158 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
Deep Cut or Puncture
1. Place a clean cloth or bandage over the
wound.
2. Press on the cloth with the palm of your
hand. The pressure should stop the
bleeding.
3. Get medical help right away.
Falls
1. Stop any bleeding (see cuts above).
2. Loosen the victim’s collar and belt.
3. If you think the victim has a broken
bone, don’t move the victim. Get medi-
cal help.
4. Don’t let the victim eat or drink
anything.
Minor Burns
1. Place the burned area in cool water.
You also can wrap ice in a clean cloth
and place it on the burned area. Keep
the area cold until pain subsides.
2. If a blister forms, do not break it. This
could cause an infection. Don’t apply
grease or ointment.
Severe Burns
1. Keep the victim warm and lying down.
Don’t put anything on the burn or try to
remove any material stuck to the skin.
2. Get medical help right away.
Electric Shock
1. Disconnect the appliance that caused
the shock. Use a wooden broom
handle or dry cloth to do this. Do not
use metal. Never touch the victim or
appliance with your bare hands. If
you use metal or your bare hands, the
electrical current will shock you. You
will become a victim, too.
2. If the person isn’t breathing, give
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
if you are certified to do this. CPR is a
lifesaving method. It includes forcing the
victim’s heart to pump blood.
3. Get medical help right away.
Poisoning
1. Call 911 or a poison control center. Take
the poison’s container with you to the
phone.
2. Carefully follow the directions given by
the 911 or the poison control center’s
staff.
3. If you are unable to get emergency
assistance:
• Read the poison’s label. If it lists an
antidote, give it to the victim. An antidote
reverses the effect of the poison.
• If the poison is on the skin, rinse it right
away. Remove any clothing that has the
poison on it.
• If the poison is in the eyes, flush the
eyes with water. Do this for at least
15 minutes.
• If the poison was inhaled, move the
victim into fresh air.
• If the poison was eaten or drunk, the
victim may vomit. If this happens, be
sure the victim can breathe. The vomit
can block the throat and cause the
victim to suffocate.
Discuss: Why is CPR important? Who should be certifi ed to give
CPR? Where can you become certifi ed in your community?