You can further protect yourself by wearing rubber gloves and heavy clothing when working with ammonia. If you store bulk quantities of anhydrous ammonia on your farm, you'll need additional protective equipment. Keep two rain suits or slickers and gas masks with an ammonia canister filter available for emergency work. When a serious leak occurs, call your local fire department for assistance. Firefighters have the proper training and equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus and protective suits to deal with major ammonia leaks where high concentrations are probably present.
Seconds are critical when someone is sprayed with liquid ammonia or engulfed in concentrated vapors.
When ammonia contacts the skin or eyes, tissue damage occurs rapidly. Immediate use of water to flush the exposed body areas is crucial. Regulations require that all farm vehicles used for anhydrous ammonia carry a container filled with at least 5 gallons of water. The water must be readily available for flushing the eyes and skin in case of exposure. The water should be changed daily to remain fresh.