Emergency eyewash systems must operate quickly and effectively to minimize injury. Most healthcare professionals are probably familiar with the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) requirements regarding emergency eyewash functionality and usage. They include keeping stations in accessible locations within 10 seconds of the hazard and using stations that go from “off” to “on” in one second or less, among several others (see the complete checklist here).

Despite these, eye injury statistics remain staggering. About 2,000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury every day that requires medical treatment, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Thankfully, revolutionary advancements in eyewash technology are capable of making a significant, positive impact on eye protection and injury prevention.

A change in direction

Emergency eyewash systems typically come in portable, plumbed, and bottled styles to suit your facility’s and personnel’s needs. Many of them share a common characteristic: they direct water toward the inner corners of the eye. That’s where the lacrimal puncta, or ocular surface drains, are located. The lacrimal puncta are nasal cavity entry points. When contaminants are swept toward them, they can be breathed into the lungs or swallowed.

Traditional systems have relied on this method for years. Now, there is a groundbreaking alternative that poses less risk.

Emergency eyewash systems built with new inverted flow technology sweep contaminants outward and away from the vulnerable inner corners of the eye – the method preferred by medical professionals.

Eyes opened

Both healthcare and non-healthcare organizations that have converted to AXION eye/face wash solutions with inverted flow technology are seeing convincing results. Monongahela Valley Hospital selected AXION units after evaluating the scope of emergency products on the market. Following the eye/face wash unit’s first use, feedback was positive and findings from weekly safety checks have proven the safety equipment’s efficacy.

The hospitality industry also is turning to AXION’s economical, hassle-free offerings to meet its needs. Extended Stay America in Plano, Texas, installed the Faucet-Mounted AXION eyePOD® system. It replaced the hotel’s existing model with no need for additional plumbing. The unit was used to minimize injury after cleaning chemicals splashed into a housekeeper’s eyes.