Accidents in the Home

The home is sometimes said to be the safest place and so if in danger most persons would first go there but over the years it can be seen that a large percentage of accidents happen in the home. These accidents happen due to certain factors such as lack of attention, awareness or parental guidance, disobedience to certain rules as well as a lack of understanding of certain things. These accidents can however be prevented if the necessary attention to details and the preparedness duties is met.

Common types of accidents in the home * Fire – fires are one of the most frequent accidents that occur in the home. It is cause by either unattended flames or simply a gas leak. * Burns and scalds- these are caused by steam, hot liquids, lighted candles and coal pots, stoves/cookers * Falls- these occur when high stools, ladders or objects are left unattended and so small children may be tempted to climb as well as an adult might be using the tools and lose their balance and so fall resulting in broken limbs, scratches and bruises * Poisoning- this happens when medication, household chemicals, disinfectants or even poisons or left in a careless way where children may be able to obtain them and also when liquids/substances are placed in bottles that are unidentified and so may lead a person to think otherwise * Suffocation/choking- certain items left in reach of babies and young children * Electrocution-this happens when there is a shortage or loose wiring * Cuts and scratches- this occurs mostly when cutting tools are left around carelessly.

Burns and scalds
Burns are caused by heat. Those that are caused by wet heat, such as steam or hot liquids, are called scalds. In many instances, burns and scalds occur as a result of sheer carelessness. For example, a mother might have had to rush out of the kitchen. She leaves the saucepan on the cooker or coal pot, with the handle sticking out over the edge. The small child left unattended pulls down the saucepan and is scalded by the hot liquid. Young children playing on kitchen floors may also be burnt or scalded by hot liquid or food being spilt on them. They may also pull at appliances which are with their easy reach. Another cause of burns, sometimes very severe and resulting in death, is house fires. Young children are often the victims because they cannot rescue themselves. They are left asleep with lighted candles, coal pots, or kerosene lamps. Sometimes, a young single parent decides to run an errand while children are asleep, and bits of coal fall to the wooden floor setting the house ablaze. In other instances, small children may set fire to the home by playing with matches and lighted objects.

Falls
Small children and elderly people can be hurt badly by slipping n wet, slippery or greasy floors, tripping over objects and falling off chairs, tables or stairs. Sometimes falls result in bruises, even broken arms, legs or hips.

Poisoning
Many children lose their lives by consuming poisonous substances. Frequently, these substances have been left within their easy reach. Brightly coloured tablets and attractive bottles are temptations, and can easily be mistaken for sweets or delicious drinks. This can result in death.

Suffocation and choking
Suffocation means not being able to breathe. This can easily happen if a child puts its head into a plastic bag. Choking refers to getting an obstruction, such as a piece of food, lodged in the throat, also preventing you from breathing. Most children find plastic bags fascinating. The risk of suffocation is particularly high if children are allowed to play with soft cellophane bags. These can stick to face and nostrils, causing children to panic, and can result in suffocation. Babies can also easily suffocate if they are put to sleep on pillows that are covered with plastic with plastic. The plastic material prevents the circulation of air and the baby, who is unable to turn freely, can suffocate and die. Many children and adults, die by choking on a piece of food, or large sweet that has become stuck in the throat or windpipe. It is dangerous to give small children plums, cherries and other fruits with small seeds, as seeds can cause choking. Small children who feed themselves can sometimes choke on their food.

Electrocution
If electricity appliances are not used wisely, people can get electrocuted. If an electric current passes through a person’s body and into the earth, it can kill that person. Broken or fried cords can cause electrocution. In the home electrical wiring is usually covered with non-conducting outer covering.
Carelessness in allowing this covering to get frayed could expose the wires and electric current. Most people use irons with exposed wires or run wires under carpets. This is a dangerous practice since, in time, the wiring will fray or overheat and can electrocute you. Electricity passes through water easily and two together are very dangerous. If a person has wet hands or is standing on a wet floor and touches an exposed or live electrical wire or a faulty appliance, a bad shock is likely to occur. Children can also be electrocuted if they stick pins or other metal objects into the holes of an electrical socket.

