What is the first action when a person is exposed to a pesticide?

• A. Remove the person from exposure
• B. Rinse skin with water
• C. Refer to label for first aid steps
• D. Seek medical attention

Answer: (A)

The first action is to remove the person from the exposure. Stopping contact with the pesticide immediately reduces further harm and protects the person from additional absorption through skin, eyes, or lungs. Once the person is away from the pesticide source, you then follow the appropriate first-aid steps—decontaminate according to the product label, such as rinsing skin with plenty of clean water and removing contaminated clothing, and flush eyes if needed. The label provides the exact steps for the specific product, but the very first move must be to take the person away from the exposure. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop or if the exposure was significant.