PREVENTION OF COMMON DOMESTICS AT HOUSEHOULDS

 


PREVENTION OF COMMON DOMESTICS AT HOUSEHOULDS

Definition of Domestic Accident
* Accident
o Refers to unplanned and unexpected event which occurs suddenly and causes injury or loss.
* Domestic accident
o Refers to those accidents in the home and on home premises occurring to occupants, guests, and trespassers

Common Types of Domestic Accidents of Adults and Children
1, Falling Objects
* When children start to move around on their own, there is an increased danger of them pulling objects down on top of themselves and cause an accident
* Adults may also get accident when something heavy falls from the height unexpectedly like roof, working tools, etc.
* An object falling from even a low height can cause significant injury.
* Hand held equipment, and any equipment being stored or placed at height, poses a real risk to anyone passing or working below.
* A person may also get injury from dropping a heavy object particularly metal-made objects to feet

2.Falls
* Domestic accident may be result of the fall caused by;
o Banana skin lying about on the staircase or floor when trampled on.
o Carelessly placed objects
o Unclean spilled water or greasy substance on the floor
o A poorly lit stairs
* Common casualties in this case are old and elderly people or children under five years old.

3.Cuts
* Cut may lead to damage to superficial layer of the skin, however in serious cases it may go down to deeper layers and organs
* Any person may sustain cut from a sharp instrument or object
* Example of the sharps at home includes
o Knife, razor blade, broken utensil
o Sharp edges of the furniture or materials
o Broken glass or glass-made items etc.

 Example


 

4.Burns
* A burn is a type of injury to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation
* Depending on the cause and degree of injury, most people can recover from burns without serious health consequences.
* Persons of all ages may sustain burn from;
o Hot drinks or water
o Cookers
o Irons
o Fires (matches, candles, and lighters)
o Cigarettes
o Hot surfaces
o Chemicals etc.
5.Choking
* Putting things in their mouths is one of the ways that babies and small children explore their worlds.
* Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air.
* Young children often swallow small objects like buttons, beans or maize grain, peanuts, small toys, coins, un-inflated or popped latex balloons, small balls, batteries, chewing gums etc.
* In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit.

6.Poisoning
* Poisoning occurs when you come into contact with a substance that is poisonous.
* A poison is any harmful substance swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through skin.
* Any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken.
* Poisons can include
o Prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken in doses that are too high
o Overdoses of illegal drugs
o Carbon monoxide from gas appliances, charcoal
o Household products, such as laundry powder or furniture polish
o Pesticides
o Indoor or outdoor plants
o Metals such as lead and mercury
* The symptoms of poisoning will depend on the type of poison and the amount taken in, but general things to look out for include:
o Vomiting
o Stomach pains
o High body temperature
o Drowsiness and fainting fits

7.Drowning
* This refers to the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid.
* Young children can drown in very shallow water; this includes
o Buckets with water
o Dams
o Ponds
o Swamps
o Rivers
o Ornamental garden ponds
o Swimming pools
* A person drowning is unable to shout or call for help, or seek attention, as they cannot obtain enough air.
* The instinctive drowning response is the final set of autonomic reactions in few seconds before sinking underwater
o To the inexperienced person, this may look similar to calm safe behaviour

Preventive Methods/Measures of Domestic

1.Falling Objects
* Keep children out of object that may fall down
* Make sure that children play in a safe place and no object can be pooled from height
* Secure any furniture and kitchen appliances to the wall if there's a risk they could be pulled over.
* Adults may also get accident when something heavy falls from the height unexpectedly like roof, working tools, etc.
* A person may also get injury from dropping a heavy object particularly metal-made objects to feet
* Store equipment that must be kept at height safely, so if it moves it cannot fall
* Attach tools to safety lines so if that they are dropped they will not reach people working, sitting or passing below

2.Falls
* Good housekeeping is the first and the most important (fundamental) level of preventing falls due to slips and trips.
o Cleaning all spills immediately
o Marking spills and wet areas
o Mopping or sweeping debris from floors
o Removing obstacles from walkways and always keeping them free of clutter
o Securing (tacking, taping, etc.) mats, rugs and carpets that do not lay flat
o Keeping working areas and walkways well lit and free from obstacles
o In areas with electricity, replacing used light bulbs and faulty switches to ensure light
* Make sure the baby cannot roll off the changing surface or bed and fall down
* Keep chairs and other climbing objects away from windows to avoid children from falling.
* Don't leave anything on the stairs or path that might cause someone to fall over
* Check there is no room for a child to crawl through any object that may lead to falling.

3.Cuts
* Don't let a toddler hold anything made of glass or anything sharp
* Always dispose of broken glass quickly and safely
* Keep children away from sharps like knife, razor blade, sewing needle, safety pin etc.
o Don‘t allow children play with or nearby sharps
* Make sure all sharp instruments that are normally used by the household members (panga, hoe, axe, etc.) are well kept to avoid cuts
* When buying furniture that incorporates glass, make sure it's safety approved.
* Use safety glass at a low level, such as in doors and windows (if applicable).
o Safety glass is glass that's toughened and laminated and passes specially designed impact tests.
* Clean the environment to avoid cuts from materials with sharpened edges like woods or fire wood etc.

