SAFETY AND FIRST AID

How to prevent falls

Many older adults who are hospitalized for a fall never regain their former level of independence. Losing your independence

it’s one of the biggest fears you may have about aging. Falling is one of the most common causes.

Use this checklist to take a fall-prevention inventory of your home:

All rooms

Keep electrical cords and furniture out of walking paths. Fasten carpets to the floor with tape or tacks. Don’t use throw rugs.

 Stairways

 Make sure that stairways are well lighted with sturdy handrails. Carpet runners should not be loose. If you have a vision problem, apply bright tape to the first and last steps.

Bathrooms

 Install grab handles and nonskid mats inside and just outside your shower and tub and near the toilet. Shower chairs and bath benches minimize the risk of falling.

Kitchens

 Don’t use difficult-to-reach shelves. Never stand on a chair.

Use nonskid floor wax and wipe up spills immediately.

Bedrooms

Put a light switch by the door and by your bed so you don’t have to walk across the room to turn on a light. Plug night lights into electrical outlets in bedrooms, halls and bathrooms.

Preventing yard work mishaps

Follow these easy steps:

 Save your back

 Choose tools with handles long enough to allow you to work without bending over. Don’t lift oversize packages of fertilizer or sod. Use a wheelbarrow or just buy smaller packages.

Wear sunscreen

 Avoid sunburn by using sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15.

Skip the scents

 Perfume, scented hair spray or lotion attracts stinging insects.

Wear light-colored, well-fitting clothes

 Bright colors attract insects, too. And loose clothes allow insects access to your skin.

 Choose sensible shoes

Wear closed-toe, sturdy, nonskid shoes to prevent injuries from lawn mowers.

Turn off the lawn mower motor

 Then unclog, adjust or fix the equipment. Before refueling, allow the motor to cool for several minutes. Don’t smoke.

Handle chemicals carefully

 Before spraying bug or weed killers, wait for calm weather. Wind can blow chemicals back toward you and irritate your skin. Wear protective goggles, gloves, full-length pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

Treating puncture wounds

 A puncture wound — for example, from stepping on a nail — usually doesn’t result in excessive bleeding. The wound may seem to close almost instantly, but it may still be dangerous because of the risk of infection. If the puncture is deep, contaminated, or the result of an animal or human bite, seek medical attention right away. Remember these tips:

Apply gentle pressure if there’s bleeding

 Press down on the wound using a clean soft cloth. If the wound was deep enough to draw blood, especially if it spurts or continues to flow after several minutes of pressure — seek medical attention immediately.

Clean the wound

 Rinse the wound under running water to help remove debris and bacteria. Don’t use soap — it can irritate the wound. If dirt or debris remains in the wound after washing, use tweez-ers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If you can’t remove all the debris, see your doctor. To clean the area around the wound, use soap and a washcloth.

Apply an antibiotic

 After cleaning the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment such as Neosporin or Polysporin to help keep the surface moist. These products discourage infection. If a rash appears, stop using the product.

Cover the wound

 Bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. Change the dressing at least daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. If you’re allergic to adhesive, use adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze and hypoallergenic paper tape.

Watch for signs of infection

 See your doctor if the wound doesn’t heal or if you notice redness, drainage, warmth or swelling.

Keep tetanus booster shots up to date

 Adults generally need tetanus boosters every 10 years. If you have a deep or dirty cut or wound, and you haven’t had a tetanus shot within five years, your doctor may recommend a booster.

Do’s and don’ts for minor burns

Remember these tips:

Do cool the burn

 Hold the burned area under cold running water for about 15 to 20 minutes. If impractical, immerse the burn in cold water or cover it with cold compresses.

Don’t put ice directly on the burn

 Putting ice directly on a burn can cause frostbite and further damage your skin.

Do consider a lotion and pain relievers

 Once a burn is completely cooled, apply a lotion or moisturizer to soothe the area and prevent dryness. For sunburn, try 1 per-cent hydrocortisone cream or an anesthetic cream. An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help.

Don’t use butter

 Putting butter on burned skin holds heat in the tissue and may cause more damage. Applying butter increases your chance of infection.

Do bandage a burn

 

Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Wrap loosely to avoid putting too much pressure on the burn. Bandaging keeps air off the burn and reduces pain.

Don’t break blisters

 However, if the area is tender, snip a tiny hole in the blister with a small scissors that has been sterilized in alcohol. If the blister is broken, wash the area with mild antibacterial soap and water, then apply an antibiotic ointment and a gauze bandage.

Staying clear of lightning

 In the United States, hundreds of people are injured or killed by lightning each year. To protect yourself:

Stay inside your home or an enclosed building

Keep away from doors, windows and anything that conducts electricity.

Use the 30-30 rule if you’re caught outside

 If your view of the storm isn’t obstructed and you see light-ning, count how long it takes until you hear thunder. If it’s 30 seconds or less, seek a safer location right away. If you can’t see the lightning but you hear thunder, go to a safer location.

 Avoid trees or tall isolated structures

 They’re lightning targets. Avoid small, open picnic pavilions and rain shelters. If you’re in an open area, drop anything you’re carrying, get away from other people, and crouch down as low as possible.

Seek safety in a car

 Close the windows. Cars with plastic or fiberglass roofs and sides won’t protect you. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.

Don’t touch metal objects

 Drop metal items, such as golf clubs, tools or tennis rackets, which conduct lightning.

Don’t mix water with lightning

 Get out of and away from water — it conducts electricity.

Don’t wash your hands, and don’t do the dishes or the laundry.

Get out of the shower or tub.

Turn it off and hang it up

 Don’t use electrical appliances or talk on the phone. Lightning can follow electrical wires and phone lines into your home.

 Handling a medical emergency at home

 Keep the numbers of emergency services, such as your doctor, fire department and police, next to your phone. If your area is served by any local government number, call that number first.

Stay calm

Speak slowly and clearly when describing the incident.

Be exact about your location

 Give your name, phone number, address, apartment number, city or town, and directions, including landmarks or cross streets.

Describe the type of help you need

Is it medical, police or fire assistance?

Give details about the victim’s condition

 Is the person bleeding severely? Choking? Unconscious? How long ago did the incident occur?

Describe first aid

 If someone else is present and giving first aid, what kind is it?

 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other emergency care?

Describe the victim’s location

Is he or she in the upstairs bedroom? Downstairs on the bath-room floor?

Listen carefully

 Then write down instructions. Ask the dispatcher to repeat the information.

Don’t hang up too soon

 Wait until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

Make sure your house number is clearly visible

 If it’s dark, turn a light on outdoors to show your house number.