This document provides information on first aid procedures for common accidents that can occur at home, including burns, fractures, poisoning, and snake bites. It describes classifying burns based on their depth, immobilizing fractures, removing contaminated clothing during poisoning, and keeping snake bite victims calm and restricting movement until medical help arrives. The document emphasizes seeking prompt medical treatment for serious injuries and not attempting to cut, suck, or apply tourniquets to snake bites.

1. CHAPTER EIGHT
MANAGEMENT OF COMMON ACCIDENTS AT HOME
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
1.Understand the common hazards that can occur at home and within the community.
2.Describe the different first aid procedures for common injuries at home and within the
community.
3.Describe the steps that can be taken to prevent their occurrence
Introduction:
Accidents happen every day and result in thousands of people suffering personal injury
every year. An accident injury can occur on the roads and footpaths, at work, in public
places, at home, at school, during medical treatment and in many other situations but
whatever the location, if the accident was caused wholly or partly by someone else. In
many cases the accident and consequent injury is through no fault of the injured person
but is caused by someone else.
Burns
A burn is a type of injury to the skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation
or friction. Most burns only affect the skin (epidermal tissue and dermis).
Classification of burns
Burns are classified based upon their depth.
A first-degree burn is superficial and causes local inflammation of the skin. Sunburns
often are categorized as first-degree burns. The inflammation is characterized by pain,
redness, and a mild amount of swelling. The skin may be very tender to touch.
Second degree burns are deeper and in addition to the pain, redness and inflammation,
there is also blistering of the skin.
Third degree burns are deeper still, involving all layers of the skin, in effect killing that
area of skin. Because the nerves and blood vessels are damaged, third-degree burns
appear white and leathery and tend to be relatively painless.
First aid for burns
For major burns (second- and third-degree burns)
 Remove the victim from the burning area, remembering not to put the rescuer in
danger.
 Remove any burning material from the patient.
 Call 911 or activate the emergency response system in your area if needed.
 Once the victim is in a safe place, keep them warm and still. Try to wrap the injured
areas in a clean sheet if available. DO NOT use cold water on the victim; this may
drop the body temperature and cause hypothermia.
Burns of the face, hands, and feet should always be considered a significant injury
(although this may exclude sunburn.
For minor burns (first degree burns or second-degree burns involving a small
area of the body)
 Gently clean the wound with lukewarm water.

2.  Though butter has been used as a home remedy, it should NOT be used on any
burn.
 Rings, bracelets, and other potentially constricting articles should be removed
(edema, or swelling from inflammation may occur and the item may cut into the
skin).
 The burn may be dressed with a topical antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin or
Neosporin.
 If there is concern that the burn is deeper and may be second or third degree in
nature, medical care should be accessed.
 Tetanus immunization should be updated if needed.
For electrical burns
Victims of electrical burns should always seek medical care.
For chemical burns
 Identify the chemical that was involved.
 Contact the emergency services in your area or your local hospital's Emergency
Department.
 Victims with chemical burns to their eyes should always seek emergency care.
Fractures
A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. Fractures are common; the average
person has two during a lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone
is stronger than the bone itself. Yourrisk of fracture depends, in part, on your age. Broken
bones are very common in childhood, though children's fractures are generally less
complicated than fractures in adults. As you age, your bones become more brittle and you
are more likely to suffer fractures from falls that would not occur when you were young.
There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are displaced, non-displaced,
open, and closed. Displaced and non-displaced fractures refer to the way the bone breaks.
In a displaced fracture, the bone snaps into two or more parts; if the bone is in many
pieces, it is considered comminuted. In a non-displaced fracture, the bone cracks either
part or all of the way through, but does move and maintains its proper alignment.
A closed fracture is when the bone breaks but there is no puncture or open wound in the
skin. An open fracture is one in which the bone breaks through the skin; it may then
recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin. This is an important
difference from a closed fracture because with an open fracture there is a risk of a deep
bone infection.

