Chapter 8 — Safety Measures for Healthy Living

First aid is the immediate and essential temporary care given to a wounded, injured or sick person in an emergency situation to reduce suffering, prevent further complications, and stabilise the person before professional medical assistance is available.

The priorities are: (1) Maintain ABC — clear the Airway, check Breathing and give artificial respiration if needed, and start Circulation (chest compressions) if the heart has stopped; (2) stop bleeding; (3) immobilise broken bones; (4) cool burns; (5) treat eye, nose and ear injuries; (6) tie bandages over wounds; (7) transfer the patient to the nearest health centre.

CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) is a life-saving measure used when a person is unconscious and not breathing — i.e., when the heart and breathing have stopped. Chest compressions maintain circulation; the ratio is 30 compressions to 2 artificial breaths, providing approximately 100 beats per minute. CPR must be started within three minutes of heart stoppage to prevent brain damage.

Draw a line between the two nipples and keep the heel of one hand over the centre of this line. Place the other hand over it and press the breastbone down 1.5 to 2 inches. Give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 artificial breaths as one cycle.

The recovery position is used when a casualty is unconscious but breathing. Steps include extending the nearest arm alongside the person's head, bringing the other arm across the chest with the back of the hand against the cheek, pulling the knee up so the foot is flat, rolling the person so the face is angled forward, and positioning the elbow and knee to stabilise head and body.

Substance abuse is the non-medical use of a substance, including drugs, that changes an individual's mental and physical status and adversely affects health. Extreme dependency on a substance that compels the person to increase intake every day is called addiction.

Commonly abused substances include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana (ganja), opium, cannabis, solvents such as petrol and glue, correction ink, aerosol inhalants, cough syrup, caffeine, cocaine, ecstasy, gutka, and paan (betel). Anabolic steroids are also abused by adolescents for body building.

Short-term effects appear within minutes of intake. The user feels a false sense of well-being and pleasant drowsiness. Other short-term effects include distorted vision, hearing and coordination, impaired judgment, bad breath, and hangovers.

Long-term effects include progressive damage to body organs, irregular eating habits, sleep disorders, poor hygiene, low immunity, and increased susceptibility to diseases and infections. Substance abuse can also lead to HIV risk (through shared needles), harm to a foetus during pregnancy, loss of interest in school or work, and engagement in crime due to the expense of sustaining the habit.

Factors include poor self-esteem, performance pressures, peer pressure to experiment, desire for popularity, family history of substance misuse, lack of family support, lack of knowledge about dangers, media glamorisation of substance use, and easy availability of substances.

Key precautions include: always use MCBs at the main switchboard; do not touch switches or gadgets with moist hands; wear shoes or rubber slippers to prevent electric shock; use only ISI-mark approved gadgets; switch off supply before and after use; never try to repair gadgets yourself if untrained; and use dry sand (not water) to douse an electrical fire.

Wash hands or use chalk powder for grip; avoid loose clothes that can get entangled; concentrate on work and avoid talking; switch off electricity when the machine is not in use; keep spare parts stored safely; and avoid touching moving parts of any machine.

Keep spray cans away from children; shake the container well before use; read the instructions brochure; do not keep windows and doors closed for long after spraying; if sprayed on the body, wash immediately with plenty of soap and water; remove clothing immediately if contaminated; and do not use if a family member has allergy or asthma.

Medicines can harm the body if not taken at the correct dose and interval. Taking more than the recommended dose causes undesirable side effects. An adult dose must not be given to children. Medicines should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor, for the full prescribed duration, to prevent the disease from returning.

Prevention strategies include developing life skills to manage peer pressure (saying 'No' assertively, making excuses, reversing pressure); education about the dangers of substances; family and community support during difficult times; keeping young people engaged in socially productive activities; and providing correct scientific information during pre-adolescence and early adolescence.

Yes, it is free to download with no sign-up.