickly to the nearest accessible exit. Notify, and assist others to evacuate along the way. Do not use the elevators.
- Contain fire and smoke by closing all doors leading into and surrounding the fire area. Do not lock them.
- After a total and immediate evacuation, call medical attention to the casualty.