A: Shut the power off! Make the scene safe for everyone. Call EMS/Power Company. Look for entry and exit points of the electricity, then cover with Dry covering.

A: Use universal precautions when blood is present! Find a barrier like latex/rubber gloves, plastic wrap, thick cloths, etc. to protect you from any chance of disease transmission. Then apply direct pressure with gauze and elevate the injured area above the level of the heart if possible.

A: Leave it in place and call the medics immediately! Pack bulky dressings around the object to keep it in place. Do not pull it out. The object itself is slowing down the blood flow. If the object has jagged edges or if the point was bent on bone, it will cause additional tissue/muscle damage if pulled out improperly.

A: Airway Breathing and Circulation. Open the airway by tipping the victim’s head back and lifting the chin. Get very close to the face and look, listen, and feel for breathing. Last check for blood circulation by feeling for the pulse. For an adult or child, check the pulse on the side of the neck closest to you. For an infant feel for the pulse on the inside of the arm midway between the elbow and the shoulder. Call EMS in the absence of either. Get Trained in CPR today! Don’t Delay! Remember Help Can’t Wait!

A: Do not slap an adult on the back! Establish if the person is actually choking, by asking them "Are you choking?" If the person can respond then just encourage them to cough the object out. BUT if you cannot get a response…then you must perform abdominal thrusts. Stand behind the victim. Establish a solid base for your feet (spread your feet one in front of the other approx. 12-18 inches then turn the back foot sideways). Find the navel. Place your fist just above the navel (thumb side in), then thrust inwards and upwards at the same time. Continue doing this until the object is released or the victim goes unconscious. A different technique is needed for an unconscious victim. Get trained today. Don’t delay.

More injuries occur in the home than anywhere else, and each year more children die in household injuries than from all childhood diseases combined. The saddest thing about these statistics is that most household accidents are completely preventable.

You will find that there are a wide array of precautions you can take to make your home a safer place for you and your family. With every safety precaution you take, you reduce the risk of someone becoming injured in your home.

Consider doing a safety inventory of your home. Walk from room to room. Look for danger zones, unsafe practices, harmful objects or substances, and items that might be used in a harmful way. Correct what you can right away, and make a list of other hazards to fix as soon as possible. Pay special attention to the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and family room- these are the areas of greatest activity in the home, and the sites of most injuries.

Young children are mobile and curious, always experimenting with their environment. They have an unreliable grasp of cause and effect, and they are just as likely to forget an important safety measure as to remember it.

• Buy poisonous substances and medicines in child resistant containers. Store any dangerous product in a locked cabinet out of the reach of children.
• If interrupted while cleaning or working on a project, put away hazardous products.
• Never leave medicines on your bedside table or in your purse.
• Never leave small children alone in a kitchen.
• Store dangerous food items (such as nuts, hard candies, or extracts) on your highest shelves. Do not store tempting items, such as cookies near the stove.
• Keep doors locked on any potential hiding places such as broom closet, dishwasher, freezer, washer, dryer- so children cannot accidentally close themselves inside.
• Use back burners on stoves when cooking.
• Make sure fireplaces (or wood burning stoves, or heater) are well screened. Lock up matches.
• Position knickknacks and sharp objects out of reach.
• Do not keep poisonous household plants.
• Put cords from draperies or blinds out of reach.
• Put guards on sharp furniture edges.
• Make sure large objects cannot tip over.
• Never leave children unattended in a bath.
• If you have separate faucets, run cold water first.
• Install a safety lock to keep toilet lid down.
• Do not place bedroom furniture in a child's room near a window.
• Never use plastic bags or thin plastic material to cover a mattress.
• Toy chests should have a safety lid that will not trap your child inside.
• Remove any crib gym as soon as your child is able to get up on his or her hands and knees.
• Keep storage areas securely locked.
• Inspect all tools for sharp edges, splinter, and loose parts. Always monitor your child when helping in yard work.
• Use non-toxic paints, markers, crayons, etc.
• Teach young children the importance of water safety rules.
• Inspect toys for fragility, small parts, sharp edges, projectiles, and other hazards.
• Dangers such as electrical outlets are particularly attractive to an inquisitive child.
• Think ahead of what your child may get into next, and be ready.