What is a common emergency treatment for exposure to chemical irritants?

In cases of exposure to chemical irritants, oxygen therapy is a common emergency treatment because many chemical irritants can affect the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, and airway irritation. Administering oxygen helps to ensure that the body's tissues receive adequate oxygen, which can be critical in situations where exposure has impaired lung function.

Additionally, oxygen therapy is particularly important for individuals experiencing respiratory distress or hypoxia due to certain chemicals. By providing supplemental oxygen, medical personnel can help stabilize the patient's condition, making it easier for them to breathe and enhancing the effectiveness of other treatments that may follow.

Other options such as bed rest or increased fluid intake may be beneficial in different contexts but lack the immediate efficacy required during an acute exposure to chemical irritants. Cold compresses can be soothing for some types of physical injuries but do not address the internal effects of respiratory or systemic exposure to harmful substances. Thus, oxygen therapy stands out as the most direct and effective treatment in this emergency scenario.