Preventing Injuries
Unintentional Injuries
 A fatal home injury happens every 18 minutes in the
U.S., and an injury happens every 4 seconds.
 Preventing an injury resulting from an unexpected
event is easy to do
 Prevent Fires:
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Never leave candle burning unattended
Store matches/lighters out of reach of children
Keep stoves/ovens clean
Replace frayed electrical cords
Check smoke alarms when we change time
Have a fire extinguisher
Unintentional Injuries
 Prevent Falls
 Keep stairways lit, and free of clutter
 Keep floors clean
 Safety rails, grips in bathrooms
 Don’t run cords across walkways
 Prevent Electrical Shock
 Unplug devices not in use
 Check cords for signs of wear
 Don’t use around water
Unintentional Injuries
 Prevent Poisoning
 Keep mediations in childproof containers
 Store chemicals in locked cabinets
 Use products in well-ventilated areas
First Aid
 Check, Call, Care
 When you approach an emergency situation remember
“check, call, care”
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Check the scene and the victim
 Make sure scene is safe (not in traffic flow)
 Only move victim if life is threatened by scene
Call for help
 Call “911” or assign someone to call “911”
 If you are the only one there, you may have to leave the victim to
get help, return as quickly as possible
Care for the victim
 Get permission to treat if possible
Common Injuries
 Open Wounds
 Abrasion – scrapes, clean out wound
 Laceration – cut, clean out and bandage
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If deep, may need medical attention
 Puncture – small but deep hole (nail)
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Carry very high risk of infection
Clean wound, seek out medical attention
 Avulsion- tissue is partially or completely separated from
body (finger severed)
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Pace part in ice seek immediate medical attention
First Aid for Bleeding
 Cover wound with gauze, or clean cloth
 If gauze/cloth fills with blood DO NOT REMIVE!
 Just add more gauze/cloth to the outside
 Elevate wound above heart if possible
 If wound is gushing blood, you nay need to apply
pressure to wound, or above wound, to slow blood flow
First Aid for Burns
 Minor Burn (First Degree) – cool the burn with cold
running water, or immerse in cold water for 10
minutes. A clean, cold, wet towel will help relieve
pain.
 Pat dry and cover with sterile bandage
 More severe (Second Degree) cool burn with cool
water, elevate burn area. Wrap loosely with sterile dry
dressing.
 Severe Burns (Third Degree) – cool burn with large
amounts of cold water, cover area with dry sterile
dressing, seek immediate medical attention.
CPR (cardiopulmonary
resuscitation)
 Use of rescue breaths and chest compressions on a
someone who is not breathing and has not heartbeat
 ABCs of CPR
 Airway – look in victim’s mouth, remove anything
blocking airway
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If no neck injury is evident, lay person flat on back and tip
head back to open airway
 Breathing – look listen, and feel for breathing
 If not breathing normally, begin rescue breathing
 Pinch nostrils shut, place mouth over mouth and give 2 slow
breathes of about 2 seconds in length each
CPR
 Circulation – check for signs of circulation (breathing,
coughing, movement)
 If there are no signs of circulation, then trained person
should begin with chest compressions
 If victim responds, stop compressions and monitor
breathing, giving breathes as necessary
 I am Trained in CPR, but I am not a certified trainer
 I would highly suggest you take a CPR course and
receive proper training!
AED
 Automated External Defibrillator
 A device that delivers and electronic shock to the heart
to restore normal rhythm
 Whenever present, should be used in place of CPR
First Aid for Shock
 Shock- Failure of system to properly circulate blood
 Pale appearance
 Rapid breathing, pulse
 Nausea
 Restlessness
 Call 911
 Control any bleeding
 Elevate legs, unless injury prevents
 Do not give victim food/water!
First Aid for Choking
 Ask person if they can speak?
 If they cannot respond, the airway is completely blocked
 If victim is an adult, use abdominal thrusts
 Place you leg between the legs of the victim
 Wrap your arms around victims waist, making a fist
with one hand
 Pull inward and upward just under the rib cage
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If you are choking and alone, do same thing with you own
arm, may also use back of chair
 If victim is younger may use black bows
Other Common Injuries
 Muscle Cramps – painful, sudden tightening of muscle
 Stretch area
 Massage area
 Apply moist heat to area
 Strains/Sprains
 RICE
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Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
 Fracture/Dislocation
 Immobilize area, and seek medical attention
Other Common Injuries
 Concussion – blow to head that affect brain function
 Have victim lie down
 Use first aid for any bleeding
 Seek professional help
 Nose Bleeds
 Breathe through mouth
 Sit down, lean forward
 May apply pressure to bleeding nostril to stop/slow
bleeding
Other Common Injuries
 Object in Eye
 Do not rub eye
 Try blinking
 Wash hands, pull lower eyelid down and have person
look up
 Repeat with upper lid and look down
 Flush eye with sterile water or tap water