I would refer you to the latest version of the ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009 
;American National Standard for Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment,
available from:
International Safety Equipment Association
ATTN: Cristine Z. Fargo
Manager, Membership and Standards Programs
1901 North Moore Street
Arlington, VA 22209-1762
(703) 525-1695
www.safetyequipment.org
On Page 7, under 3. Definitions, you will find the defin
ition of "Flushing Fluid": "Potable water, preserved water, pre
served buffered saline solution or other medically acceptable solution manu
factured and labeled in accordance with applicable government regulations."
I would encourage you to obtain a copy of the Z358.1-2009 Standard to help
you decide if the flushing fluid you propose would meet the criteria. 
; I receive no remuneration from ISEA, but was a voting member of the r
evision committee.
I would caution that some recent experimental work from Germany shows that
hypotonic flushing solutions may actually increase penetration of
at least some caustic chemicals into and through the cornea, while mildly
hypertonic flushing solutions seem to prevent this. There are also
some data on potential harm with at least prolonged use of buffered phosph
ate solutions associated with development of corneal calcific
ations. While a sterile flushing fluid is generally perferable, e
specially in chemical splashes into the eyes, the use of whatever is read
ily available (most often potable water, i.e., "water suitable for drin
king") should be used in an attempt to mitigate the harmful effects. 
; The Z358.1-2009 standard also has a great deal of information on plumbe
d and non-plumbed eyewashes, how to test them, and on supplemental equi
pment such as personal wash units that might be used until the patient can
get to an eyewash station.
Alan
Alan H. Hall, M.D.
TCMTS, Inc.
Laramie, WY
ahalltoxic**At_Symbol_Here**msn.com
> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:41:14 -0500
> From: ckvibe**At_Symbol_Here**GMAI
L.COM
> Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammable gas in a quartz tube/elect
ric furnace assembly
> To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
>
>
; Hi all,
> Does anyone know if DI water can be used in an eye
wash station?
> Thanks!
>
> On Monday, January 2
5, 2010, Alfred Bouziane <ABouziane**At_Symbol_Here**capsm01.usc.edu> wrote:> >
> >
> >
> >
>
; >
> >
> >
> >
> >
;
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello everyone:
> >
> >
> &
gt;
> > Many thanks to those who responded for their invalua
ble
> > information and advice. It will be very helpful in the
design of this project.
> >
> >
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> >
>
; >
> > AB
> >
> >
>
>
> > Alfred M. Bouziane
> >
> >
; Project Manager
> >
> > Environmental Health
and Safety
> >
> > University of Southern Califor
nia
> >
> > http://capsnet.usc.edu/EHS/index.cfm<
BR>> >
> >
> >
> >
>
; >
> >
> >
> >
> >
;
> >
> >
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