What to do When...

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. Don't use this information to diagnose or develop a treatment plan for a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified health care provider. If you're in a life-threatening or emergency medical situation, seek medical assistance immediately. This care information is not garuenteed to be up to date.

 

Top ten safety tips

Appendicitis

Minor burns

Chest pains

Choking

Convulsions

Croup

Cuts & bruises

Dog bite

Drowning

Earache

Electric shock

Object in eye

Fainting

Fever

Fractures & dislocations

Frostbite

Head injury

Insect bites & stings

Nosebleed

Poisoning

Shock

Stroke

Sunburn

Toothache

Top Ten Safety List

1- Helmets, and Bicycle Riding
2- Seat Belts
3- Cell Phone and Driving
4- Cell Phone and Riding
5- Children in the Kitchen, and the Bath Room
6- Unattended Children
7- Shabbat and Chanukah Candles
8- Medicine
9- Drinking and Driving
10- Crossing the Streets
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APPENDICITIS

SYMTOMS:

Pain in right lower abdomen
Nausea, possibly vomiting
Low fever
Constipation

TREATMENT:

Call Dr. immediately
While diagnosis is uncertain, don't give anything to eat or drink
Don't use laxatives or pain medications
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MINOR BURNS

SYMTOMS:

Redness, pain and swelling
Moist, oozing blistered skin appearing within several hours

TREATMENT:

Remove clothing if not stuck
Flush in cold water or apply cold cloths
Don't use butter/ointment
Cover burn with sterile bandage
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CHEST PAINS

SYMTOMS:

Chest pain, often radiating to left arm
Difficulty breathing
Sweating

TREATMENT:

Get someone to call for help
If not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing
If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained)
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CHOKING

SYMTOMS:

Inability to breathe, cough or speak
Blush lips, nails or skin

TREATMENT:

Ask: Are you choking?
If victim can't breathe, cough or speak, begin Heimlich manuver(see below)


The Heimlich maneuver For choking

STEP 1.
ASK: Are you choking? If victim can't breathe, cough or speak.


STEP 2.
BEGIN Heimlich Maneuver:
A. Stand behind the choking victim
B. Wrap your arms around the victim's waist and lock your hands into a fist.
C. Place the thumbside of your fist against the victim's abdomen, slightly above the navel and below the rib cage.
D. Press you fist into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward thrust.
E. REPEAT thrust if necessary four times.
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Convulsions

SYMTOMS:

Unconsciousness
Body stiffness followed by uncontrolled jerking body movements

TREATMENT:

Catch falling victim
Clear space
Don't put anything in mouth or try to stop jerking
Loosen tight clothing
Get someone to call for help
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CROUP

SYMTOMS:

IN YOUNG CHILD: barking, croaking cough
Difficulty breathing
Blush face

TREATMENT:

Call Dr. if 1st attack, if breathing is labored or lips/fingers are blue
Have child breathe moist air in steamy bathroom
Follow Dr's orders
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CUTS & BRUISES

SYMTOMS:

Cuts: Injuries to skin with bleeding and pain
Bruises: redness on impact then black and blue

TREATMENT:

Cuts: Stop bleeding with direct pressure; clean with soap/water; cover with sterile bandage
Bruises: Apply cold packs; elevate limb
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DOG BITE

SYMTOMS:

Deep, bleeding, painful wound
Major danger is rabies, which can be fatal

TREATMENT:

Stop bleeding by direct pressure
Wash with soap/water
Capture animal; notify animal-control to check for rabies
Call Dr.
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DROWNING

SYMTOMS:

Unconsciousness
Not breathing, possibly no heartbeat
Cold exposure
Shock

TREATMENT:

If not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth
Call for help
If no pulse, begin CPR (if trained)
Elevate feet, keep warm
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EARACHE

SYMTOMS:

Pain
Discharge from ear
Possible fever
Hearing loss
In baby: pulling ear

TREATMENT:

