First Aid Treatment for Insect Bites, Identifying Bites Blister and Swelling Symptoms

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 30th, 2008

Sooner or later, every child gets bitten by a mosquito or stung by a bee or wasp, or, occasionally, bitten by a flea, tick, spider, or chigger. As we know most of these stings and bites cause pain and itching and, usually, a good deal of swelling and redness. Here are some general first aid measures that may bring relief when somebody is painfully stung or bitten:

1. If the sting has been left in place, pluck it out gently. Try not to break it as you pull it.

2. Most bites swell and itch more when they are scratched, so try not to scratch. Also, remember that a bite may become infected if you scratch it too much. There are some ointments in the drugstore that relieve the itching caused by insect bites, and these can be put on the bites. If there is no drugstore nearby, soak the stung part of the body in hot water for about half an hour.

3. If a great deal of swelling takes place, the child should be given an anti-allergic pill. Remember, though, a grown-up should give the pill; don’t take one yourself.

4. If a bite is caused by an insect that burrows under the skin, such as a chigger, or by one that attaches itself to the skin, such as a tick, wash the area with soap and water. Place a drop or two of turpentine over the area, and that may dislodge the tick or chigger. Then cover the area with vaseline or a jelly.

The scorpion is one of two insects in this country (the other is the black widow spider) whose bite can make a child very ill. You should know what a scorpion looks like, and stay away from it. It will not bite unless it’s annoyed.

People used to think that some children were more likely to be bitten by insects than others. Actually, it is not the child but his surroundings that influence how often he is bitten. A child who plays where there are uncovered garbage cans or where people are cooking or eating food outdoors is apt to be bitten more often. And if the child is surrounded by adults who use large amounts of perfume, hair sprays or tonics, suntan lotion, or cosmetics, he is more apt to be bitten by insects which are attracted to such smells. The best way to get as few stings and bites as possible is to follow these precautions:

1. Do not eat outdoors or feed pets outdoors when there are a lot of bugs and insects in the area.

2. Garbage cans should always be kept covered, whether they are full or empty.

3. If you have spilled food on your clothing, wash it off before going outdoors.

4. The areas in which you play should be sprayed frequently with one of the insect killers.

5. Adults in an outdoor area where children are playing should be encouraged to avoid using perfumes, hair tonics, hair sprays, and things like that. This is especially important if the weather is warm and a lot of insects are around.

6. The more of the body that is uncovered, the more likely is a child to be bitten by insects. Therefore, when in such areas, wear shoes and high socks and long sleeves.

7. Many insects, especially chiggers, live in tall grass. Therefore, don’t play in tall grass when chiggers are there.

8. Ticks live in forests and in the woods. If a child has been playing in the woods, his body should be inspected each night before bedtime.

9. Before going out to play in an area where there are a large number of insects, children should apply an insect repellent to their skin. There are many good ones being sold in drugstores.

10. A child who has an allergy such as asthma or hay fever, may get quite sick from some types of insect stings or bites. Therefore, allergic children should take very special precautions not to be bitten. And the allergic child’s parents should have plenty of anti- allergic medications ready to give if the child is bitten or stung.

11. Before visiting a strange area, or going to a camp or to a foreign country, it is a good idea to find out what kind of insects inhabit the area. That will help you to take special measures to avoid bites. For example, if you are visiting a place where there are mosquitoes that cause malaria, you must have mosquito nets with you and sleep under those nets. If you are going to a part of the country where there are chiggers, wear long pants and long socks, and stay out of tall grass. Or, if you are camping in a forest where there are ticks that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever, it would be best to be vaccinated against this illness before going on the trip.

There are two insects in this country whose bites can make a child almost as sick as a snake’s bite can. These are the black widow spider and the scorpion. The pictures of these insects should be memorized, and children should stay away from them when they see them. They usually will not bite unless they are annoyed.

Even though people don’t die from black widow or scorpion bites, anyone bitten by one should remain very quiet, not run around, and should be taken to a hospital. Treatment in a hospital will result in recovery.

