A patient with an eye injury from battery acid should receive which immediate treatment?

Irrigating the eye with water for a minimum of 20 minutes is the most appropriate immediate treatment for a chemical eye injury caused by battery acid. The primary goal in such a situation is to dilute and remove the harmful chemical from the eye as quickly as possible to minimize tissue damage and preserve vision.

Water is effective in flushing out the battery acid, which can cause significant damage to the ocular surface and deeper structures if not swiftly and adequately rinsed away. The recommendation for a minimum of 20 minutes allows enough time for the irrigation to be effective, ensuring that the alkaline or acidic substances are thoroughly removed. This is crucial because the longer the corrosive agent remains in contact with the eye, the more severe the injury can become.

Using a cold pack, rinsing with sodium bicarbonate, or covering the eyes may not provide the prompt and sufficient decontamination necessary in the event of a chemical exposure. While covering both eyes could prevent further irritation, it does not address the critical need to irrigate the affected eye with water. Therefore, continuous and thorough irrigation is the proper response in cases of chemical exposure to the eyes.