Common Household Injuries & How To Prevent Them

Most of us consider our home to be a secure haven, so it might come as a shock to learn that according to ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) most accidents happen in our own homes than in any other place. According to recent ACC numbers, about 12 people lose their lives in their own homes due to domestic accidents, every week in New Zealand.

Domestic accidents killed about 621 people last year, more than road and workplace deaths combined, according to figures published at the Safety NZ Week. Last year, 632,920 people were injured in their houses (which is 1734 per day, which is 30,000 less than in 2008). Alcohol has also been counted as a major factor for home accidents in a quarter of all ACC claims.

The most common home-related accidents and how to tackle them. Depending on their age, young kids and elderly people are more prone to be injured in house accidents than other age groups. One might get sufficiently injured due to tripping, slipping, or falling on a slippery surface. More than 4,200 children are injured each year when they tumble down the stairs, and another 4,000 get physically hurt when they fall from windows.

First, make sure that neither you nor the victim is in any danger, such as from wobbly floors or tumbling items. Check to see whether they are conscious (responsive). If they aren't responding, are they still breathing? If they are still breathing but are unresponsive, dial 111 for an ambulance and keep a check on their airway and breathing. Do not move them unless absolutely necessary. If they are not breathing, dial 111 immediately for an ambulance and request a defibrillator. If they are not breathing, dial 111 and request an ambulance as soon as possible, as well as a defibrillator. Leave the victim in their present position and open their airway. (Place one hand on the casualty's forehead and gently tilt their head back, elevating the tip of their chin with two fingers. This shifts the tongue's position further from the back of the throat.) If this isn't doable in their current posture, gently roll them onto their back and clear their airway. If you suspect a spinal injury, put your hands on each side of the person's head and gently elevate the angle of the jaw forwards and upwards, without displacing the head, to free the airway. Begin CPR (30 chest compressions to 2 breaths) If you are a professional or have completed paramedic training in NZ, you should follow your organisation's emergency policy. If you haven’t done your paramedic training in NZ yet, click on this link to sign up for our course.

​If the victim is responsive (conscious), then:
Reassure them and try to understand how did the accident happen. If they look perplexed or shocked, be patient with them and do not put any stress on them. Check for any visible signs of bleeding, bruising or bone damage in that area. A MUST - try not to move them if you feel that they might have fallen from an elevated position or might have injured their neck or spine. Avoid moving them too much and try to keep them from twisting. Call 111 for an ambulance and continue to reassure them until paramedics arrive. If you see any bleeding, apply firm pressure with a sterile dressing from a First Aid kit (if possible), or else you can use a clean cloth. Put on your protective gloves before treating the victim. If the fall does not seem to be an emergency, you do not need to call 111, but you should keep a watch on the victim over the next 24 hours to make sure that there are no signs or symptoms of any internal damage. If you are worried, always seek expert medical help, especially if you believe the fall might’ve caused a head injury such as a concussion or compression. Burns - scalds from hot liquids are the most common cause of burn injuries in both adults and children.

First Aid for Burns If anyone has received a burn, first. Apply cold water for about 20 minutes in order to cool down the burnt area, and remove any clothes and jewellery (unless they’re sitting too tight near the wound). If the burn is larger than a 50-cent NZ coin then call 111 for help. Meanwhile, one should use a cling film or a sterile non-fluffy bandage/cloth to cover the wound.

Not all burns can be avoided, but one can avoid any significant amount of (long-term) scar or pain by following a few safety measures.

Choking Choking kills around 300 individuals each year, with food accounting for about 85% of the fatalities. Putting too much food in your mouth at once, including handfuls of nuts, popcorn, and other foods, is a common choking hazard. Food with a smaller diameter can easily fit into the windpipe (and might cause a blockage), such as hot dogs and grapes, bigger meat pieces, dry and chewy foods, such as peanut butter and bagels, etc.

What is the best way to tell whether someone is choking? If you find someone behaving as if they are choking, then first, ask. Depending on how severe the choking is, they may be able to cough and answer "yes" to your question. It is possible that they will not be able to talk, breathe, or cough if the choking is severe.

They’ll need your immediate help, otherwise, they might go unconscious.

First Aid for a Choking Adult or Child First, ask them to cough to clear any obstruction in their mouth. If that doesn’t help then tell them to lean forward while you give 5 firm punches to their backside, while also holding the upper body with your other hand. Give them five quick back blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand.

Still not helping? Stand behind them and wrap your arms around their waist for 5 abdominal thrusts. Place one hand between their belly button and the bottom of their chest in a closed fist. Grab your fist with your other hand and pull it inwards and upwards five times. Check to see whether the choking item has been removed or if there is anything in their mouth after each back blow.

If it still doesn’t help then call 111 immediately for help or anyone with paramedic training in NZ. till they arrive continue with the cycle of 5 back punches and 5 abdominal thrusts and keep checking if the item has been removed.
Prepare to start CPR if they become unconscious at any stage.

Cuts and Scars The majority of cuts and scars are small and treatable at home. Usually, all that is required is to stop the bleeding, clean the wound properly, and cover it with a plaster or dressing. Within a few days, minor wounds should begin to heal.

First Aid for Bleeding If you're delivering first aid to someone else, always attempt to put on protective gloves first, then: Apply direct pressure to the wound, preferably by putting a sterile dressing over it. Apply pressure on the wound for several minutes until it stops bleeding. If an implanted item is present, exert pressure on all sides but do not remove it.

When to consult a professional? If the wound gets infected, see your doctor or a professional with basic paramedic training in NZ. You can also get medical help at your neighbourhood walk-in clinic.

Infection symptoms include: Inflammation of the afflicted region Development of pus in the wounded region. Spreading of redness from the wounded portion. Feeling unwell in general. A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher (fever) Swollen glands

NOTE: A brief course of antibiotics may effectively cure an infected wound.
First-aid treatment for a wound from an implanted item If an item gets stuck in a wound, don't try to remove it forcefully since it might cause further injury. The item might potentially be the result of any haemorrhage. Apply cushioning on both sides of the item using sterile dressings and bandages.

Apply cushioning on both sides of the item using sterile dressings and bandages. Using a roller bandage or a folded triangle bandage, secure the cushioning in place.

NOTE: To prevent putting pressure on the item, wrap the bandage in a crisscross pattern.

Take or send the victim to the hospital so that the item may be removed securely.

Poisoning Every year over 100,000 people get admitted to hospitals in New Zealand because of poisoning, out of which almost a quarter of them are children under the age of 5. Some of the common causes of poisoning at home are medicines and cosmetics. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep hazardous items away from the reach of children.

First Aid for Poisoning Treatment for a corrosive substance such as bleach, acid: Wear protective gloves, etc. to protect yourself from the chemical. If possible, wash the corrosive chemical away with water and treat it as if it were a burn. Allow the victim to wash their mouth before giving little sips of milk or water. For immediate assistance, call 111 and give as much information as possible about the item consumed. Start CPR if the casualty becomes unresponsive.

Treatment for a non-corrosive substance such as medication For immediate assistance, dial 111 and give as much information as possible regarding the chemical that was ingested. Check the casualty's airway and breathing and put them in the recovery position if they become unresponsive. If the victim stops breathing, do CPR but do not force them to vomit.

This material is provided for educational reasons only and is not intended to substitute the completion of a first-aid course. However, to make the most of it you can sign up for EMCARE’s paramedic training programme in NZ.