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Safety – The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury is called safety.
Accidents can happen anywhere, if we are not careful.
The injuries may be from road accidents, fire, shock, animal bites and other reasons.
Most accidents take place either on roads, at home or from fire.
Therefore, one must be very careful and should follow the safety rules to avoid these accidents.
Safety on the roads-We should observe the following safety rules on the roads
Before crossing the road, check properly that no vehicle is coming from either direction. Cross the road at a zebra crossing.
If there is no zebra crossing, then make sure that there is no traffic from either side.
If possible, use a subway or pedestrian bridge to cross the road.
It is the safest way of crossing the road.
Safety at home-Observe the following safety rules to avoid them.
Most accidents occur at home due to our negligence.
Keep your toys, books or other belongings on their proper place.
Do not scatter them on the floor. They can hurt someone.
Never play on the stairs, terrace or other elevated places because falling down from there may cause severe injuries.
Keep the bathroom clean. Do not leave water with soap or detergent on the floor.
Bathroom injuries are very fatal.
Never play with sharp objects like knife, blades etc.
Playing with these objects can hurt you and cause tetanus.
In case of a gas leak, open all the doors and windows of your home.
Do not switch on the lights. Inform your elders immediately; call a mechanic to repair the leak.
Safety from fire-Domestic fires and kitchen injuries are the most common examples of accidents due to carelessness. Most fires occur while working in the kitchen or while using electric gadgets. To prevent this, following instructions should be followed:
Use proper clothes/duster to hold hot pots and pans instead of your own clothes.
Get all electric gadgets checked from time to time.
If a crack is seen in the plastic covering of any wire, get it replaced.
Never keep a kerosene stove on the floor.
If it gets knocked over, the oil can get spilled, resulting in a fire.
If the oil in the pan catches fire, smother the fire by covering the pan.
Throw some baking soda on the burning oil.
Never throw water, it will splitter the oil and spread the fire.
Never wear nylon or other synthetic clothes in the kitchen or while burning crackers during Diwali, because they catch fire very easily.
Cotton clothes are safer to wear.
Prevention from Fire
To keep burning, fire needs air.
One method of putting out fire is to cut off the air supply.
Throwing mud or sand over the fire cuts off air supply by covering the substance on fire.
Pouring water over the fire, cools down the burning substance and also cuts off itsair supply.
Fire caused by electricity can be put off by throwing sand over it.
There are special fire extinguishers to put off such fires.
A fire extinguisher is a simple device used to extinguish the fire.
It cuts off the supply of air to the fires.
Water should never be thrown over a fire caused by electricity; electricity can flow through water and give an electric shock to the person who touches it.
Never throw water over burning kerosene or petrol.
These are lighter than water and float over water and will continue burning.
In case the fire is severe, call for help. Dial 101 and call for the fire brigade.
If clothes catch fire roll on the ground. This cuts-off the air supply to the fire and puts it out. If a blanket or a rug is available, rolling up in it is more effective
First aid– The immediate help given to a wounded or injured person before proper medical
aid arrives is called first aid.
Proper first aid can prevent the injury from getting worse and can sometimes even save a life.
First Aid for Different kinds of Injuries
Burns
If the burn is minor, put the burnt area immediately under cold water.
This will cool the area and prevent blisters from being formed.
A severe burn can result in blisters. Never prick the blister.
If a blister opens, wash the area with soap and water.
Cover it lightly with a clean piece of cloth or bandage.
A piece of clear cloth dipped in a solution of baking soda in water can be applied to the burnt area.
In case of severe burn, the patient should be taken to a doctor immediately.
Burns due to chemicals such as acids, should be washed with plenty of water.
Then follow the treatment as in case of burn.
Wounds
Minor wounds:
In case of minor cut and scratches, wash the wound with soap and water.
Apply an antiseptic like Savlon or Dettol on it.
In case there is lots of bleeding applies ice on the wound to stop the bleeding.
Cover the wound with a band-aid.
Deep wounds:
In case of deep wounds, clean the wound with soap and water, apply an antiseptic and take the person to a doctor.
If the wound is caused by a rusted or iron or dirty object, ask the doctor for an anti tetanus injection.
Sometimes a tight band called tourniquet is twisted above a wound to stop bleeding.
It applies pressure on the wounded area and thus stops bleeding.
Animal Bite
Dog or Cat Bites:
The saliva of dogs or cats may carry rabies virus.
So wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and put an antiseptic cream.
The patient should be taken to a doctor to give anti-rabies vaccine.
Snake Bite:
The poison ejected by the snake travels through the blood and affects the heart and nervous system.
A tight bandage should be tied between the wound and the heart to slow down the flow of blood so that the poison cannot circulate with blood.
The patient should be rushed to a doctor immediately.
Broken Bones and Sprains
A crack or break in bone is called a fracture.
If you think a bone is broken, do not move that part of the body.
In case, a bone in the hand is broken, make a sling using a triangular piece of cloth.
This will give support to the arm and prevent movement.
Take the patient to a doctor. A sprain is a twist in the ankle or the wrist.
The joint swells up and is very painful.
An elastic bandage can be wrapped around the joint to prevent it from moving.
Soak the sprained joint in cold water, the first day.
From the second day onwards it can be soaked in warm water 2 or 3 times a day.
This will help it to heat. Some muscle relaxant ointments can be lightly rubbed over the sprained joint
