Health
First Aid and Injury Prevention

Accidents and Injuries

The leading cause of death among teens is from accidents! That is a frightening statistic, especially considering that the instances of accidents could be reduced by making better choices and taking just a few precautions. In this lesson you'll discover some very basic ways to protect yourself, and learn how to administer First Aid for various types of accidents and injuries.

Guiding Questions

Key Terms

Keep track of these terms in your notebook.

Standards

• 9-12.H.1.1.1 Predict how behaviors can affect health status.
• 9-12.H.1.1.8 Analyze the potential severity of health problems that result from engaging in unhealthy behaviors.
• 9-12.H.3.1.4 Use resources from home, school, and community that provide valid health information.
• 9-12.H.5.1.2 Determine the value of applying a thoughtful decision-making process in health-related situations.

Accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, and yet most of them could have been prevented by making better or different choices. So what can people do to protect themselves, and lower the risk of being the victim of an accident?

Seven Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Think before you act. Think about what could result from or consequence of your actions; avoid doing anything that might hurt you or another person.
2. Pay attention. Be aware of your surroundings and of potential accidents (dangers).
3. Know your limits. Stay within your limits.
4. Practice refusal skills. Don't be afraid to say no to something that (may cause injury) is not safe.
5. Use safety equipment. Safety equipment can keep you from getting hurt or may save your life. Use the right safety equipment for your activity.
6. Change risky behavior. Change a habit that puts you or someone else at risk.
7. Change risky situations. Fix things that might cause an accident and/or tell someone who can fix it.

Automobile Safety

Did you know the number one cause of death for people aged 15-24 is automobile accidents?
There are many reasons for why this is so:

• Inexperience with driving in itself
• Driving too fast
• Not paying attention to the road
• Inexperience with alcohol and/or drugs and then driving under the influence
• Not heeding to precautions necessary for certain driving conditions
• Not wearing seatbelts
• What others can you think of?

Many people of all ages fail to realize the seriousness of getting behind the wheel. Have you ever thought how two thin yellow lines painted on the road are the only things keeping you and another car from colliding? Have you ever thought about just how thin the metal is that separates you and another car during a collision? Have you ever thought about what actually happens when a person not wearing their seatbelt hits the front windshield? I could go on and on about the frightening realities of being on the road (whether as a driver or a passenger).

So, what can be done about such high death rates among young people from car accidents? Please check out Idaho's plan for Safety on the Roadways: Toward Zero Deaths.

Burns

Burns are classified by degree of damage to the skin and underlying tissue. Any burns involving the airway are life-threatening. Some signs of possible burns include wheezing and/or coughing as the patient breathes particles of soot in the saliva, sooty or smoky smell on breath, and visible burns of the mucous membranes in the mouth and/or nose.

First Response: Bleeding and Soft Tissue Injuries Giraffe Multimedia, Inc., 2004 . Full Video. Discovery Education. Web. 12 December 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

External Bleeding

Any severe, uncontrolled bleeding (external or internal) can rapidly lead to life-threatening shock, so it is vital to administer care ASAP.

There are 3 types of external bleeding:

1. Capillary
2. Venous
3. Arterial

Video Source: Student CPR (studentcpr.com)

Care for External Bleeding

• Apply pressure directly to the wound.
• Elevate the injury above the level of the heart.

External bleeding sometimes requires the use of pressure points to resolve the bleeding. Pressure points are places where an artery is close to a bone and the surface of the skin. By applying pressure to these locations, you can stem the flow of blood. Our bodies' pressure points are as follows:

Some Types of Open Wounds

Clean abrasion (figure on the left -below) wounds with running water or sterile gauze. Never remove an impaled object from a puncture (middle figure - below) wound. Stabilize in place and seek medical assistance. Apply direct pressure to stop the flow of blood from a wound created by an incision (figure on the right - below). If after 15 minutes you've been unable to slow the bleeding, call EMS (911). 

First Response: Bleeding and Soft Tissue Injuries Giraffe Multimedia, Inc., 2004 . Full Video.Discovery Education. Web. 12 December 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

Nose Bleeds

A nosebleed can be scary to get or see, but try to stay calm. Most nosebleeds look much worse than they really are. Almost all nosebleeds can be treated at home. If you get a nosebleed, sit down and lean slightly forward (see figure to the right). Keeping your head above your heart will make your nose bleed less. Lean forward so the blood will drain out of your nose instead of down the back of your throat. If you lean back, you may swallow the blood. This can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Use your thumb and index finger to squeeze together the soft portion of your nose (see figure to the left). This area is located between the end of your nose and the hard, bony ridge that forms the bridge of your nose. Keep holding your nose until the bleeding stops. Don't let go for at least 5 minutes. If it's still bleeding, hold it again for 10 minutes straight and seek medical assistance.

You can also place a cold compress or an ice pack across the bridge of your nose to prevent swelling.

Muscle and Bone Injuries

For Muscles & Bone Injuries Use The "RICE" Method:

• REST
• ICE
• COMPRESSION
• ELEVATION

Watch the presentation below to learn about muscle and bone injuries.

First Response: Head and Spinal Injuries and Muscle, Bone, and Joint Injuries Giraffe Multimedia, Inc., 2005 . Full Video. Discovery Education. Web. 12 December 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.