Treating the 10 Most Common Home Accidents
Everyone knows that most accidents happen at home, which is not surprising.
Our home is where we spend most of our time. We cook our meals there, we spend
time with our family, and we lay down our weary heads after a long day. All of
these activities increase the likeliness of getting hurt, which is why it is
important to know how to deal with each of these injuries.
The tips below will introduce you to the most common injuries and the
proper way to treat them. Remember: acting quickly and correctly can greatly
reduce the chances of complications.
1. Stepping on a sharp object
Whether it’s a nail, a screw, thorns or splinters, if it’s lying on the
floor – you might step on it and get hurt.
What to do
Inspect the injured spot to make
sure there is nothing left in the wound. Remember that even if you wore shoes
when it happened, you’re not completely protected, because the object might
have passed through the sole and into your foot. It’s also wise to check the
shoe for holes too.
If the object left no traces in
the wound, wash your foot with soap and water to prevent infection, and bandage
the area. If you have a disinfectant or antibacterial ointment, use it.
If there is a piece of the object
still stuck in your foot, try prying it out with a disinfected needle. Make
sure not to force it, you don’t want to exacerbate your injury.
When to see a doctor
If you can’t remove the object or you suspect that there is still a piece
left in your foot, go see a doctor. This advice also applies if you’ve stepped
on a rusty object and have not had a tetanus vaccination in the last five
years, or if the area is becoming more painful or warm over time.
2. A bleeding cut
Cuts are one of the most common of household injuries, and can happen
anywhere and while doing anything around the house: cutting salad, opening a
tin can, or falling down.
What to do
Stop the bleeding – Apply
pressure on the spot using a towel or a clean piece of cloth in order to stop
the bleeding. If you have a first-aid kit available, grab a sterilized bandage.
Keep holding the spot until the bleeding stops. If the cut is on either hand,
raise the injured hand just above chest height to slow down the blood flow to
the area.
Clean and disinfect the cut – Use
soap and water to thoroughly clean the wound, and then apply a disinfectant on
it. Next, bandage the wound to prevent future infections.
When to see a doctor
Visit your doctor if the bleeding won’t stop, or the cut swells and feels
hot to the touch, or if you think there’s a foreign object in the wound.
Additionally, if you were cut by a metallic object and did not receive a
tetanus vaccine in the last five years, rush to the ER to get vaccinated as
soon as possible.
3. Burns (oil, scalding water, steam)
Many home accidents happen when we come in contact with a heat source in
the kitchen, while washing our hands, or getting too close to steam or boiling
oil. The outcome is often minor burns (1st and 2nd degree), which heal after a
short time. However, there are actions you should take to prevent scarring and
a prolonged healing period.
What to do
Wash the burn in cool, running
water to cool down the area – Place the affected area under running water for
15 minutes to cool down the skin, which will also reduce the level of pain. Do
not use ice as it shrinks the blood vessels in the area and may even cause
frost burns.
Bandage the area – After washing
and cooling the area, bandage it to prevent infections and reduce the pain. Do
not use cotton bandages as they may adhere to the area.
Apply pain relief ointments on
the area – Should you still experience tingling or discomfort, use known pain
relievers such as Aloe Vera.
When to see a doctor
In any case of burns where the patient is suffering from difficulty breathing,
or if the burn is larger than the size of your palm, a visit to the doctor is a
must. In any other case, if the burn doesn’t show signs of healing, causes
severe pain, appears swollen, or is infected, contact your family doctor for
advice. Furthermore, if the burns are in the vicinity of the face or near the
joints, you should consult with your doctor as these areas’ healing process is
more complex.
4. Bee sting
Open windows and doors may summon unwanted house guests, such as bees. In
most cases, the bee will fly out on its own, but if you or your child have been
stung, it is important to act quickly.
What to do
Locate the sting and remove it
right away, preferably by scraping it with a blunt object like your credit
card. This is done because bees have a small amount of poison in their stingers
and removing it quickly will minimize exposure to it. Avoid using tweezers or
your fingernails – it may perforate the poison sac in the stinger.
After you have removed the
stinger, wash the area with water and soap, then place a cold compress on it.
