FIRST AID AND FIRST AID MATERIALS

A First Aid Box

First aid is the immediate treatment or assistance given to someone injured or who gets ill suddenly, before the arrival of a doctor or before the person is taken to hospital for further treatment.

Minor accidents may occur in the course of using workshop tools and machines. Hence, there is a need to learn about first aid materials and their applications. A first aid box with its contents is an important piece of equipment needed in every technology workshop.
 
Materials inside a first aid box:
1.    Cotton wool: this is used as an absorbent material or as a pad.
2.    Scissors: we use scissors for cutting. The scissors should be blunt ended to avoid injury.
3.    Bandages: they are used to protect wounds from dirt, restrict movement of parts of the body, and maintain pressure on dressing or reduce swelling. Bandages used to cover wounds should be clean.
4.    Adhesive dressing plaster: this is used to cover minor wounds.
5.    Safety pins and clips: they are used to secure the bandage or dressing.
6.    Disposable gloves: they are used for protecting the hands against contamination during dressing and disposal of waste materials.
7.    Iodine B.P.: it is used in disinfectant preparations for cleaning wounds.
 
Exercises:
1.    What is first aid?
2.    Why is it important for students to learn how to use a first aid box and its contents before they begin to use tools and equipment in the workshop?
3.    Why is there need to have a first aid box in a Basic Technology workshop?
4.    What are five first aid materials?




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