First Aid Treatment for Sprains, Broken Bones and Torn Ligaments and Cartilages

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 30th, 2008

When someone is injured severely, it is often difficult to tell whether a bone been broken, or knocked Out of lace, or whether a ligament or muscle as been torn or sprained. Often,, this information must wait until the injured person can be taken to a doctor’s office or to a hospital. Here are three important things to remember when giving first aid for bone or muscle or ligament injuries.

1. Keep the patient quiet and do not permit any use of the injured arm or leg. Damage can be increased by trying use the limb.

2. Try to splint the injured part so it moves as little as possible. (A splint is a piece of wood or other hard material that keeps an injured part from moving.)

3. Try to make sure the patient is g down when, taken to a doctor or a hospital. Then the chances are least t the injured bone will move or be her damaged.

Children usually cannot splint a broken bone by themselves, but they can be helpful first aiders by trying to do the following things:

1. A broken hip, thigh, leg, or foot is best treated by having the patient lie down flat on the back with both legs out straight. The two legs are placed closely together so that the good leg acts as a splint for the injured leg or hip. (See diagram.) The legs can be kept snugly in this position by tying a shirt, or a towel, or a scarf, or a sweater, around both thighs, knees, legs, and ankles.

2. A broken arm is best treated by keeping it as close to the body as possible. The body then acts as a splint to the injured arm. It can be kept that way by tying a shirt or towel around the arm and chest. (See diagrams.)

Many broken bones or torn ligaments or cartilages are treated the same day that the accident takes place. However, if there is a great deal of swelling resulting from the accident, or if the patient is in poor general shape, doctors sometimes prefer to set the fracture or operate upon torn ligaments or cartilages a few days after the accident. Of course, in the meantime, it is important that the injured bones or ligaments be kept absolutely still. In that way, they will be less painful and the swelling will go down.

A dislocated bone is usually put back in place the same day, often just an hour or two after the accident has occurred.

First aid for gas and smoke poisoning

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 23rd, 2008

• If gas from a stove or oven has caused the poisoning, turn the stove or oven off immediately.
• If the gas has come from a running car motor, turn the ignition off immediately.
• If the gas has come from a kerosene heater, shut it off immediately.
• If the gas has come from a furnace, shut it down immediately.
• Open windows widely to let in fresh air and to get rid of the gas.
• If the patient still has a heartbeat but is not breathing, mouth to mouth artificial respiration should be started. (SEE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION).
• Take the patient out of the house or apartment into the fresh air.
• Loosen tight collars or belts or clothing to permit easier breathing.
• Call the Police or have them called by the telephone operator. Be sure to tell them that the problem is gas or smoke poisoning. If they know this, they will bring oxygen and special apparatus to restore normal breathing.

To avoid the most serious results of gas poisoning, it is wise to leave a window open at all times so that some fresh air can get into the room. Even when it is very cold, it is a good idea to have a window open. An extra blanket can keep a sleeping person warm, even in a cold room.

It has been found that most dangerous gas poisoning occurs in rooms where all the windows are closed. And, of course, if you are sitting in an automobile on a cold wintry day and the motor is running, it is absolutely essential that a window be open. Otherwise, carbon monoxide, the same gas that causes so much trouble in the house, may cause poisoning. The main trouble with carbon monoxide is that it has practically no smell.

Most dangerous gas poisoning occurs in rooms where all the windows are closed. To avoid the possibility of gas poisoning, it is a good idea to leave at least one window open so that fresh air can get into a room at all times.

First Aid Treatment for Swallowed Poisonous Food, Poisoining Claims

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 23rd, 2008

Occasionally people swallow a poison, or take pills that may poison them, or eat food that accidentally contains poison. When this happens, the quicker that action is taken, the better. The very first thing the first aider should do is call the poison control center (or a doctor or hospital) and follow their instructions exactly.

The first aider should be sure to save the poison container so the doctor can inspect it. The doctor must know the exact poison in order to give the specific medicines to counteract it. When a person swallows a poison, it will stay in the stomach for a little while before it moves into the intestines. In some cases, forcing the person to vomit will remove the poison before it can do much damage. But two kinds of poison should not be removed by vomiting because this can cause more damage. The first kind is petroleum products such as gasoline and furniture polish. The second is corrosive, or burning, poisons.

