Welcome To
Open Heart Women's Ministry


Living Safely In Your Home

 

  

    It's important to be prepared for accidents in your home by keeping a first-aid kit well stocked and readily available.  Though first-aid kits are most often used for minor situations, such as bug bites, sunburns, small cuts, scrapes and burns, they can help you save somebody's life in more serious situations.  Keep handy all the numbers you need call in case of an emergency.  This means not just 911 (or your local for emergency services), but also numbers for family doctors, poison control, nearby relatives and neighbors.  Doctors suggest that you keep a written record of each family member's medical history.  IN the even of an emergency, when your emotions are at their peak, the health care professionals will need this type of information that may save your loved one's life.

 

Include In Medical History

> Allergies.  List any medication, food or latex allergies or sensitivities your family member may have or has had.

> An updated list of your family's medications, including dosage.

> Any pre-existing illness or previous surgeries.  Don't leave anything out.

    

    If a family member has a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma or is allergic to medication, doctors suggest that they wear an identifying alert bracelet or necklace.  In an emergency, this could save your loved one's life. 

 

Home Safety Tips 

Be certain your home is equipped with smoke and fire detectors, as well as a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage, workshop or other areas where fire may occur.

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Check batteries in each detector twice a year.

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Be certain your home is free of carbon monoxide gases.  At-home
detectors are available.

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Teach your children what to do in the event of a fire in the home.  Have a fire drill.  Be sure second-floor bedrooms have more than one escape route.  Consider a collapsible ladder for upper floor bedrooms.

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You should check your first-aid kit once a year - maybe the same day you check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors - to make sure it is well stocked and no medications have expired. 

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If you have children in your home, take care to childproof it.  This includes safety latches on cabinets and doors, closed doors near stairways, child-proof caps on medications, poisons and household detergents in a locked cabinet and child safety barriers in electrical outlets. 

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If you keep guns or firearms in the house, be sure they are stored in a locked cabinet.  Be sure to talk to your older children about gun safety.

 

Recipe for a first aid kit 

The most important thing to have in the first-aid kit is information.  Other items to keep in the first-aid kit include:

>bandages             >tape             >scissors             >syringe  
>acetaminophen or non-aspirin pain reliever 
>antihistamine       >Syrup of ipecac (induces vomiting) and activated charcoal.  If you have a poisoning emergency, call your local emergency services.  
>an antibiotic ointment or cream
>a manual for common first-aid injury treatment, to know when to use the above.
You should keep one first-aid kit in your home and one in each car.  As soon as an item is used from the kit, replace it immediately.   

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>Teach your children to practice safe habits around strange animals, even if they belong to a neighbor.  Animals can be unpredictable.  Always ask for permission from the owner before allowing your child to approach an animal.

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>Learn CPR!  Many medical organizations offer courses in CPR.

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>Learn what to do if y our child or someone is chocking.

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>Require regular babysitters to take a basic first-aid class.

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>Teach your child to call Emergencies Services in the event of an emergency.  Even very young children can save lives.

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(This information is general knowledge and can be found in any Doctor's Office, Medical Pharmacy, Public Library or
Dictionary and not a specialized safety course generated by Pastor Deborah.)