Chapter VII: Safety First

“WE girls get our second lesson before you boys do!” declared little Soami to her brother Ibee at the lunch table the next day.

“I bet you don’t have as much fun as we do!” answered Ibee.

“What is the next lesson about?” asked their father.

“It’s about Safety First,” replied Ibee. “I know that.”

“Yes,” agreed Soami, “but,” glancing at the clock, “I’ll be late to class if I don’t hurry. Mother, will you excuse me?”

Her mother nodded and smiled, and Soami left hastily.

* * * * *

“Well, girls,” began Miss Helpem, “to-day we have a more serious time, for we’re going to learn, in Lesson II, What to Do in Case of Slight Cuts and Pin Pricks; Slight Burns and Scalds; Frost Bites.

“Now, as you know, almost every accident could be avoided if we thought ahead far enough; if we did not let the knife or needle slip; if we did not allow little children to carry scalding hot water or lighted lamps, or to play with matches; if we looked up and down the street before crossing. Yes, almost all accidents are avoidable if we think far enough ahead—if we think ‘Safety First.’”

Miss Helpem paused.

“All ordinary everyday accidents,” she went on, “if treated rightly, will give but slight trouble; but if not treated rightly may bring much suffering to the victim, and even cause ‘blood poisoning’ and death.

“So you see how necessary it is to understand ‘What to Do.’

“Now, these serious dangers do not come from the slight accidents themselves, but because of uncleanliness.”

Again the assistant nurse paused, and she could not help smiling at the look of astonishment on the faces of her girl dolls.

“It is true, girls,” she continued; “cleanliness is the rarest thing in the world, and I will tell you why: because everywhere about us, in the dust, in the air, on our clothing, on our hands, in standing water, on the floor, on the ground—everywhere, even though we cannot see them, are

GERMS

These little living particles are too small to be seen
without a microscope, but they cause more disease and
deaths than any of the big animals you are afraid
of—like lions or bears or tigers. They make great deep
sores out of little cuts, and prevent wounds from
healing. So you can readily understand how necessary
it is to keep all materials which touch _broken_ skin
_perfectly clean_, and they cannot be clean if touched
by the hands. Neither is any material clean which has
come in contact with dust.

Understanding this, your aim will be to keep germs out
of any wound. If you do not have a first-aid outfit,
you should have on hand a small package of sterile
gauze.[C] Sterile means perfectly free from germs. Any
cloth which has been washed and ironed is quite safe,
however, if it has not been used. You see, heat kills
germs. Use next to the wound the surface which has been
folded inside.

Do not think that every germ does evil, for some germs
are good—just as some people are bad and some are
good. Indeed, we depend for some kinds of food upon
the action of certain good germs. Among such foods are
cheese and vinegar.

The disease germs which we dread most in cases of
wounds are the germs of blood-poisoning and lockjaw (or
tetanus). They are everywhere about us, in standing
water, air, dust. They cannot do a bit of harm to the
outside of the body, if the skin is unbroken—no more
than a fly can do to the armor of some old knight.
But if they can enter where the skin is broken, they
begin to do all kinds of harm, which sometimes results
in months of suffering from “infected” wounds, and
sometimes finally causes the patient to lose a leg or
an arm—or perhaps to die.

“We have spent a great deal of time on the subject of _germs_, children,” continued Miss Helpem, “because unless you really understand how necessary cleanliness is, you may not be particular to have clean materials.”

“And clean hands,” suggested Soami.

“Yes,” smiled the nurse, “Soami has noticed the nurses at the hospital washing their hands for five minutes in order to have them truly clean before attending to a dressing on a patient.”

The little girl looked around proudly upon the class.

“Can’t we begin the first-aid games now?” asked one of the group.

“Not yet,” the nurse shook her head. “Wait, please, until you have learned what to do for—

SLIGHT CUTS AND PIN PRICKS

The bleeding from a slight cut is never very severe
and will generally stop of itself in a short time. It
is best to let a slight cut bleed a little, as the
bleeding carries away the germs which may have been on
the edge of the knife or whatever caused the wound.