If the container is nowhere to be found, two clues may show the kind of poison taken. Burns on the mouth will reveal a corrosive. Petroleum products can often be smelled on the breath. Corrosive poisons are of two main types, needing different first aid.

1. The first type, alkalipoison, includes drain cleaners, ammonia, and laundry bleach. The person should not vomit, but should be given large amounts of orange juice or lemon juice.

2. The second type, acid poison, includes metal and toilet-bowl cleaners. Again, the person should not vomit.

The best way to induce vomiting is to give syrup of ipecac. If there is none, tickle the back of the throat with a finger.

After giving the person milk, the first aider should give milk of magnesia (1 tablespoon in 1 cup of water). Many poisons are not corrosive, including roach powder, some cosmetics, and most medicines, if a person takes too much of them. If a person swallows one of these poisons, and is wide awake, the first aider should help the person to vomit. First give a cup of water or milk to dilute the poison. Then give 1 tablespoon of syrup of ipecac. Be sure to keep this in the home for a poison emergency. But if there is none, put a finger way in back of the person’s throat. If necessary, give more cups of water or milk or juice.

When vomiting begins, the person should lie face down with the head lower than the body, to prevent any vomit getting into the lungs. Remember, keep the poison control center number right beside the phone!

First aid for foreign bodies

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 20th, 2008

A foreign body is any substance that doesn’t belong in the body. It can be a speck of dust or a splinter or something a child has stuck into his body, or dirt or a piece of glass, or anything else.

1. Foreign bodies in the eye are best treated by a doctor if they don’t come out within an hour or so by themselves. Rubbing an eye, or trying to remove it with cotton or the edge of a handkerchief, may injure the delicate membranes that cover the eyeball. Sometimes pulling down the eyelid and pouring warm water into the eye may wash out the foreign body, but if it doesn’t, leave it alone and go to the doctor or to the nearest hospital emergency room.

One thing is important; a foreign body should never be allowed to stay in the eye overnight. It may cause inflammation that will require many days to overcome.

If treated properly, most foreign bodies do no permanent harm to the sight. It is only when foreign bodies are neglected that they can cause damage to vision.

2. Peculiarly, some boys and girls stick things into their noses. And once in a great while, a small insect may fly into a nostril. There’s never anything to worry or become frightened about when this happens because foreign bodies in the nose are always easy to remove. Even if they aren’t removed right away, no real harm results.

To get rid of a foreign body or insect in a nostril, it is a good idea to tickle the inside of the other nostril. This may cause sneezing, and in many instances, the foreign body is sneezed out. If tickling the nostril doesn’t work, have the child sniff some pepper. That will probably bring on the-sneeze.

If neither of these methods work, the child should be taken to a doctor or to a nearby hospital. They’ll get it out without any trouble. However, I did know a silly little fellow who stuck a marble way up into his nose, and he had to be put to sleep in an operating room before the doctor could get it out.

3. For some reason, some children stick things into their ears. Or, every once in a great while, an insect may accidentally crawl or fly into an ear. No harm ever results, as the ear canal is a short dead-end street. There’s no place for the foreign body or insect to go, and therefore they can’t do any damage. An ordinary tweezers can usually reach and grasp a foreign body in the ear, but if there’s any trouble removing it, a trip to a doctor or hospital emergency room is the best idea.

Insects can usually be floated out of the ear. The child will lie down, head turned to one side. Then some lukewarm mineral oil, or olive oil, or castor oil, is poured into the ear. And, in most cases, out floats the insect! If it doesn’t come out that way, it is an easy thing for a doctor to remove.

Incidentally, an insect that flies into an ear practically never bites or stings. We guess it’s just as frightened about what happened to it as the child is.

4. Splinters, glass, dirt, and other foreign bodies beneath the skin should only be removed by a first aider when a part of the foreign body sticks out from the skin’s surface. If such is the case, the end that sticks out should be grasped and slowly and steadily pulled out. If a foreign body lies completely beneath the skin, it is best removed by a doctor. A first aider who isn’t experienced in removing foreign bodies may push it in even deeper than it is.