Cuts and scratches

Children love cutting things and if knives, scissors or other sharp tools are left lying around, they can scratch or cut themselves. Cooking knives can be very dangerous if left within reach of a young child. Children are also very curious and like to imitate adults. For example, a child may be tempted to use a sewing machine as soon as the adult leaves it uncovered. The machine needle may pierce the child’s finger, causing a lot of pain and possible tetanus infection.

Safety practices in the Home

* Close the door to keep young children out of the kitchen if no adult is there. * Never leave pan handles sticking out from the cooker. * Do not allow young children to play with matches or cook for smaller children. * Discourage toddlers from playing on kitchen floors. * Keep kerosene lamps, coal pots, candles and matches locked away and out of reach of children. Keep lighted candles and kerosene lamps away from curtains and drapes. * Install smoke detectors (if affordable). These set off an alarm at the first sign of smoke. * Never leave children alone or unattended at home. * Keep all medications locked away in a medicine cabinet and out of reach of children, use a padlock if necessary. * Keep all household chemicals/cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, pesticides and other poisonous substances separate from that of food items and out of reach of children and keep the cupboard locked. * Place coal pots at a reasonable height out of reach of children, on a fireproof surface and not directly on wooden floors. * Do not let children play with plastic bags. * If items are brought into the home in plastic bags, remove the bags and store them safely, or dispose of them. * Never put babies to sleep on pillows that are covered with plastic. Small babies really don’t need to sleep on pillows. * Never leave small children to eat or bottle feed themselves. * Never touch electrical appliances such as radios, hairdryers and shavers when you are in the shower. * Make sure the socket is switched off before plugging in an appliance. * Check all electrical appliances and wiring regularly. * Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using electrical appliances. * Sockets not in use are to be covered either with insulating tape or otherwise to prevent children from sticking objects into them. * Close doors so that young children cannot access the outside without supervision. * Keep all knives, scissors and sharp tools in a safe place, where children can’t get to them * Cover sewing machines when not in use. * Sweep-up broken glass and put in garbage bin immediately.

Wise usage of small household appliances

1. Stove- equipment that uses fuel ( gas, electricity, coal) can be the cause of many injures in the food preparation area, if care is not practised. There are several safety practices that must be followed. * Place cookers and coal pots away from windows, doors and corners. They should be placed in a safe place. * When using a coal pot, place it on a safety sheet concrete counter. Never place it on a wooden floor or rubber tiles. * Wipe up a spill as soon as it spills on the cooker. * Do not leave towels, pot holders or matches near the cooker or flame. * Turn off gas, and or electricity when not in use. 2. Iron-A clothing iron, also called a flatiron or simply an iron, is a small appliance: a handheld piece of equipment with a flat, roughly triangular surface that, when heated, is used to press clothes to remove creases. It is named for the metal of which the device is commonly made, and the use of it is generally called ironing. Ironing works by loosening the ties between the long chains of molecules that exist in polymer fiber materials. With the heat and the weight of the ironing plate, the fibers are stretched and the fabric maintains its new shape when cool. Some materials, such as cotton, require the use of water to loosen the intermolecular bonds. Many materials developed in the twentieth century are advertised as needing little or no ironing. * Always use an electric iron with an ironing board. * Never attempt to iron or stream fabrics while they are being worn. * Never iron clothing on the floor or bed, as there is rarely a safe place to rest the iron. * Do not attempt to us an iron for any purpose other than for ironing clothes * When not in use turn off or plug out 3. Food mixer- A mixer is a kitchen utensil which uses a gear-driven mechanism to rotate a set of beaters in a bowl containing the food to be prepared. It automates the repetitive tasks of stirring, whisking or beating. When the beaters are replaced by a dough hook, a mixer may also be used to knead. * Never clean mixer while plugged in * Never attempt to put mixer in water while plugged in as to avoid electrical shock. * Read manual before starting to use the instrument.

