Swallowing may cause severe burns of mouth, throat and stomach. Other symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea. Severe scarring of tissue and death may result. Contact with skin can cause irritation or severe burns and scarring with greater exposures. Causes irritation of eyes with tearing, redness, swelling.
Greater exposures cause severe burns with possible blindness resulting.
Prolonged contact with dilute solutions or dust of potassium hydroxide has a destructive effect on tissue. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. Give large quantities of water.