No foreign body should be left beneath the skin overnight.

After removing any foreign body from the skin, the area should be gently cleaned with soap and water, then covered with a bandage or Band-aid. If the foreign body has been removed within a couple of hours after it went in, infection seldom takes place.

5. Swallowed foreign bodies like buttons or coins or paperclips rarely do harm if they go down all right into the stomach. Most of them pass through the stomach and intestines by themselves and are gotten rid of in a day or two when the child moves his bowels.

A foreign body in the nose will often be expelled if the child is made “sneeze. This may be encouraged by holding pepper under the child’s nose.

A) Foreign body such as a button or a coin, or a chunk of unchewed food, can occasionally get stuck in the back of throat, or it may get into the windpipe and bronchial tubes instead of passing down the food pipe into the stomach. This can be serious, as it may cause choking or interfere with breath- Here is the first aid in this situation A Place your finger far inside the mouth and sweep it around the back of tongue and throat. This will frequently loosen the foreign body or food is stuck, or will cause the person to h or vomit it up.

B) The person should be told to take deep breath very slowly and then to cough as hard as he can. This often brings up the foreign body or food.

C) If these measures don’t bring up the foreign body, the person should be turned upside down, told to cough, and should be hit several times quite sharply on the back of the chest. In a great many cases, this will loosen the foreign body.

D) If the patient has any trouble breathing, the Police should be notified so they can send an ambulance to take the patient to the hospital.

Even though most foreign bodies that are swallowed will pass through the stomach and intestines, there are some that do get stuck. In such cases, the person must be operated upon so the surgeon can remove it. Also, some foreign bodies that get into the bronchial tubes are not coughed up but are lodged way down in the lungs. When this happens the patient must be bronchoscoped. This means that a long, hollow metal instrument is passed through the mouth, down the windpipe, and into the bronchial tubes. The foreign body is then grasped by a special instrument and is pulled out through the hollow bronchoscope.

Fortunately, recovery takes place in practically all cases where the foreign body has been swallowed or has gotten into the lungs. But think how much better it would have been if the person had not put such things into his mouth in the first place. And think how much smarter it is to chew food thoroughly before trying to swallow. Then, there is ever so much less chance that the food will get stuck in the throat.

First Aid Treatment for Cuts, Bruises and Scratches

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 19th, 2008

Superficial cuts may bleed a great deal, but simple pressure applied over the cut with the palm of the hand or fingers and a clean handkerchief or piece of gauze is usually enough to control it.

1. Clean the cut or scratch with warm running water and ordinary soap. Let the water run on it for a few minutes to loosen the dirt. Then wipe out the dirt from the wound with a piece of moist cotton, or facial tissue or toilet paper, if cotton is not available.

2. Do not pour iodine, alcohol, or any other medicine on a cut or scratch. They may burn the injured area and delay healing. Besides, the running water will get rid of more germs than the alcohol or iodine.

3. To stop bleeding, press directly on the wounded area with your fingers and hand. (See the picture.) Use a clean handkerchief or a piece of gauze or cotton if it is available. Keep pressing steadily for several minutes without stopping. This will usually stop bleeding in most ordinary cuts.

4. Don’t get frightened even if there seems to be a great deal of blood. Most cuts will slow down and bleed very little after a few minutes.

5. Don’t take any chances, however. It is always best to get help from a doctor. So even if bleeding has stopped. Cover the injured area with a bandage or a clean handkerchief or, indoors, a clean napkin or towel. Go to the nearest doctor’s office, or to the emergency room of the nearest hospital, to get further attention. A wound that continues to bleed, or a wound where the edges are widely separated, frequently will need to be stitched.


After the bleeding from a puncture wound has been controlled by pressure, the child should be seen by a physician, because he may need a tetanus booster.