See Dr immediately for diagnosis
Report fever and/or discharge
Use prescribed medication as directed
Keep ear dry during bathing
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ELECTRIC SHOCK

SYMTOMS:

Unconsciousness, Breathing Difficulty And Heart Damage
Burns at contact points
Muscle spasms

TREATMENT:

Call for help
Break contact with electric source quickly using dry wood or nonmetal object
If not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth
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OBJECT IN EYE

SYMTOMS:

Watery, irritated, painful eye
Reluctance to open eye
Foreign object visible

TREATMENT:

Let eye tear, don't rub
If loose, it may dislodge itself or dab gently with a clean cloth
If embedded, cover eye and get help
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FAINTING

SYMTOMS:

Temporary unconsciousness
Sometimes blurred vision, nausea, paleness, sweating

TREATMENT:

Lay on back, elevate feet or bend over with head at knee level
Watch breathing
Call for help
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FEVER

SYMTOMS:

Body temperature of 100'F measured orally or 101'F measured rectally

TREATMENT:

Increase fluid intake
Sponge with warm water and give acetaminophen
If temp over 102'F. (Orally) call Dr.
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FRACTURES & DISLOCATIONS

SYMTOMS:

Severe pain, swelling or bruising
Loss of motion
Protruding bone

TREATMENT:

Don't move if unconscious or if back/neck injuries suspected
Treat breathing/bleeding/shock first
Immobilize injury before moving
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FROSTBITE

SYMTOMS:

Area (usually extremities) becomes red, then gray, then white
Numbness

TREATMENT:

Don't rub
Slowly warm by immersing in tepid (not hot) water
Give warm drinks and wrap in blankets
When rewarmed, call Dr
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HEAD INJURY

SYMTOMS:

Unconscious
Vomiting
Pale
Headache
Sleepy
Pupils uneven
Dazed

TREATMENT:

Treat any head injury as an emergency
Get someone to call for help
Stay with victim
Monitor closely for unconsciousness
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INSECT BITES AND STINGS

SYMTOMS:

Pain
Itching
Swelling
Redness
If allergic: Difficulty breathing, swallowing

TREATMENT:

Scrape off stinger with fingernail, don't squeeze
Wash with soap/water
Apply cold compress, then calamine lotion
Get help IMMEDIATELY if allergic
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NOSEBLEED

SYMTOMS:

Blood coming from nostrils after blowing, sneezing, picking, illness or injury

TREATMENT:

Keep head forward
Squeeze nose closed
If bleeding does not stop, apply cold compress and reapply pressure
If not OK, call Dr
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POISONING

SYMTOMS:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Sweating
Convulsions
Unconsciousness

TREATMENT:

Call Regional Poison Control Center IMMEDIATELY
Report status and nearest hospital
Follow orders
Collect vomit/urine
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SHOCK

SYMTOMS:

Pale, clammy skin
Weakness
Fast breathing
Rapid, weak pulse
Confusion

TREATMENT:

Lay on back with feet raised unless you suspect head/back injuries
Check or breathing/bleeding difficulties
Call for help
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STROKE

SYMTOMS:

Headache
Paralysis
Difficulty with speech or vision
Unconsciousness

TREATMENT:

Check breathing and pulse
Begin mouth-to-mouth breathing and/or CPR (if trained) if necessary
Get someone to call for help
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SUNBURN

SYMTOMS:

Red, painful, swollen skin
Blisters if severe
Chills and fever

TREATMENT:

Apply cold compresses or bathe in cool water
Give acetaminophen for pain
Call Dr if severe or if feverish and ill
Give fluids
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TOOTHACHE

SYMTOMS:

Sensitivity to heat, cold and sweets
Pain
Facial swelling

TREATMENT:

Call dentist
Give aspirin or acetaminophen for pain
After dental Treatment, call dentist for fever, pain or continued sensitivities
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