SAFETY IN THE HOME
HOME FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY
Install smoke detectors (doubles your chances of survival)
• Should be on every level of the home
• Need detector around sleeping areas, kitchen, and
near furnace
• Test your smoke detectors monthly
• Replace batteries once a year
• Always have a fire extinguisher on hand
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
OTHER FIRE PREVENTIONS
• Prohibit smoking indoors
• Never leave burning candles unattended
• Keep flammable materials away from heat or flames
• Use space heaters EXACTLY as described
• Always clean grease buildup
• Clean filter on dryer after every use
• Dispose of coals from fireplace in nonflammable
container
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• Chemicals that seem safe can become dangerous
when the body is exposed to it. Some will irritate the
skin, eyes, or lungs (including breathing problems)
• Chemicals known as carcinogens can cause cancer
if handled improperly
• Radon: colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive
gas. It is formed naturally from uranium in the
earth’s soil and rocks. Can seep from the ground
and accumulate in basements. Can damage lung
tissue.
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• Carbon Monoxide: toxic, odorless, invisible gas
produced during combustion of gasoline, natural gas,
oil, kerosene, charcoal, and other fuels.
• Attaches to red blood cells, prevents the blood from
transporting oxygen to the tissues. Death can occur
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
CARBON MONOXIDE
Signs & Symptoms:
Prevention:
• Extreme fatigue
• Install CO detectors
• Sleepiness
• Never use BBQ grills
indoors
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
• Never use gas stove or
oven to heat house
• Never leave a vehicle
running or lawn mower
in a garage
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
• Carry a first aid kit in your vehicle
• Phone numbers of poison control, doctor, police and
fire should be posted
• Make an emergency plan
• Common emergencies:
• Weather related
• Power failure
• Fire
• Accident
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
CHOKING
Signs:
• Grabbing the throat
• Cannot speak or breath
• Cannot talk or make noise
• Cannot cough or expel air
forcefully
• Blue lips
• Eventually becomes
unconscious
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
Video: Choking
CHOKING
• Ask someone to call “911”
• Perform 5 back blows, between the should blades with the
heel of your hand
• Perform 5 abdominal thrusts:
• Stand behind the person, wrap your arms around their
waist, and clasp your hands together at the front.
• Bend the person forward slightly
• Form a fist with one hand and press it against the
abdomen. Hold your fist with your other hand.
• Push hard, in and up against the abdomen
• Prepare to give CPR if necessary
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
DROWNING
• Drowning people panic. The American Red Cross
recommends that untrained rescuers avoid entering the
water.
• The drowning person often pushes the rescuer down under
the water. They can drown you.
• Reach for them or throw them an object that will float.
• Once out check their pulse and breathing before you give
them CPR
• Avoid moving their head, neck or back. You can place a
rolled towel on either side of their head to keep it from
moving.
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
SHOCK AND SEVER BLEEDING
Electrical Shock:
Sever Bleeding:
• Call 911
• Apply pressure to wound
• Do not touch the person if they are
in contact with electricity
• Position higher than the
heart
• Turn off power at the source
• Cover wound
• If you must move a live wire or
• Keep victim calm
appliance, push it away with a
piece of wood, plastic or cardboard • Tightly affix a bandage
• Check to see if CPR is needed
• Treat the person for shock
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
SHOCK
Shock may result from trauma,
heatstroke, blood loss, an
allergic reaction, severe
infection, poisoning, severe
burns or other causes.
Signs and symptoms
• Cool, clammy skin
• Pale or ashen skin
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
When a person is in shock, his
or her organs aren't getting
enough blood or oxygen. If
untreated, this can lead to
permanent organ damage or
even death.
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
• Enlarged pupils
• Weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Changes in behavior, such as
anxiousness or agitation
BURNS
• According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention,
300 people under 20 years of age visit an emergency room
each day for burn injuries.
• Can be caused by: fire, smoldering materials, steam, hot
surfaces, hot gases and liquids
• Can be also caused by: chemicals, electric current and sun
• Complications can arise from burns: infection, shock,
dehydration, pain, immobility of the affected body part
• Need to identify what type of burn it is before administering
care:
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
BURN CLASSIFICATION
First Degree Burns: Outermost layer of skin, red and
slightly swollen, painful. (sunburn, touching stove or pots
and pans)
Second Degree Burns: Second layer of skin, blisters, red
and swelling. Less than 3” in diameter is considered
minor. Second degree burns larger than 3” are considered
a medical emergency
Third Degree Burns: Most serious, affecting all layers of
the skin, underlying tissue, muscle, fat and sometimes
bone. Can lead to shock, infections, blood loss,
dehydration, unconsciousness
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
FIRST AID FOR BURNS
First Degree Burns:
• Hold under cool water
for at least 10 minutes
• Cover with gauze or
bandage
• Take acetaminophen
or ibuprofen
Serious Burns:
• Call 911
• If unconscious check for
breathing, give CPR if needed
• Elevate the burned parts above
the heart
• Cover burned area loosely with
moist, cool, sterile gauze or cloth
• Treat for shock
Do not remove burned clothing. Do not immerse serious burns into cold water,
could cause shock.
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
COLD WEATHER EMERGENCIES
Frostbite:
• Can kill tissue
• Cause infections or loss of limbs
• White, gray, or yellow skin
• Cold and waxy skin
• Blistered, hardened skin
• Numbness, burning and itching
• Remove wet clothes
• Immerse in warm not hot water
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
COLD WEATHER EMERGENCIES
Hypothermia:
Treatment:
• Dangerously low temperature
• Move person indoors
• Body is wet and cold
• Remove wet clothing
• Can be fatal if untreated
• Cover with blankets
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Give warm drinks
• Slurred speech
• Do not use heating pads
• Loss of coordination
• Do not give alcohol drinks
• Abnormal/slow breathing
• Do not massage or rub skin
• Extreme fatigue
• Confusion/memory problems
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH
HOT WEATHER EMERGENCIES
Heat/Dehydration
Treatment
• Can cause heat cramps
• Move to shade or indoors
• Stomach cramps, muscle • Remove as much clothing as
cramps and spasms (legs)
possible
• Heat exhaustion/stroke
• Apply cold, wet towels to skin
• Cool moist skin
• Sip cold drinks
• Pale, gray, flushed skin
• Gently stretch cramping muscles
• Headache
Call 911:
• Nausea
Very high body temp, altered
• Dizziness
consciousness/confusion,
• Weakness/exhaustion
seizures, rapid or weak pulse
GOODHEART-WILCOX CO. INC. - COMPREHENSIVE HEATLH