First aid for bruises

Some bruises are not very severe and merely result in a black-and-blue mark in the skin; others are very serious and may require surgery. All bruises result from bleeding into the skin or into the tissues beneath the skin. Bruises are almost always caused either by a fall or by something hitting the body.

Most bleeding that takes place in the skin stops by itself and needs no first aid or other treatment. Sometimes, however, the bleeding beneath the skin can be quite severe and will cause a big lump to form. Such bruises are called hematomas.

If the bleeding beneath the skin seems to be continuing and the swelling is enlarging, then direct, firm pressure should be applied over the area with the palm of the hand. If this pressure is continued steadily for ten to fifteen minutes, it may stop the internal bleeding. Another way to stop the bleeding is to put ice or an ice bag on the skin surface over the injured area. Ice or an ice bag should not be kept in place for more than fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, for if it is kept on too long, it may cause a burn. If ice is not available, cold compresses may help to control the bleeding.

If the hematoma is still present a few days after the injury originally happened, and if it feels soft and mushy when it is touched, then in all likelihood fluid blood is present beneath the skin. To cure this type of bruise, a doctor may have to stick a needle into the hematoma and draw out the blood with a syringe. If the blood is too thick to come out through the syringe, a surgeon will have to make a cut into the hematoma in order to let out the blood. This will take care of the matter very quickly.

An ordinary black-and-blue bruise may take a few weeks before the discoloration disappears. During that time the black-and-blue mark changes to a lighter blue or a purple, then to a green, then to tan, then to light yellow, and finally the skin looks perfectly normal again.

First aid for burns

A burned area should be held under cold running water for about ten minutes. This is especially important if a chemical has caused the burn.

1. First-degree burns are very much like ordinary sunburns. They usually don’t require a doctor’s care. They should be covered with a sunburn ointment so the skin doesn’t become too dry. Any blisters that form should be left alone and not opened except by a doctor. A burn can become infected if a blister is not opened properly.

2. Second-degree burns are deeper and may be caused by fire, electricity, or even by the sun. The burned areas should be put into cold running water, or the person put in a tub of cold water for about ten to fifteen minutes. The burned areas should then be covered with clean gauze bandages—no ointments—or clean handkerchiefs, napkins or towels. The sooner the burn is placed under running water, or the sooner the patient is put in a tub of water, the greater will be the relief of pain and the better it will be for the burn itself. People with second-degree burns should be treated by doctors. Therefore, go to the doctor or to the emergency room of a nearby hospital. If you can’t tell how badly a burn actually is, take no chances—go to a doctor or to a hospital.

3. Third-degree burns are very deep, but the first aid is the same as for a second-degree burn. Put the burned a under cold running water for ten minutes and, if there is dirt in the burn, gently wipe it off. If clothing is stuck to the burn, don’t try to remove it yourself. Cover the burn and go to the nearest doctor or hospital. It is important that people ‘with third-degree burns be given huge amounts of fluids to drink to prevent them from shock. Ointments should not be put on any severe, deep 1urn. The ointment may interfere with the treatment the doctor may want to give the burn.

4. Burns of the eyes need special first aid. Cold water should be poised over the open eyes for several minutes in order to wash out thoroughly. Patients with an eye burn should go to an eye doctor immediately after the first aid was given.

First Aid Treatment and Prevention for Child

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 17th, 2008

First aid means helping someone who has met with an accident or has become sick suddenly. Generally, the best thing to do is call a grownup, who will undoubtedly contact a doctor, or if no doctor is nearby, he may call the police. But quite often, children themselves must do the first aid if no grownup is around, or if there’s no way to reach the police quickly. There are some good general rules for children to follow when another child, or even a grown-up, is in need of immediate medical attention:

1. Let the nearest grown-up know about the situation. Shout for help, if you have to.

2. Get in touch with the police a quickly as possible or ask someone else to do it for you.

3. If there is a doctor or a hospital nearby, go there and tell them about the situation.

4. Look for the nearest telephone. If you can’t use a pay telephone, ring somebody’s doorbell and ask them to notify the police. If.you want to save time, dial the Operator and ask her to get the police.

