This document discusses home safety and common accidents that occur in the home. It provides information on preventing accidents such as falls, burns, cuts and poisonings. Safety tips are provided for fire safety, medicine storage, and first aid treatment for minor injuries. The most important aspects of first aid for serious injuries are also outlined, such as calling for help, checking breathing and pulse, and treating for shock. A well-stocked first aid kit is recommended.

1. Safety in
the Home
© PDST Home Economics

2. Reasons for Accidents in the Home
 Careless/forgetful people,
curious/active toddlers.
 Faulty equipment or wiring
 Badly constructed buildings
 Careless storage of harmful
substances
 By chance

3. Most Common Accidents in the Home
 Burns/scalds
 Falls
 Cuts
 Poisoning
 Electrocution
 Choking/suffocation
A fatal accident is where someone dies as a
result

4. Preventing Falls
 Wipe up spills
 Do not over-polish floors.
 Rugs should have non-slip back
 Avoid trailing flexes
 Stairs – well lit
 Keep stairs clear
 Use stair gates with toddlers
 Avoid cluttered floors
 Use proper steps when reaching high shelves

5. Safety with Medicine
 Store in original container
 Keep in locked press out of reach of
children
 Dispose of out of date medicine
 Never use medicine prescribed for one
person for someone else.

6. Safety Symbols

7. Fire Safety
 Use fire guards
 Do not hang clothes near open fire
 Do not move portable heaters when lit
 Switch off and unplug electrical appliances at
night, do not leave on standby
 Never put hot ashes in plastic bins
 Never smoke in bed
 Never leave chip pans unattended

8. Small Fire
 Use fire blanket or extinguisher to put
out the fire.
 Never use water on electrical fire or
oil/fat.
 Call fire brigade if unable to extinguish
fire

9. Larger Fires
 Raise the alarm
 Get everyone out of the house closing
windows and doors if possible
 Never re-enter burning building
 Call fire brigade

10. Fire safety equipment for the
home
 Smoke alarms
 Fire guards
 Fire blanket
 Fire
extinguisher

11. First Aid
Aims of first aid:
 To preserve life.
 To prevent condition
from worsening
 To reassure victim
 To provide comfort

12. In the case of a serious accident
1.Stay calm, act quickly
2.Call or get someone to call for emergency services.
3.Check if patient is conscious.
4.If unconscious check for breathing and pulse, use
CPR if necessary.

13. In the case of a serious accident
1. If there is a pulse and breathing, check
for bleeding and apply pressure to stop
bleeding
2. Do not move the patient unless they are in
danger .
3. Do not give patient anything to eat or
drink.
4. Make patient comfortable, keep them
warm and talk to them until help arrives.

15. First Aid for Burns and Scalds
A burn is cause by dry heat, a
scald is caused by moist heat
e.g. hot liquid or steam.
Minor
1. Submerge area in cool water
until pain eases.
1. Spray with burn spray if you
wish, do not apply lotion or
ointment
1. Cover with sterile dressing
Major burns/scalds
If clothing is on fire, pour water on
victim or wrap in blanket to
extinguish the fire.
Do not remove clothes that are stuck
to the wound but cover any
exposed areas with a clean dry
cloth to stop infection.
Treat for shock by raising victim’s
legs and loosening any tight
clothing.
Cover to protect from heat los
Get medical help

16. Burns & Scalds

17. Cuts
 If cut is deep with blood spurting from it, apply
pressure to the cut with a clean pad and get
medical help.
For less serious cuts:
 Wash wound with warm water and antiseptic.
 Ensure that there is nothing embedded in the
wound such as dirt or glass
 Dry carefully and cover with clean dressing
 If the wound is deep, it may need to be
stitched by a doctor.

19. Nose Bleed
1. Lean forward
2.Squeeze the
nostrils
3.Avoid blowing
your nose for a
while

20. Choking
 Caused by a blockage in the airways, victim
cannot breath.
 First aid must be given quickly.
Children:
 Place the child face down over your knees,
support head with one hand
 Slap child 4 times between shoulder blades.
Adults:
 Use Heimlich manoeuvre.
 Stand behind victim, clasp hands under rib
cage, pull hands sharply in and upwards,
repeat as necessary.

22. Falls
If victim is unable to move:
 Do not move victim unless in danger.
 Cover and send for medical help.
Strain or sprain
 Apply cold compress to area for 30mins,
reduce swelling.
 Dry and wrap in bandage, rest and elevate.
 If in doubt treat as fracture

24. Fainting
 Anyone feeling faint should sit down and lean
forward so that their head is between their
knees.
 If person has already fainted they should
remain lying down for 10 mins. before
standing again
 If a person fails to regain consciousness
within 2minutes get medical help.

26. Poisoning
1. If substance has been swallowed bring patient to
hospital immediately
2. Bring also the container of the substance was in.
3. If victim is unconscious, place him in recovery position
and call ambulance
4. If you are sure what the person has taken is not
corrosive, make the victim vomit and bring a sample of
the vomit to the hospital
5. If poison is corrosive, do not induce vomiting, give milk
to neutralise

27. Stings
 Bee Stings –
Bread Soda
 Wasp stings -
Vinegar

28. First aid box
 Well stocked
 Conveniently
placed
 Out of reach of
children
 Clean and tidy
Antiseptic
Cotton wool
Scissors
Plasters
Sterile bandage
Sterile dressing
Burn-spray
Safety pins
Thermometer
Tweezers
Surgical gloves

29. First aid kit