Would YOU know what to do if hit by a chemical attack? Health experts reveal the quick steps you must take to save a victim

A mother and her two young children were among nine people injured in an alkali attack in south London last night.

Three other adults were also taken to hospital for injuries after coming to the family’s aid.

Police said three officers who responded to the Clapham South incident suffered minor injuries in the horror incident and are in hospital as detectives search for a man who fled the scene.

Following the terrifying events, MailOnline has looked at what to do if you witness a chemical attack to help minimize the damage. The NHS says three key steps need to be taken immediately.

A victim of an acid, alkaline or chemical attack needs immediate first aid. Call 999 or ask someone else for urgent help.

The chemical should be removed, including any contaminated clothing, and the affected area rinsed with as much clean water as possible.

The St John Ambulance Service also recommends dousing the victim’s burns with water and removing clothing to remove the chemicals from the skin.

First aid trainer Lisa Pascoulis previously told MailOnline that powdered acid and liquid acid must be treated differently.

‘Keep yourself safe, ask the victim to treat themselves. If it is powder, brush it off with their hands, if it is liquid, give them access to water,” she said.

‘Everywhere, such as a coffee shop, an ice cream van and an outdoor tap: copious amounts of water for at least twenty minutes.’

The charity also advises removing jewelery such as watches and rings to remove anything that could hold the chemicals.

Remaining chemicals can burn through the victim’s clothing and then burn the skin, creating a risk of scarring.

While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, continue to help the victim splash themselves with plenty of water.

The NHS advises victims of acid and chemical burns to remove the chemical and contaminated clothing from contact with the skin and eyes, but be very careful not to touch or spread the chemical.

‘Use gloves or other protective equipment to cover hands and, if possible, carefully cut away clothing such as T-shirts, rather than removing them over the head.

‘Do not wipe the skin as this can spread contamination.

“Once the chemical is dry, wipe it off the skin.”

The affected area should also be rinsed continuously with clean water as soon as possible.

The NHS says: ‘Try to ensure that water can drain from the affected area without pooling on the skin.

‘Use water only – do not rub or wipe the area.’

You should remain on the phone with the 999 call handler until the ambulance arrives and take any further advice from them.

There have been a number of high-profile cases of acid attacks, including that of model Katie Piper, who suffered serious injuries and blindness in one eye after being attacked with acid at the age of 24 by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch and accomplice Stefan Sylvestre in 2008 ..

She has campaigned tirelessly to keep the issue of such attacks at the forefront of the public’s and officials’ minds since her horrific experience and has set up the Katie Piper Foundation.

Katie has previously said she felt ‘suicidal’ after the attack, but has since enjoyed a successful TV career and found love with her husband James Sutton, with whom she has two children, Belle and Penelope.

Another model who was doused with acid on her 21st birthday later described it as the day “my face was taken away from me.”

Resham Khan was waiting in a car at a traffic light in Beckton, east London, with her cousin Jameel Muhktar when John Tomlin threw acid at them through an open window in 2017.

They were scarred for life and Miss Khan was put into an induced coma because her injuries were so terrible.

She later shared photos of her incredible recovery and said that while she would never understand the attack, she wouldn’t let it break her.