3. The severity of a fracture depends upon its location and the damage done to the bone and
tissue nearit. Serious fractures can have dangerous complications if not treated promptly;
possible complications include damage to blood vessels ornerves and infection of the bone
(osteomyelitis) or surrounding tissue. Recuperation time varies depending on the age and
health of the patient and the type of fracture. A minor fracture in a child may heal within
a few weeks; a serious fracture in an older person may take months to heal.
Symptoms of a fracture
- Very intense pain increasing on movement of affected area.
- Bruising may or may not be there
-Swelling
-Injured area looks abnormal as compared to opposite side
-Difficulty in moving the injured area.
- Shock
-Unconsciousness may temporarily be there.
First aid for fractures
What to do:
 Immobilise the affected area.
 Keep the patient still and support the injured area.
 For arm fractures a sling can be made to support and immobilise the affected area,
which can be hung around the neck using triangular bandage or cloth.
 Splints (any long firm object) can be used for support and
immobilization usually splinting to another part of the body is best.
 In case of leg fractures the patient's both legs can be
 Open fractures - control the bleeding with sterile dressing and pressure if required.
Do not:
 Give massage to affected area
 Try to straighten the broken limb
 Move the patient without support
 Ask the patient to move on his own
 Move the joints above and below the fracture.
Poisoning
Poisoning is the harmful effect that occurs when a toxic substance is swallowed,is inhaled,
or comes in contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes, such as those of the
mouth or nose.
 Possible poisonous substances include prescription and over-the-counter drugs,
illicit drugs, gases, chemicals, vitamins, and food.
 Some poisons cause no damage, whereas others can cause severe damage or death.
 The diagnosis is based on symptoms, on information gleaned from the poisoned
person and bystanders, and sometimes on blood and urine tests.

4.  Medications should always be kept in original child-proof containers and kept out of
the reach of children.
 Treatment consists of supporting the person, preventing additional absorption of the
poison, and sometimes increasing elimination of the poison.
First aid
 People exposed to a toxic gas should be removed from the source quickly, preferably
out into fresh air, but rescue attempts should be done by professionals.
 In chemical spills, all contaminated clothing, including socks and shoes, and jewelry
should be removed immediately. The skin should be thoroughly washed with soap
and water. If the eyes have been exposed, they should be thoroughly flushed with
water or saline. Rescuers must be careful to avoid contaminating themselves.
 Containers of the poisons and all drugs that might have been possibly taken by the
poisoned person (including nonprescription products) should be saved and given to
the doctor or rescue personnel
 Incase its an eye poisoning flush the child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and
pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner.
Snake bites:
Snake bites can be deadly if not treated quickly. Children are at higher risk for death or
serious complications due to snake bites because of their smaller body size.The right
antivenom can save a person's life. Getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible
is very important. If properly treated, many snake bites will not have serious effects.
Symptoms depend on the type of snake, but may include:
 Bleeding from wound
 Blurred vision
 Burning of the skin
 Convulsions
 Diarrhea
 Dizziness
 Excessive sweating
 Fainting
 Fang marks in the skin
 Fever
 Increased thirst
 Loss of muscle coordination
 Nausea and vomiting
 Numbness and tingling
 Rapid pulse
 Tissue death
 Severe pain
 Skin discoloration
 Swelling at the site of the bite

5. First aid treatment
 Keep the person calm, reassuring them that bites can be effectively treated in an
emergency room. Restrict movement, and keep the affected area below heart level
to reduce the flow of venom.
 If you have a pump suction device (such as that made by Sawyer), follow the
manufacturer's directions.
 Remove any rings or constricting items because the affected area may swell. Create
a loose splint to help restrict movement of the area.
 If the area of the bite begins to swell and change color, the snake was probably
poisonous.
 Monitor the person’s vital signs -- temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, and blood
pressure -- if possible. If there are signs of shock (such as paleness), lay the person
flat, raise the feet about a foot, and cover the person with a blanket.
 Get medical help right away.
 Bring in the dead snake only if this can be done safely. Do not waste time hunting
for the snake, and do not risk another bite if it is not easy to kill the snake. Be
careful of the head when transporting it -- a snake can actually bite for up to an
hour after it's dead (from a reflex).
Do not
 Allow the person to become over-exerted. If necessary, carry the person to safety.
 Apply a tourniquet.
 Apply cold compresses to a snake bite.
 Cut into a snake bite with a knife or razor.
 Try to suck out the venom by mouth.
 Give the person stimulants or pain medications pain medications unless a doctor
tells you to do so.
 Give the person anything by mouth.
 Raise the site of the bite above the level of the person's heart.
Electric shock:
An electric shock occurs when a person comes into contact with an electrical energy
source. Electrical energy flows through a portion of the body causing a shock. Exposure
to electrical energy may result in no injury at all or may result in devastating damage or
death. Burns are the most common injury from electric shock.
Symptoms
A person who has suffered an electric shock may have very little external evidence of
injury or may have obvious severe burns. The person could even be in cardiac arrest.
 Burns are usually most severe at the points of contact with the electrical source and
the ground. The hands, heels, and head are common points of contact.
 In addition to burns, other injuries are possible if the person has been thrown clear
of the electrical source by forceful muscular contraction. Consideration should be
given to the possibility of a spine injury. The person may have internal injuries
especially if he or she is experiencing any shortness of breath, chest pain, or
abdominal pain.

