FACT SHEET

    
 

First aid in and around the Home

Home is where the heart is, but it can also be where the harm is! Doing the right thing in those vital first moments after an accident could mean the difference between life and death. Of course, we all hope nothing will ever happen to our family and friends but if someone were seriously hurt at your place, would you know what to do?

Every year thousands of people in Australia are injured and hospitalised following accidents in their homes. In fact, home is where one third of all accidents happen. And it's second to the road as the location of most accidental deaths. Statistics show children under nine years of age are the most often hurt, followed by people in the 20-40 age group. Research by the Monash University Accident Research Centre, which is the prime accident research facility in Australia, reveals most areas of the house pose equal risk for injury.

Not surprisingly, almost half of all home-based injuries are the result of slips and falls. Cuts and lacerations are the most common types of injury across all age groups but for kids under five, burns and poisons are the greatest threat.

SCALDS

A scald is a burn injury caused by hot liquid, food, vapour or steam. They are among the most serious, painful and long-term injuries. Hot drinks account for about 42 per cent of all child scald injuries, hot foods and oils about 13 per cent and hot water 45 per cent.

Beware the hot tap

Every parent of infants and young children should be aware that 80 per cent of all hot tap water scalds occur in the bathroom. More than a third of these accidents are caused by hot water in the bathtub, with a further third happening when the hot tap is running. In most homes, the hot water is set on about 70ºC, a temperature which poses an extreme threat to youngsters. At 70ºC it takes less than half-a-second to cause a full skin thickness scald in tender skin. At 60ºC it takes 1 second. At 55ºC it takes 30 seconds. And at 50ºC it takes five minutes before the child is scalded.

The ideal maximum, safe temperature for hot tap water is 50ºC. The maximum bathing temperature for young children is 38ºC.

The first thing to do in an emergency

  • Get the person out of the water and flood the affected skin with cool water.

  • Give first aid for burns and scalds.

BURNS

Burns are caused by contact with flame, hot objects or chemicals, by electrocution, radiated heat, frozen surfaces, friction or radiation. Barbecues, gas stoves and open fires are prime hazards and they should never be left unattended. Severe burns can lead to shock and major infection if not treated correctly.

If someone is burned on the face they could also have trouble breathing, although this may not happen immediately. A person who has inhaled smoke or fumes should receive medical attention as soon as possible. And a doctor should always see infants who have received any kind of burn.

The first thing to do in an emergency

  • If a person's clothes catch alight, stop them moving or running around. Movement will fan the flames. Remember: stop, drop, roll, manage.

  • Give first aid for burns and scalds (see below).

SUNBURN

Australians love the outdoors but on a fine summer's day skin can burn in as few as 15 minutes. On average, 5.7million Australians get sunburnt every summer. It's the ultraviolet, or UV, rays that do the damage, and because the rays aren't influenced by temperature their levels can be high even on cool or cloudy days. When skin is affected, sunburn will show within two to six hours and continue to develop over the next 24-72 hours. Mild sunburn, causes skin to redden, more serious reddening with blisters requires medical attention.

The first thing to do in an emergency

  • Get the person out of the sun and sponge cold water onto the affected skin.

  • Give cool drinks to rehydrate.

  • Seek medical aid for young babies and casualties with blisters.

First aid for burns and scalds

1.

  

Ensure it is safe to approach the casualty

2.

  

Extinguish burning clothing — smother it with a blanket, jacket or use water. In the case of a scald, quickly remove wet clothing from the affected area.

3.

  

Hold the burnt area under cold running water until the skin returns to normal temperature — do this for at least10 minutes.

4.

  

Remove jewellery and clothing from burnt area — leave it if stuck.

5.

  

Cover the injury with a non-adherent burns dressing — if you don't have one use aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or a wet clean dressing.

6.

  

Seek medical aid urgently

 

When to seek medical aid

Extensive burns are dangerous and may be fatal. You should seek medical aid if:

— The burn is deep, even if the casualty feels no pain.

— A superficial burn is larger than a 20-cent piece.

— The burn involves the airway, face, hands or genitals.

— You are unsure of the severity of the burn.

CUTS

Every member of the family is at risk of cuts and lacerations. These injuries can be the result of slips, falls and accidents in the kitchen, garden and garage.

The first thing to do in an emergency

  • If the cut is severe, stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound. Use a pad made of any material until a sterile dressing is available.

  • Raise and support the injured limb, taking particular care if you think a bone may be broken.

  • Bandage the pad or dressing firmly to control bleeding until the ambulance arrives.

First aid for cuts

1.

  

Before treating the injury, wash and dry your hands, cover any cuts you have and put on a pair of disposable gloves.

2.

  

If the wound is dirty, wash it in clean running water then dry it and the surrounding skin with a sterile dressing or a pad of clean non-fluffy material.

3.

  

Cover the cut completely with a sterile dressing held in place with a cotton bandage or adhesive plaster.

DROWNING

It's an horrific fact that in Australia close to 300 lives are lost each year to drowning. This number includes more than 50 children under five or more than one child death a week. The majority of these young deaths involve kids under the age of five. Backyard pools are where most of these accidents happen, however, children also drown in spas, nappy buckets, toilets, bathtubs and washing machines.

The first things to do in an emergency

  • Follow the DRABCD action plan.

  • Remove wet clothing and try to warm the person.

  • Ring 000 for an ambulance.

POISONING

The national Poisons Information Centre receives more than 100,000 emergency calls a year. Calls relate almost equally to the accidental poisoning of adults and children, however, more than 75 per cent of those about kids concern toddlers under three. Swallowing of household items such as detergents, cleaners, paracetamol and cough and cold medicines are common reasons why people contact the service. But there are thousands of potentially dangerous chemicals in our houses, including drugs, household cleaners, gardening chemicals, paints and products for the car.

The first things to do

Inhaled poison

  • Get the person into fresh air as quickly and safely as possible.

  • Ring the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Poison on the skin

  • Remove contaminated clothing.

  • Flood the skin with cool running water for at least 15 minutes.

  • Wash the skin gently with soap and water, then rinse it again.

  • Ring the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Poison in the eyes

  • Flood the affected eye with cool water from a jug, cup or slow running tap for 15 minutes, holding the eye open.

  • Ring the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Swallowed poisoned

  • Take the container to the phone and ring the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26.

  • Do not make the person vomit.

  • Do not follow the first aid instructions on the product label — they may be wrong.

BE PREPARED

A first aid course is such an easy thing to do but it can have enormous benefits when someone's hurt. St John Ambulance runs courses throughout Australia to teach people essential first aid and resuscitation techniques. For more information about St John first aid training and first aid kits visit www.stjohn.org.au or call toll free 1300 360 455.

Swimming and water safety courses are run by the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia.

In any life-threatening situation, ring 000 for an ambulance. If possible, ask someone else to do this so you can stay with the casualty.

 

Note: This information is not a substitute for first aid training.

For More Information:

Call Customer Service on 1300 360 455

  
 

Last Updated September 2004