safety

2. Home Accidents IN CHILDREN
Study Objectives;
• By the end of this session, the students should have
be able to;
1. describe the common home accidents and their
causes
2. discuss at least 10 ways of how home accidents can
be prevented
3. Describe briefly the management of a child with
home accidents.

3. Home accidents cont..
•These are accidental injuries that occur at
home
•Accidental injuries are the most common
cause of death in children over one year of
age. Children under five are most at risk from
injuries at home, with boys more likely to be
injured than girls
•Burns & scalds are common injuries in young
children.

4. Home accidents cont.
• Many children also end up at hosp. after swallowing
objects or following a suspected poisoning.
• Many accidents and death that occur in the homes are
avoidable.
• By identifying and understanding the potential risks
and taking some basic safety measures, its possible to
keep your children safe.

5. • What are the common home accidents you know?
Brain storm

6. • Burns& scalds
• Poisoning
• Suffocation
• Drowning and near drowning
• Falls
• Bites etc

7. BURNS & SCALDS
• Burns are very frequently form of childhood injury.
• The effects of burns are not limited to the burnt area.
• A second degree burn of 19% or more of the body
surface in a child younger than 5years or a second
degree burn of 15% or more of a body surface in a
child over 1 year is considered very serious injury.

8. Burns

9. Causes of burns in children
• Thermal causes e.g open fire, hot water( scalds)
• Electricity burns due to electrical current mostly due
to playing wz electrical appliances& open wires
• Chemical burns of the skin. Acids & Alkali burns( are
more likely due to drink resulting in burns in the
mouth & esophagus)
• Inhalation of corrosive substances or gases
• Burns inflicted upon the child as a result of child abuse

10. Clinical manifestations of burns
• The x-tics of burn wounds are classified as follows
• A. First degree burns involves superficial epidermis:
the skin is red or pink in appearance & painfull to
touch.
• B. Second degree burns involves the entire epidemic,
the skin is red, blistered, moist with exudate &painful
to touch.

11. • C. Third degree burn involves the dermis or
understanding fat, muscle or bone. The skin appears
white, dry & is painless to touch.

12. Clinical manifestations cont.
• Other symptoms depending on the total burn surface
or severity e.g.
• Shock ( rapid pulse, pallor, low BP appear soon after
the burn
• Toxemia ( fever, rapid pulse, cyanosis, vomiting edema)
may develop after 1-2days after initial burns. These
symptoms can progress to coma & death
• Burns of the upper resp truct. result in symptoms of
URTO resulting from edema & inflammation of the
glottis, vocal cord & upper trachea

13. Mgt of child with burns
• The objective of tx is to;
1. Replace fuild loss from the burn surface
2. Maintain circulation
3. Prevent renal failure
4. Prevent or treat infections
5. Aim toward early repair of the burn wound
6. Restore the child to the best possible state of
physical & psychological functioning

14. Burns mgt cont.
•Monitor vital signs
•Monitor administration of IV fluids
•Maintain accurate record of intake and
output
•Provide adequate oxygenation
•Provide sedation to relieve pain

15. Mgt cont.
• Ensure tetanus vaccination
• Observe for signs of respiratory destress and take
measures t alleviate if any
• Position the child and turn him frequently
• Administer ant-biotics as prescribed
• Provide high protein, calorie diet

16. Prevention of Burns/scalds
•For adults, never hold a hot drink/food and a
child at the same time
•Ensure feeds are at reasonable temperatures
before feeding
•Ensure proper fence or door is installed at
the entrance of the kitchen . Such must be
closed at all times, and instruct children not
to go into the kitchen.