When its just YOU in an Emergency...
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When its just YOU in an Emergency... |
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When
its Just YOU In An Emergency
"Mom!"
you yell down the stairs. "Where's my math book? I can't find it and the
bus is coming! Please help me ... it's an emergency!"
It
is kind of an emergency with the bus coming and all, but what about a medical
emergency? That kind of emergency is usually more serious. If you don't
have your math book or miss the bus, that would be bad. But a medical emergency
means someone needs care from a doctor right away. Let's find out the right
thing to do.
Quick
Thinking: What Would You Do?
Liz
and her little brother Jamie are out for a walk. Jamie decides to race ahead
down a very steep hill. He's running pretty fast when he suddenly trips. Over
and over he falls, rolling down the hill at high speed until he's sprawled out
on the sidewalk at the bottom.
Liz
rushes to her brother's side, hoping that he's OK. Then she sees some blood on
the pavement. And Jamie isn't moving at all. What should she do? First things
first: Liz should call for help right away.
Calling
for help is the most important thing a kid can do in an emergency.
If
you are going to be the one making the emergency phone call, here's what to do:
·
Take a deep breath to calm down a little.
·
Tell the operator there's an emergency.
·
Say your name and where you are (the exact address if you know
it).
·
Explain what happened and how many people are hurt. (The operator
will need all the information you can provide, so give as many details as you
can.)
·
Stay on the line until the operator says it's OK
to hang up.
After
calling for help, your first thought might be to rush over to the person who's
injured. But stop and look before you do. Make sure the scene
is safe. If it's not, wait in a safe spot until a grown-up or an emergency team
arrives.
If
the scene is safe, and as soon as Liz is sure someone is calling 911 – or she
has called it herself – she could return to her brother and wait until help
arrives. (She shouldn't move her brother at all because he could have a neck or
other bone injury. Moving someone who has that sort of injury can make it much
worse.) She can help him feel calm by being calm herself.
In
Case of Emergency
The
best way to handle an emergency is to be prepared for one. Knowing what to do
ahead of time can help you stay in control so that you can help. Here are some
suggestions on how to be ready to help in an emergency:
·
When you are outdoors, make sure you are in an area where you can
call out for help even if you don’t have a phone with you.
·
Know how to dial 911 or your local emergency number. In most areas
in the United States, it's 911.
·
If you have one, carry a cell phone or know how to use your
parent's cell phone.
·
Learn first aid. Look for basic first-aid classes with your local
Red Cross, the YMCA or YWCA, the Boy or Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, your local
hospital, and other organizations. Or ask your school nurse to have a first-aid
class just for students in your school.