5. Don’t try to move the sick or injured person unless you are positive you can do it easily. Most times, it is best for the injured or sick person to lie quietly on his back with his chin up. Moving around may make an injury or illness worse.

6. Loosen the collar or tie, or open the zipper of a dress that fits tightly around the neck. If the person is wearing a tight belt, loosen it. By doing these things you will help the victim to breathe more easily.

7. Never touch anyone who has received an electric shock unless you are positive that the victim is no longer in contact with the electricity. If you do touch the victim, you may get shocked yourself. If an electric shock has taken place indoors, turn off the switch. If an electric wire is still in contact with anyone, get a dry stick or, indoors, use a broom handle, and knock the wire away from the victim’s body.

8. Most people who have met with an accident or have taken suddenly sick, should remain quiet and drink nothing until medical aid arrives. However, sometimes the person will know what’s wrong and will have a medicine to overcome the attack in his or her pocket or handbag. Then, it’s O.K. to get a little water to drink so the person can swallow the medicine more easily.

9. If someone has fainted, or has had a fit or a spell, he should lie quietly on his back. Don’t throw water on his face to wake him up. If he is unconscious, lift up his chin. This will permit him to breathe better.

10. If someone is drowning, get help from an adult as soon as possible. Don’t try to do this kind of first aid all alone, unless you are a really good swimmer, have taken lessons in lifesaving, and are bigger and stronger than the person who is drowning. Remember that a drowning person will grab anything and anyone, and may drag you under the water, too.

Once in a great while, when no one else is nearby, an injured or sick person must rely upon first aid from a child. Therefore, it is a good idea to know some of the things that should be done. And, you never can tell, by knowing first aid, you might actually save another person’s life. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing to do?

Accident Prevention

Filed Under Avoiding Accidents | July 16th, 2008

Sooner or later, every one of us has an accident, but luckily, we manage to get over most of them without getting hurt too seriously. Some children, however, are careless and they have accidents more often than those of us who take good care of ourselves. Naturally, all girls and boys enjoy having fun, and so they run and jump and play wildly at times without thinking about getting hurt. Of course, children should not be so careful or so afraid of getting injured that they refuse to do the things that give them fun. But certain rules are really good to follow, so that we have as few accidents as possible. Here are some of those rules in the home:

1. Look around your house or apartment every once in a while to make sure that your mother or father hasn’t moved the furniture around. Most children think that each piece of furniture will always stay in the same place; when it is moved they may stumble over it and hurt themselves.

2. It is natural to move footstools from one place to another. Be particularly careful to watch out for them, especially in the dark.

3. Scatter rugs, or other little rugs, often slip and slide, so be careful how you walk or run over them.

4. Kitchen floors can get pretty slippery after they have been waxed. Walk, don’t run, or roughhouse, on a freshly waxed floor, or you might find yourself taking a painful flop.

5. Put your toys and playthings away before you go to bed at night. I knew a girl who broke her wrist when she tripped over a doll that she had left on the floor when she went to bed. She got up during the night to go to the bathroom, and bingo, her own doll caused her to fall.

6. Injuries in the bathroom would occur much less frequently if everyone placed a rubber mat in the bottom of the bathtub or used the special designs that stick onto the tub to prevent slipping. It is so easy to slip in a bathtub, especially if there is soapy water in it.

7. It is mentioned elsewhere, but remember never to touch anything electrical while your body or hands are wet!

In automobiles

1. Wear a seat or shoulder belt whenever going anywhere in a car, even if it is only a drive that will take a few minutes. Many accidents take place on short, as well as on long, rides.

2. Don’t try to get up and move around while the car is moving. A sudden stop, or a sharp curve, may cause you to hit yourself against a window or the roof of the car.

3. Don’t put your hand or arm outside the car window. A car coming the other way might hit your hand or arm, and that can cause plenty of damage.

4. Be sure the car doors are locked before the car starts to move, and don’t play with the locks. An unlocked door can sometimes fly open and you could fall out.

5. Sit back in your seat so that you won’t be thrown forward too far if the car has to stop suddenly.

6. Don’t play with the door handles at any time, because that may cause a door to fly open.

7. Never touch the car keys, or try to start the car yourself. Once in a while, a car may start moving; and unless you know how to drive, you may be in serious trouble.