6.  Pain in a hand or foot or a deformity of a part of the body may indicate a possible
broken bone resulting from the electric shock.
 In children, the typical electrical mouth burns from biting an electric cord appears
as a burn on the lip. The area has a red or dark, charred appearance.
First aid
Brief low-voltage shocks that do not result in any symptoms or burns of the skin do not
require care. For any high-voltage shock, or for any shock resulting in burns, seek care at
a hospital's emergency department. A doctor should evaluate electric cord burns to the
mouth of a child. Treatment depends on the severity of the burns or the nature of other
injuries found. Burns are treated according to severity.
 Minor burns may be treated with topical antibiotic ointment and dressings.
 More severe burns may require surgery to clean the wounds or even skin grafting.
 Severe burns on the arms, legs, or hands may require surgery to remove damaged
muscle or even amputation.
Drowning:
First aid
 Don't assume it's too late to save a child's life - even if she's unresponsive, continue
performing CPR and do not stop until medical professionals take over.Tilt the head
back with one hand, and lift her chin with the other to open the airway of the child.
Put your ear to the child's mouth and nose, and look, listen and feel for signs that
she is breathing.
 If the child doesn't seem to be breathing
A. Infants under age 1: Place your mouth over infant's nose and lips and give two
breaths, each lasting about 1 1/2 seconds. Look for the chest to rise and fall.
B. Children 1 and older: Pinch child's nose and seal your lips over her mouth. Give two
slow, full breaths (1 1/2 to 2 seconds each). Wait for the chest to rise and fall before
giving the second breath.
 If the chest rises, check for a pulse (see number 4).
If the chest doesn't rise, try again. Retilt the head, lift the child's chin, and repeat
the breaths.
 Check for a pulse: Put two fingers on your child's neck to the side of the Adam's
apple (for infants, feel inside the arm between the elbow and shoulder). Wait five
seconds. If there is a pulse, give one breath every three seconds. Check for a pulse
every minute, and continue rescue breathing until the child is breathing on her own
or help arrives.
 If you can't find a pulse then;
A. Infants under age 1: Imagine a line between the child's nipples, and place two
fingers just below its centerpoint. Apply five half-inch chest compressions in about
three seconds. After five compressions, seal your lips over your child's mouth and
nose and give one breath.
B. Children 1 and older: Use the heel of your hand (both hands for a teenageror adult)
to apply five quick one-inch chest compressions to the middle of the breastbone

7. (just above where the ribs come together) in about three seconds. After five
compressions, pinch your child's nose, seal your lips over his mouth, and give one
full breath. All ages: continue the cycle of five chest compressions followed by a
breath for one minute, then check for a pulse. Repeat cycle until you find a pulse or
help arrives and takes over.
Note: These instructions are not a substitute for CPR training, which all parents and
caretakers should have.
Choking
Cause:
Accidental swallowing of foreign body, strangulation, covering of head by blankets,
accidental suffocation by pillow while baby sleeps in a prone position, near-drowning etc.
Prevention:
 Choose toys appropriate to the age of children. Avoid toys with detachable small
parts.
 Ensure small objects are kept out of reach of children.
 Pull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short and out of reach of children.
 Strings and plastic bags should be kept out of reach of children.
 Foldable furniture should be properly placed and locked. Instruct children not to play
with them.
 Instruct children not to play while eating.
 Never let children use milk bottle by themselves without adult’s supervision.
 Never use pillow for baby under one year of age. Do not use large and heavy blanket.
Never let the blanket cover the face of children during sleep.
 Avoid sleeping with baby on the same bed.
 Never leave children alone in a bath tub or basin filled with water.
 Bucket filled with water must be covered and keep children away from it.
First Aid:
 Do not panic. Remove the cause from the patient.
 Call for help immediately.
 Perform CPR if necessary.