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help yourselves taking care in the home accidents are most likely to occur in outoftheordinary cir cumstances camping in the bush playing a rough sport hiking or swimming in unfamiliar territory right wrong every year thousands of accidents and injuries that could have been prevented happen to people right in their own homes often in full view of friends and family in some instances they are fatal but knowing what to do before emergency help is obtained can often save a life poisons most households contain enough poison to send a family and all their neighbors to the emergency ward medicines headache pills ontario if no other help is available by phone the victim should be moved to nearest source of emergency treatment after these elementary first aid measures have been taken substance swallowed corrosives such as lye drain cleaner bleach strong acids etc kerosene orother petroleum products such as luel oil gasoline kerosene turpentine lighter lluld furniture polish etc other identified poisons or overooses unidentified poison or overdose treatment donotinduce vomiting if victim is conscious large quantities of milk fruitjuice or water should be swallowed before victim is taken for emergency treatment donotinduce vomiting if victim is conscious encourage him to swallow fluids before being taken for emergency ireatmenl if victim is conscious milk should be swallowed then try lo induce vomiting by giving him syrup of ipecac available from your pharmacist in recommended dosage or by gently touching the back of the throat with finger tip donotwaitmore five minutes for victim tovomit take victim to nearest source of emergency treatment if you cannot tell what has been swallowed or if you know it was a corrospefacidor alkali take victim for emergency treat ment immediately donotinduce vomiting butif victim has already vomited take sample of the vomit with you if possible for identification perfumes aftershave lotion household cleaners shoe polish the list is endless all can be fatal if swallowed especially to young children who have lower physical resistance than adults and most poisons are within childrens easy reach on bathroom and kitchen shelves to prevent accidental poisoning keep all poisonous susbtances where curious children cant reach them and preferably under lock and key label poisons properly and store where they cant be mistaken for anything else always check the label of a container before using contents buy childproof drug bottles if there is a childjn the house dispose of all leftover medicines by pouring down the drain and flush pills or capsules down the toilet if poison is- swallowed call an ambulance immediately then follow the steps outlined on the chart at the left sprains and fractures we tend to take sprains and fractures breaks lightly your brother onlj broke hisarm your neighbor only sprained an ankle but ninny sprains and fractures ignored or improperly cared for after treatment can put you out of commission for a while and permanently restrict you from sports or regular activities remember dont reach or stretch beyond your limit get assistance dont bend from the waist when lifting get close to the object and with back straight up and down move up from a squatting position lifting with thigh muscles prevent falls hold stair railings and use antislip mats on all floor areas and in the bath tub keep stairways and pathways clear falling over an object left temporarily there is a significant cause of injur- see that the children put away toys which can be dangerous left lying around if you use a step or extension ladder make sure its securely supported if you are injured dont ask for trouble by ignoring the injury consult a doctor right away y choking any object small enough to fit in the throat piece of food a button a denture can kill thousands of healthy people die each year by choking to death usually in full view of people who could help if they knew what to do theres not time to wait for an ambulance when someone is choking to death asphyxiation will kill even a healthy individual in about four minutes the victim of choking will not cough sputter or in fact make any kind of sound unlike the victim of a heart attack he or she cannot speak at all if eating the person will stop suddenly and usually stare straight ahead in shocked silence unable to speak breathe or tell you what is wrong immediate action is necessary by all means send someone for a doctor or an ambulance saying what has happened but dont wait for them to come help must be given immediately to the victim of choking four methods to relieve choking the thumping method thump the casualty several sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the hand the finger method if the victim is conscious tell him to open his mouth if un conscious pry the mouth open gently with a spoon or dinner knife handle or some other suitable smooth object folding your thumb and other fingers out of the way insert your first and second fingers index and middle into the mouth the block will be behind the hard hump at the back of the tongue push your fingers over this hump and feel for the lodged object it may help toehold the tongue with a serviette and pull it gently toward you now using your fingers like tongs try to dislodge the object or you may be able to hook the block out with one finger dont give up easily keep trying but realize that urgency is of the utmost importance if this method doesnt seem to be working use the methods in the order outlined the leaningover method place yourself behind the victim whether he or she is standing or sitting let the victims head arms and upper body hang forward wrap your arms around the waist and make a fist with both your hands held tight together place your double fist against the victims abdomen just above the navel and below the ribs now jerk your fist into the victims stomach with a quick upward thrust dont be afraid to hurt repeat several times if necessary the lyingdown method if the victim is lying down make sure he is lying on his back straddle the victim facing him with your knees astride his hips place the heel of your stronger hand on the victims abdomen slightly above the navel and below the rib cage place your other hand on top of the stronger hand exert pressure by pushing into the victims stomach with a quick upward thrust repeat several times if necessary if you are attempting to assist an infant or child the same life- saving techniques can be used but less pressure will be required if the child is small he may be placed across your knee while you attempt the lifesaving methods described above a very small child may be held up by the feet and thumped on the back knowing what to do could save a life test yourself with st john first aid quiz test your knowledge of first aid by answering the following questions to the best of your ability 1 can you give three types of artificial respiration 2 which is the most effective of the three and when should you not use it 3 if you burned your hand on steam from the kettle how would you treat it 4 do you know the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion and how would- you treat one to avoid the other 5 what first aid procedure would you use for a casualty suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning 6 if a child cut his leg on a metal toy and it is bleeding profusely what should you do 7 how do you stop a nose bleed b how do you place someone in the recovery position 9 how do you remove a particle of grit from someones eye 10 name four ways in which a triangular bandage is used in first aid dont peek at the answers till you have completed the quiz then score 10 points for each correct answer answers on page 8 if you score less than 70 you need to enroll in a st john ambulance first aid course call 416 9238411 or the st john ambulance branch nearest you youll be glad you did