Water spilled on back of my iPad2. What should I do?

Where would I get this silica gel/desiccant stuff? Radioshack or ???

How long should I leave it in there. I didn't remove cover (yes, I use the Apple accordion cover) lest the thing go ON so I have not even looked at the front to see whether water is on the front of it and got into it that way (and have no idea how I would do that without the thing going on once I remove the accordion cover). I think the iPad was on its side as it sat in the water that had spilled.

I will try this. Thank you so much.

I took the pad and peeled back the accordion cover a bit as after reading more from others, I thought I might make things worse leaving the accordion cover on and when I peeled the cover back just a bit, just a corner, it's a good thing I did because there was still moisture sitting atop the front of the iPad but I suppose lucky for me, because I had a Zagg sheet protecting the front, perhaps that kept water from ruining the screen? Anyway, I did notice there was some kind of grey coating or shading on the part that was moist but this turned out to be on the Zagg sheet itself. I peeled the Zagg sheet off and clearly that grey water damage or whatever it was was on the sheet cover and not the screen. When I saw the iPad go on momentarily as I peeled back the Apple accordion cover, I turned it off immediately so I don't even know what the screen looked like, if it reflected damage, et al. I will not turn it on until tomorrow in hopes that any moisture will get sucked out. Will try a supermaket for that stuff. I guess this is a good advert in a way for Zagg, eh? Well, maybe we'll see tomorrow....

Someone told me to put it in a sealed plastic bag with rice and leave until tomorrow. Does this essentially do the same thing as the dessicant you all are suggesting? And on that subject, perhaps this is a stupid question but gotta ask... if rice is a sufficiently absorbant material, does it matter what kind of rice? Am assuming instant white rice is just as good as brown basmati et al but... had to ask...

I think my iPad is definitely fried. I left it off and hours later suddenly I see the screen suddenly start to flash the apple symbol on and off. I had it in a sealed plastic bag with rice per advice from others. Earlier today when I took the accordion cover off and saw it go on but I turned it off immediately, I noticed at that time for that moment it actually looked ok. Now I see the screen hours later is flashing on and off. Is it possible that moisture affected it much later after the exposure and for a brief period it was fine? Now I'm really concerned. And when it flashes on I can see something is very wrong with the screen. What to do NOW?!!!! Again, I didn't touch it. I didn't turn it on. It just seems to be going on (and off) by itself. Help!

UPDATE for any and all who are interested or who have suffered a similar fate:

Took iPad to Genius Bar and waited until appointment to turn it on. We turned it on. The iPad did work however we could see the screen was damaged. Moisture had seeped into the display though not through the power port or headphone jack port, et al. So I was able to do one last backup to the cloud of everything at least. We could see the moisture damage to display was growing as we kept the iPad on so...

I was offered the standard choice of a swap with an essentially refurbished/new'ish OR, given mine was engraved, I'd order an engraved refurbished/new'ish iPad through Apple Support by phone and I would then send in my damaged iPad and in about a week, they would send me my replacement. All of this for $275. As I have critical work due tomorrow Tuesday, I chose to swap out right there and then. Because I have been so good about backing up, set up on the swapped iPad was relatively painless.

So... lesson for you all:

1. BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP

2. Don't even let the iPad NEAR anything moist.

3. Buy the new Applecare+ insurance... or something like it ...which offers more and better options for water damage.

Thanks all. And yeah - forget the rice technique OR the dessicant technique.