Prevent those accidents
Feb 01, 2008
WHEN one speaks of accidents, many people think of car accidents. However, a number of accidents occur inside our homes. Among the many, falls are the most common type of accidents that occur in homes.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
WHEN one speaks of accidents, many people think of car accidents. However, a number of accidents occur inside our homes. Among the many, falls are the most common type of accidents that occur in homes.
Dr. Moses Katafiire, a general practitioner with Africa Air Rescue health Service says: “Although most falls result into minor bumps and bruises, some falls are serious and result into cuts and fractures.
Knowing the causes of falls is the best way to prevent them. For example, to safeguard toddlers against stumbling down the stairs, it is necessary to have a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent them from going up or down stairs. The gate should be high enough with vertical bars to stop the child from climbing over it.
Windows may also be dangerous. It is therefore wise to install buglar proofing to prevent children from climbing through them.
Children like climbing on high chairs. The chairs should have firm and widely spaced legs so that they are not easily tipped over.
Katafiire advises that floors should be kept clean and dry. Spills should be wiped off the floor immediately because people can slip and fall.
Steven Sanyu, a sales executive with Bamwe House of Ceramics Uganda Limited on Market Street, Nakasero says: “To prevent bath-time falls, non-skid mats or rubber mats should be used in showers and on the bathroom floor.
Sanyu adds that it is advisable to use relatively rough surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. In that case one can opt for terrazzo instead of tiles because tiles are very slippery. If you have to use tiles in the bathroom, let them be non-slippery tiles.
Joshua Mugoya, an interior designer at Iran Permanent trade centre Uganda on Jinja Road says, “Putting low rugs on tiles has been a cause of falls in homes; the rug easily slides off the tiles causing one to fallâ€. To prevent such falling, the rugs and carpets should be fastened securely to the floor, using a rubber backing.
Mugoya adds that all stairways and halls should be kept brightly light and free from objects that can cause one to fall when stepped on accidentally.
All electrical cords or cables should be kept away from the walkways and you should avoid making the cables cross from one end of the room to the other. Instead let them be passed and slipped on the wall sides of the room.
When climbing to reach high cabinets or the ceiling it is advisable to use sturdy ladder.
What to do
-In case of a fracture, rush the patient to hospital immediately.
- For minor bruises and bumps, clean the wound using soap and clean water. Put a disinfectant like surgical spirit, iodine. If the skin is cut/broken, dress it with a plaster to avoid contamination.
- In case of a sprain, massage the affected area with liniments such as Rob or Deep Heat. Rest for 2-3 days (do not exert pressure on the sprained limb). After this, perform light exercises to bring the limb back into good health.
- In case of a cut on the face, you should seek medical help for stitching to avoid getting ugly scars.
- In case of a head injury, visit a doctor to check for any internal damage.
- When the victim is bleeding, apply pressure by pressing on the cut for about 3-5 minutes until the bleeding stops. For heavy bleeding, tie up the cut before you rush the patient to hospital.
WHEN one speaks of accidents, many people think of car accidents. However, a number of accidents occur inside our homes. Among the many, falls are the most common type of accidents that occur in homes.
Dr. Moses Katafiire, a general practitioner with Africa Air Rescue health Service says: “Although most falls result into minor bumps and bruises, some falls are serious and result into cuts and fractures.
Knowing the causes of falls is the best way to prevent them. For example, to safeguard toddlers against stumbling down the stairs, it is necessary to have a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent them from going up or down stairs. The gate should be high enough with vertical bars to stop the child from climbing over it.
Windows may also be dangerous. It is therefore wise to install buglar proofing to prevent children from climbing through them.
Children like climbing on high chairs. The chairs should have firm and widely spaced legs so that they are not easily tipped over.
Katafiire advises that floors should be kept clean and dry. Spills should be wiped off the floor immediately because people can slip and fall.
Steven Sanyu, a sales executive with Bamwe House of Ceramics Uganda Limited on Market Street, Nakasero says: “To prevent bath-time falls, non-skid mats or rubber mats should be used in showers and on the bathroom floor.
Sanyu adds that it is advisable to use relatively rough surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms. In that case one can opt for terrazzo instead of tiles because tiles are very slippery. If you have to use tiles in the bathroom, let them be non-slippery tiles.
Joshua Mugoya, an interior designer at Iran Permanent trade centre Uganda on Jinja Road says, “Putting low rugs on tiles has been a cause of falls in homes; the rug easily slides off the tiles causing one to fallâ€. To prevent such falling, the rugs and carpets should be fastened securely to the floor, using a rubber backing.
Mugoya adds that all stairways and halls should be kept brightly light and free from objects that can cause one to fall when stepped on accidentally.
All electrical cords or cables should be kept away from the walkways and you should avoid making the cables cross from one end of the room to the other. Instead let them be passed and slipped on the wall sides of the room.
When climbing to reach high cabinets or the ceiling it is advisable to use sturdy ladder.
What to do
-In case of a fracture, rush the patient to hospital immediately.
- For minor bruises and bumps, clean the wound using soap and clean water. Put a disinfectant like surgical spirit, iodine. If the skin is cut/broken, dress it with a plaster to avoid contamination.
- In case of a sprain, massage the affected area with liniments such as Rob or Deep Heat. Rest for 2-3 days (do not exert pressure on the sprained limb). After this, perform light exercises to bring the limb back into good health.
- In case of a cut on the face, you should seek medical help for stitching to avoid getting ugly scars.
- In case of a head injury, visit a doctor to check for any internal damage.
- When the victim is bleeding, apply pressure by pressing on the cut for about 3-5 minutes until the bleeding stops. For heavy bleeding, tie up the cut before you rush the patient to hospital.