8. Never touch the steering wheel while the car is in motion. You may cause the car to swerve suddenly and go off the road or hit another car.

9. Get out of the car on the curb side only. Many people have suffered severe injuries by getting out of a car on the wrong side. Another car may come by and hit you.

10. Don’t get into a car with a stranger, no matter what he or she tells you. There are some people in this world who are not very nice, and they may harm you.

On the street

1. Stay clear of driveways. You can never tell when a car will suddenly back out and the driver not see you.

2. Don’t cross a street when the light is red, even if you can’t see a car coming. Always cross streets at the corners. It’s much safer that way.

3. If there is no light, make sure to look in all directions and be positive no car is coming before you cross.

4. If you are unsure about crossing the street, ask a grown-up to walk with you, or wait until a grown-up comes by, and walk across close by.

5. Be especially careful about crossing the street when there is a strong sun shining in your eyes. It may prevent you from seeing an approaching car. Shade your eyes with your hand or with a book, if you’re not wearing a hat.

6. Don’t run out into the road or street to chase a ball or any other plaything. A car that you cannot see may come by and hit you.

7. If there is a school monitor directing traffic at the street corners, be sure to obey him or her.

8. Whenever possible, ride your bicycle or skate on the sidewalk, not in the road where automobiles and trucks travel.

Fire

1. Don’t play with matches or cigarette lighters. One of the most common reasons for burns and house fires is playing with matches.

2. Don’t roughhouse where grownups are smoking. You may burn yourself on the lit end of a cigarette, or you may tip over an ashtray and burn holes in the rug.

3. Make sure that the screen is closed whenever a fire is burning in the fireplace.

4. Don’t get too close to the fireplace, because sometimes a live ember or a little piece of burning wood may fly out and burn you, especially if the screen doesn’t fit snugly.

5. Make sure the fire in the fireplace is completely out before going to bed. Of course, if your parents are home, they will see to it.

6. Don’t build a fire outdoors unless a grown-up who knows how to build a safe fire is with you. Fires must be protected from sudden gusts of wind that can spread the flames where you don’t want them to go.

7. Never throw kerosene or lighter fluid on a fire. The flames may jump toward your body and cause your clothes to burn.

8. Never light the kitchen stove or oven unless a grown-up is with you and gives permission for you to do it. And always be absolutely certain when you do light a stove or oven that your sleeves don’t catch on fire.

Burns

1. Be very careful when walking past the kitchen stove that no handle from a pot or pan is hanging over the front of the stove. Also, see to It that boiling pots or pans are kept covered so that water doesn’t spatter onto you.

2. Don’t try to lift heavy pots containing hot water or other boiling liquids. They may be a lot heavier than you think, and sometimes they can tip over and scald you.

3. Don’t step into a bathtub or shower unless you test how hot it is with one of your fingers.

4. Always turn on the cold water faucet first in the bathroom or kitchen. Then you can slowly add the hot water until you get the right temperature.

5. If you are visiting a strange house or hotel, be certain to find out how the faucets work before you turn them on. In some places, the hot water faucet is on the right side, instead of the left side. And you could get a pretty nasty burn by turning on the wrong one.

6. Every home should have a fire extinguisher handy. Many of them are made so that a young child can work them. If you don’t have such an extinguisher, ask your parents to buy one. Also, most apartment houses have a fire hose on every floor. If there is one near your apartment, find out how it works.

7. Sunburn is a real burn of the skin and may do as much harm as a burn from a fire. Never stay out in a hot sun longer than you are told to. And make sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses.

8. Never gaze directly into the sun for any length of time. It is possible to damage your sight permanently, if you do.

Falling

1. Don’t lean out of an open window. Once in a while, a child will get dizzy and may fall out.

2. Don’t sit on a window sill when the window is open. It’s rather easy to lose one’s balance and to fall out backward.

3. Look down at the ground while you are running quickly. If you do, you’ll see anything that might trip you and Make you fall.

