Witnesses of acid attacks told: ‘Report, remove, rinse’

ACID attack witnesses are being told to ‘report, remove, rinse’ as assaults soar across the country.

New NHS guidelines urge witnesses and victims to dial 999, carefully remove burning clothing and immediately rinse skin in running water. Experts say the minutes following an attack are critical in avoiding victims being left blind or severely disfigured.

The advice has already been given to police and ambulance staff amid increasing concern at attacks with corrosive substances. NHS England is deeply concerned at a doubling in the number of people needing specialist burns treatment after acid attacks from 16 in 201 to 32 last year. Police said more than 00 such assaults were carried out in the six months to April this year.

Professor Chris Moran, of NHS England, said: ‘One moment of thoughtless violence can result in serious physical pain and mental trauma, which can involve months if not years of costly and specialist NHS treatment.’