160 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
Serious Injuries
Require Medical Help
Get help at once if a person has a
serious injury. A person who is bleeding
badly, isn’t breathing, or has taken a poison
has a serious injury. Every second counts.
You can call the fire department, police
department, paramedics, hospital, or a
doctor for help. Some towns have a special
phone number that directly connects you
to rescuers. This number often is 911.
When you call for help, you will need to
provide some information. You’ll need to
give your phone number and location. You’ll
also need to describe the victim and the
accident. The information you provide lets
rescuers know how to prepare to aid the
victim. Don’t hang up until you are told to
do so. The people you contact for help may
give you instructions. Follow them carefully.
While you are waiting for help to arrive,
you should closely follow any directions
given to you. Be sure to stay calm and tell
the victim that help is on the way. Also,
keep the victim lying down. Only move the
victim if he or she is in a dangerous place.
Make the victim comfortable by loosening
the victim’s clothing and keeping the victim
warm. Never give the victim anything to
eat or drink. Do not leave the victim alone,
unless you need to go for help.
Cuts, burns, falls, fires, electrical
shocks, poisonings, and choking incidents
are some of the dangers lurking in the
kitchen. However, they aren’t the only
hazards in the kitchen. In the next chapter,
you will learn about dangers in foods and
how to protect yourself.
Resource: First Aid First, Reproducible Master 8-2, TR.