_Treatment:_

Touch slight cute with tincture of iodine;[D] or with
alcohol; or vinegar and water, half and half; or salt
and water, a half teaspoonful of salt to a cup of water.

Wrap with clean gauze.

In cases of severe hemorrhage (bleeding) send
immediately for a doctor. Stop bleeding by using
pressure above or below wound, or by bandaging a gauze
compress on the wound.

Never give whiskey or alcohol in any form. It makes
hemorrhages worse. See Reference List.

BURNS AND SCALDS

(_See Reference List_)

Apply carron oil. See List of Medicines.

If carron oil is not at hand, use any dressing[E] to
cover surface to keep out the air—as lard, butter,
olive oil—or sprinkle with baking soda, or cover with
white of egg, or with a paste made of starch or flour
and water. Also spread on compress[E] some of the same
remedy that has been applied to the burn. Hold compress
in place with a loose bandage.

Solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) made by
dissolving as much soda as possible in hot water (about
one teaspoonful to a cup) is particularly relieving to
scalds. Dip cloths into this and apply to the burned
surface. Never remove skin from blisters. If blisters
are large, see the doctor.

HOW TO PUT OUT FLAMES

_Caution._—If your clothing catches fire, _do not run!
Roll_ (in a rug, if possible) _on the floor or ground!_

In putting out fire on another person’s clothing, use
rugs or blankets. In throwing a rug on another person,
be careful not to allow your own clothing to catch
fire. Let the sufferer lie down and roll. Stand in
_back_ of the rug, and throw from the head downward.

If in a burning building, _creep_ to the door on hands
and knees to avoid the smoke.

TO AVOID ACCIDENTS FROM FIRE

1. Children should not make bonfires without the aid of
older persons.

2. Matches should be kept out of reach of small
children.

3. Children should be taught to be careful of open
fireplaces.

4. Children should be taught to _roll_ if their
clothing catches fire. This would save scores of lives
in a year.

Safety First. Look ahead! See the danger before the
accident!

FROST BITES

When nose, ears, hands or feet are exposed to intense
cold they often become frost-bitten, turning purple at
first. If frozen thoroughly, they turn waxy white; then
no pain is felt, because the nerves are frozen.

_Treatment:_

1. Keep patient in cold room.

2. Do not warm frozen parts quickly. Instead, rub with
snow or bathe with ice water until a tingling pain is
felt; then stop.

If frozen parts are warmed too quickly, “gangrene” may
result, or perhaps the sudden heat may cause—

CHILBLAINS

Chilblains are the result of too rapid warming of cold
parts, generally feet or fingers. Sometimes for years
after being frost-bitten, exposure to severe cold will
produce itching and burning, and perhaps swelling and
ulcers.

_Treatment:_

Rub with turpentine or alcohol. The rubbing in itself
is excellent. See doctor.

FOOTNOTES:

[C] Sterile gauze is cheesecloth which has been so treated that it is free of germs and is very absorbent. It is sold at all drug stores. It should be kept closely wrapped, and the surface should never be touched with the hands before it is placed on a wound.

If you do not have sterile gauze, keep old linen or cotton cloth (which has been _well washed and ironed_) in glass jars, which have been boiled and dried in the air without wiping.

[D] Soldiers on active service carry iodine to be applied to wounds immediately, if possible—to kill germs. Iodine is a poison if swallowed, so be careful not to leave it within the reach of _small_ children.

[E] _Important Note._—_Dressings_ are everything applied to a wounded or sore surface. A _compress_ is the dressing which is placed directly upon the wound. It is usually made of _clean new_ gauze. A _bandage_ is the dressing which holds the compress (or other dressings) in place.

Compresses are used to—

1. Hold medication in place. 2. Protect sore place. 3. Stop bleeding.