You have been called to a high school science lab where a male student was splashed in the eye with an alkaline solution. He is complaining of burning to the eye as well as pain. After performing the primary assessment and finding no life-threatening conditions, you would:

A) determine the exact compound the patient was splashed with and the appropriate chemical antidote.
B) hold the patient's eye open and begin flushing with large amounts of tap water and continue throughout transport.
C) obtain a set of vital signs and determine if the patient is taking medications or has any past medical problems.
D) cover both eyes with eye shields and move to the ambulance for immediate transport.

Answer: B