4. Refrigerator- refrigerator (colloquially fridge) is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic, or chemical) that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room. Refrigeration is an essential food storage technique in developed countries. A lower temperature in a confined volume lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage. * Clean refrigerator regularly. * In case of terrible whether plug out.

Treatment of minor injures

1. Burns/scalds- Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don't put ice on the burn. * Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Don't use fluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn reduces pain and protects blistered skin. * Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Caution
* Don't use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause a person's body to become too cold and cause further damage to the wound. * Don't apply egg whites, butter or ointments to the burn. This could cause infection. * Don't break blisters. Broken blisters are more vulnerable to infection

5. Bleeding nose- * Sit upright and lean forward. By remaining upright, you reduce blood pressure in the veins of your nose. This discourages further bleeding. Sitting forward will help you avoid swallowing blood, which can irritate your stomach.
Pinch your nose. Use your thumb and index finger to pinch your nostrils shut. Breathe through your mouth. Continue to pinch for five to 10 minutes. Pinching sends pressure to the bleeding point on the nasal septum and often stops the flow of blood. * To prevent re-bleeding, don't pick or blow your nose and don't bend down for several hours after the bleeding episode. During this time remember to keep your head higher than the level of your heart. * If re-bleeding occurs, blow out forcefully to clear your nose of blood clots and spray both sides of your nose with a decongestant nasal spray containing oxymetazoline. (Afrin, Mucinex Moisture Smart, others). Pinch your nose again as described above and call your doctor.

6. Broken limbs- * Medications
To reduce pain and inflammation, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or a combination of the two. If you're experiencing severe pain, you may need an opioid medication, such as codeine.

* Therapy
After your cast or splint is removed, you'll likely need rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore movement in the injured leg. Because you haven't moved your leg for a while, you may even have stiffness and weakened muscles in uninjured areas. Rehabilitation can help, but it may take up to several months — or even longer — for complete healing of severe injuries.

* Surgical and other procedures
Immobilization heals most broken bones. However, you may need surgery to implant internal fixation devices, such as plates, rods or screws, to maintain proper position of your bones during healing. These internal fixation devices may be necessary if you have the following injuries:

7. Choking- * Confirm that choking is the cause of the person's distress. The person may have his hands at his throat, which is the universal sign for choking. Ask the person to nod if he is choking. If the person is panicking or not responding, look for other tell-tale signs of choking, such as failed attempts to speak or cough, or bluish lips. * Deliver 5 blows on the back with the heel of your hand. Your hand should land right between the shoulder blades. * Give 5 abdominal thrusts using the Heimlich manoeuvre. * Stand behind the choking victim and wrap your arms around her waist. * Make a fist with 1 hand and hold the fist with the other hand. * Place the thumb-side of your fist right above the victim's navel. * Lean the victim slightly forward and press into her abdomen with a hard, upward thrust. * Continue giving 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the victim begins coughing or the object is dislodged.

Safety in the home

Every year many children in the Caribbean lose their lives or are injured as a result of accidents which take place in the home. These accidents usually happened because of people’s lack of knowledge of safety practices, their carelessness or inability to manage their available resources, such as time, space and energy, effectively. Safety in the home should be a number one priority of all family members.

Teacher: Miss. Garden Class: 103 Student’s name: Abbi-Gale Reynolds Subject: Home Management

Table of contents 1) Safety in the home 2) Accidents in the home 3) Common types of accidents in the home 4) Safety practices in the home 5) Wise usage of small household appliances 6) Treatment of minor injures 7) Bibliography

Introduction * Safety is referred to as a state of being safe, freedom from risk or danger. Safety in the home refers to the prevention of accidents in the home. When accidents occur, families are required to spend money, time and human energy to care for the injured member and remedy the family’s situation. In some cases accidents can cause loss of lives which would probably put the family in great depth. In this project you shall learn more of the term safety and ways in how to keep yourself and family members safe and prevent accidents. You will also learn the types of accidents, safety practices, how to use and care for your small household appliances and tools as well as the treatment of minor injuries.

Bibliography * Caribbean Home Economics in Action ( book 1) * Internet