4. Don’t take a chance by jumping off a high place. After all, children only have two legs, not four like a cat. Besides, we’re not so good at landing feet first.

5. Hold on to the banister when running downstairs. If you miss a step, the bannister will support you.

6. Don’t stand on chairs unless someone is alongside to steady you.

7. Don’t climb a high ladder unless someone is holding it on the ground and it is properly placed. Improperly placed ladders sometimes tip over backward.

8. Don’t walk on narrow, high ledges, even if it seems like fun, A sudden noise, or a gust of wind, might cause you to lose your balance.

9. Don’t run in the dark. You may trip over something you can’t see.

10. Don’t run with a stick or lollipop in your mouth. If you trip or fall, you may cut the back of your mouth or your tongue.

Electricity

1. Never pick up or step on a loose wire. It may give a severe shock.

2. Don’t stand under a tree during lightning or a thunderstorm. Lightning sometimes hits trees.

3. Never touch anyone who is being shocked by electricity. If you touch him, you will be shocked, too.

4. Get out of the water during lightning or a thunderstorm. Lightning sometimes strikes the water.

5. NEVER touch anything electric such as a toaster or electric can opener or even a light switch or electric plug, while your hands are wet or when you are in the bathtub or shower. You may receive a severe shock because water conducts electricity very easily. This is extremely important to remember!

Animals

1. Remember, there is a big difference between a tame animal such as a cat or dog or horse or cow, and a wild animal. Some wild animals, like raccoons and foxes and squirrels and even bears, sometimes seem to be friendly and tame. However, they aren’t used to living with people, and they are easily frightened. As a result, even when you are friendly toward them, they might get frightened, and in order to protect themselves, they may scratch or bite.

2. It is best never to pet or pick up a strange animal. He might be sick, or have ticks or fleas. And once in a while, he may bite without warning.

3. If you want to make friends with a tame animal whom you don’t know, talk to him for a while from a distance. Then, before you become friendlier, ask a grown-up to look him over for you and have the grown-up pet him first.

4. Don’t come up behind an animal and touch him without his seeing you first, even if you know him well. He may turn and scratch and bite because he is frightened. Once in a while, even a horse will kick if he is surprised by someone who comes up behind him suddenly.

5. Don’t kiss animals, especially dogs or cats. They have their faces in the ground a great deal and pick up a great many germs. When you kiss them, or when they kiss you, they may spread their germs to you.

6. Don’t tease a pet, even if you are good friends. Remember, animals can lose their tempers just as people do, and when they become angry, it is natural for them to bite or scratch.

Other good don’ts

1. Don’t put nails, coins, buttons, or anything that doesn’t belong there, in your mouth. A sudden cough or sneeze may cause you to accidentally swallow. I even knew a child who ran around the house chasing his little brother with his toothbrush in his mouth. He tripped and gasped and—can you believe i swallowed his toothbrush.

2. Don’t put your fingers into the washing machine or wringer, or even into narrow bottle necks. Once there was a boy who had to go to the hospital and be anesthetized so they could get his finger out of a soda bottle.

3. Don’t go anywhere with a stranger, especially one who offers you candy or anything else, or who even says your mom or dad said to pick you up. If your mom or dad wanted you, and couldn’t come to get you themselves, they would send someone you knew, not a stranger!

4. Don’t take any medicine unless it is given to you by a grown-up, even if it looks like and tastes like candy, or tastes good when you drink it. Even some of the most ordinary medicines, like aspirin or a laxative, can be very dangerous when not taken as they should be.

5. Knives should not be used as toys or playthings. They are extremely useful in many, many ways, but one must learn how to use them properly, and it isn’t possible to teach a very young child to do that. Older children, too, should never fool or play with knives, especially when another child is around. All too often, children get accidentally cut.

6. If there is a pistol or a gun in your house, stay away from it! You can never be absolutely positive it isn’t loaded. Even if you saw your dad unload it, he may have accidentally left a bullet in it. Or, he may have reloaded it without your knowledge when you weren’t there. Remember, guns are for grown-ups, not youngsters.