You may also use painkillers to prevent swelling.
Raise the stung body part to
minimize swelling.
When to see a doctor
If the person is exhibiting signs of allergies, such as swelling or
difficulty breathing and swallowing, visit your doctor. If the area remains red
and itchy for more than 48 hours, you may want to contact your doctor too.
5. Loss of consciousness
Sudden loss of consciousness can be triggered by illness, as a reaction to
fear and panic, or as a result of general feeling of faintness. In the majority
of cases, the unconscious person will wake up on their own within a short
period of time, but if you suspect that the loss of consciousness was caused by
illness, if the person wakes up feeling weak, or if they remain unconscious
there are a few things you must do.
What to do
Place the person on their back
and raise their legs up to a 60 degree angle (you can use a chair).
Loosen up any tight-fitting
clothing articles, such as neck ties or buttoned shirts, that can make it
harder for them to breath.
Test to see if the person
responds to noise and pain. Try calling their name or applying pressure on their
collar bone (not too much).
If the person does not regain
consciousness after being laid down, begin CPR.
When to see a doctor
If the person does not regain consciousness, call for an ambulance before
you begin CPR, or ask someone to call while you’re performing it.
6. Angina
Angina symptoms include pain and pressure in the chest, and are caused by
tightening of the blood vessels that feed the heart. The pain may project to
your lower jaw, shoulders and back, making such pains a clear sign of angina.
These sensations can appear after periods of intense activity, such as a
workout, and will last anywhere between a couple of minutes to a quarter of an
hour.
What to do
First and foremost, help the person lie down and make sure they remain in a
state of rest. If you’re feeling the symptoms of angina, get a family member
and ask them to call for an ambulance. Avoid moving as much as possible. If
another person is experiencing angina symptoms, call an ambulance and make sure
they remain rested until the paramedics arrive.
7. Choking on a foreign object
Choking or wheezing can occur if we inhale while eating, or when a child
puts something in their mouth. A person who is suffocating will begin coughing,
grip their neck and turn blueish.
What to do
Whether you’re feeling like
you’re choking or someone else is, the most important thing is to remain calm
and try to cough out the object as soon as possible.
If the foreign object remains
lodged in the airways, perform the Heimlich maneuver:
Hug the person from behind their
back, with both hands clenched into fists and placed on the other person’s
navel.
Perform a series of quick
squeezes and check to see if the obstruction is cleared between each set.
When to see a doctor
If the obstruction is not cleared, call for an ambulance while continuing
your attempts to dislodge it.
8. Electrocution
Electrocution is a life-threatening situation that can cause severe pain,
burns, and even death. At home, you may get electrocuted by accidentally
pushing something into a live socket, or even by touching a faulty appliance.
What to do
Switch off the electric current
to the house and use a stick or a broom to remove the person from the source of
electricity. Do not touch them directly as you may also be electrocuted.
Once the person is away from the
source of electricity, check their consciousness levels. If they remain
unconscious, begin CPR.
When to see a doctor
If the person remain unconscious, call for an ambulance or have someone
call for you while you perform CPR on the other person.
9. Animal bites
If you were bitten by your pet or someone else’s, there are several actions
you should take.
What to do
The most important thing is to
make sure the animal is vaccinated.
Wash the bite with water and soap
to clean the area and prevent infections.
Next, use a bandage or a towel to
apply pressure on the wound for several minutes to stop the bleeding.
If the wound is sore, use a cold
compress or some ice wrapped in a thin towel.
When to see a doctor
Call an ambulance if the person
displays swelling in the throat, difficulty breathing, or is feeling extremely
weak.
If there are any doubts about
whether or not the animal is vaccinated, if the wound is very deep, or you
cannot seem to stop the bleeding, then rush to the ER.
10. Broken tooth
A broken or fractured tooth may occur as a result of a sudden fall, and is
mostly common among children.
What to do
Wash the mouth with water to stop
any further bleeding in the gums, and prevent infections.
If only a part of the tooth broke
off, find the other piece and bring it with you to the dentist for
reattachment.
If the tooth is completely out,
put it in a cup of milk and rush to a dentist to have it implanted back.
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