4.Burns
 The following advice can help prevent these accidents occurring.
* If possible, keep young children out of the kitchen.
* Switch off heated appliances immediately after use and, if possible, place them out of reach
* Always place hot drinks out of children's reach.
* Keep children away from the edges of tables and surfaces, and don‘t use tablecloths that children can pull at.
* Don't drink anything hot with a child on your lap or in your arms.
* Before bathing your baby or child, check the water is not too hot
o A good test is to put your elbow in first.
o When filling the bath, run the cold water first before adding hot water.
o As the child gets older, teach the child to test the water first too.
* At night, switch off electrical items before you go to bed and close all doors to contain a potential  

5.Fire.
* Check and discard electrical cords with exposed wires
* Work out an escape plan for your family and tell your children what to do in case of a fire.
o Practice the plan regularly.
 * Always use a fireguard on an open fireplace and make sure it's attached to the wall (if applicable).
o Don't lean or hang anything from it.
* Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
* Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes carefully, particularly at night.* Keep chemicals out of reach of un authorized individuals
* Wear protective gears during chemical use.

6.Choking and Suffocation
* Encourage kids to sit when eating and to chew thoroughly.
* Teach them to chew and swallow their food before talking or laughing.
* Adults should also wait until they have chewed and swallowed to speak or laugh
         o They have to be role model for the children to reduce choking risk.
* Cut larger pieces of food into small, bite-sized pieces before offering it to kids
        o Let the kids learn from adults
* Don‘t eat lying down.
* Don‘t drink alcohol while eating.
* Avoid eating too fast, eat slowly
* Clean up anything that breaks or spills from the floor immediately.
        o This is to prevent little children from putting any of the objects in their mouths.
* Choose toys designed for the age of the baby or child
* Keep all small objects that may be swallowed out of reach and sight of kids
* Encourage older children to keep their toys away from young ones.
* Beware of clothing with cords, dummies on necklace cords and bag straps
o They can easily get caught and pull tightly on the neck.
* Lay the baby on their back in a cot to sleep
* Keep plastic bags away from young children
       o They can pull these over their heads and suffocate

      o Preferably in a locked cabinet.
* Even items that seem harmless, such as mouthwash, toothpaste, can be extremely dangerous if ingested in large quantities by children.
      o Just because cabinets are up high doesn't mean kids can't get their hands on what's in them
     o They'll climb up using anything to get to items in the medicine cabinet.
* Make sure any purses and bags that could contain poisonous items such as medications are kept out of the reach of kids at all times.

7.Drowning
* Never leave a baby or child in the bath unsupervised
* Don‘t leave uncovered containers of water around the house.
* Be careful when children visit areas that have ponds or lakes nearby.
* Learn how to swim under the guidance of an expert.
* When in the water, use the buddy system.
* Do not use alcohol or drugs when swimming or boating.
* Supervise children closely around water and make certain they are the focus of your attention.
* Be careful when you have children nearby bathtubs and buckets full of water.
* Swimming pools (if available) should have barriers (fences, gates, alarms) to prevent children from entering unattended.

8.Poisoning
 The points below will help prevent your child being poisoned.
* Keep anything that may be poisonous out of sight and reaches, preferably in a locked cupboard
        o This includes all medicines and pills, household cleaners and insect killer (spray).
* Keep all dangerous chemicals in their original containers with proper labels
       o For example, don't store weed-killer in an old drinks bottle because a young child may mistake it for something safe to drink.
* Dispose of unwanted medicines and chemicals carefully.
*Discourage children from eating any unknown plants or fruit when outside
       o Some are poisonous
* Never prepare or give medication to a child in the dark
      o You may give the wrong dosage or even the wrong medication.
* Never leave vitamin bottles, aspirin bottles, or other medications on kitchen tables, countertops, bedside tables, or dresser tops.
     o Small children may decide to try to copy adults and help themselves.
* Store all medications out of sight and out of reach of children

 Education to Individual, Family and Community Members on Prevention of Common Domestic Accidents
* Proper use of common sense and precaution are the secrets of accident prevention.
* They are the keys to enjoying the comforts of our homes without unpleasant incidents.
* We must be alert to the risks around us and always take appropriate precautions, bearing in mind that prevention is better than cure.
* What to consider in the first place when educating an individual or family depends on the needs and problems.
* In general, these are areas to pay attention during the course of education;
 o Expose family members to basic safety education
       - Family members educate themselves
o Promote good housekeeping.
      - Items should not be left lying about on the floor, including children‘s toys.
       - Things should be properly arranged to avoid accident.
o Enforce better control over what children can play with when unattended.
o Avoid touching electrical switches when your hands or clothes are wet.
        - Always employ the services of professionals and procure genuine materials for maintenance.
o All carpets or other floor coverings should be firmly fixed so that no one slips on them.
o Mop up immediately any liquid or grease spilled on the floor anywhere in your home.
o Care should be taken while using electrical appliances such as heaters, cookers, electric iron, and so on.
o Ensure that there are grip bar and sturdy handrail above the bath and on the stairs.
       - Light is essential at night.
o Children should always be kept out of the cooking areas as many of them are known to have sustained injuries from spilled boiling oil.
o Make sure that all your gas appliances have metal tubing and bayonet connections.
o Avoid using inflammable material such as petrol or paraffin to revive a dying fire.
o Disinfectants, bleaches.
      - Detergents, paints, and rat poisons should be kept out of the reach of children.
o All medicines and tablets should be securely locked up in their appropriate storage places and out of the reach of children.
o All expired drugs should be promptly disposed of.
o Sharp objects or tools should not be left carelessly around after usage.
o Avoid carrying out electrical and gas repairs on your own, except you are a trained electrician or gas cooker repairer.
     - It is very dangerous to tackle gas and electricity by trial and error.
      - The implications can be fatal.

Summary

•   Domestic accident refers to those accidents in the home and on home premises occurring to occupants, guests, and trespassers
•  Common domestic accidents includes, falling objects, falls, cuts, burns, choking, poisoning and drowning
•  Good housekeeping is the most important preventive measure for domestic accidents
• We must be alert to the risks around us and always take appropriate precautions, bearing in mind that prevention is better than cure