Road traffic accidents
🚨 Symptoms of Road Accidents
- Severe pain in the head, neck, back, or limbs
- Visible bleeding or large bruises
- Loss of consciousness or mental confusion
- Visible fractures or deformed limbs
- Breathing difficulties or chest pain
- Nausea, vomiting, or seizures after the impact
🩺 Treatment in Case of a Road Accident
- Immediately call emergency services (ambulance, firefighters)
- Assess the victim’s consciousness and breathing without moving their body
- Stop bleeding by applying pressure with a clean cloth
- Immobilize fractured limbs if necessary
- Provide continuous monitoring until help arrives
- Emergency hospitalization depending on the severity of the injuries
📌 Summary
Definition: Road traffic accidents include all collisions involving at least one motor vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist, resulting in injuries or fatalities. They are a major cause of preventable death worldwide.
Affected population: Young adults (15 to 29 years old) are the most affected, as well as vulnerable users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, particularly in low- or middle-income countries.
Common causes: Excessive speed, drunk driving, not wearing seatbelts or helmets, poor road or vehicle conditions, distracted driving (e.g., mobile phone use), and failure to follow traffic laws.
🛡️ Road Accident Prevention
- Mandatory seatbelt use for all passengers
- Respect speed limits and traffic signs
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, or medication before driving
- Wear an approved helmet for motorcycle and bicycle riders
- Never use a phone while driving (even on speaker mode)
- Have the vehicle mechanically checked regularly
- Educate children through road safety campaigns
Drownings
🔴 Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing or gasping for air
- Coughing or choking after being in water
- Bluish skin, lips, or fingertips (cyanosis)
- Foam in the mouth or nose
- Unconsciousness or confusion
- Cold skin and low body temperature (hypothermia)
- No breathing or pulse in severe cases
💊 Treatment
- Call emergency services immediately
- Remove the person from the water safely
- Check for breathing and pulse
- Start CPR if there is no breathing or heartbeat
- Place the person in the recovery position if breathing is restored
- Keep the victim warm and monitor until help arrives
- Hospitalization for further observation and care
📌 Summary
Definition: Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment due to submersion or immersion in liquid. It can lead to death, severe brain injury, or long-term disability if not treated immediately.
Affected population: Children under 5, adolescents, and individuals in communities with limited access to swimming education or safety measures are at higher risk.
Common causes: Lack of supervision, inability to swim, alcohol consumption, absence of life-saving equipment, swimming alone, or natural disasters (floods).
🛡️ Prevention
- Supervise children closely around water
- Learn basic swimming and water safety skills
- Use life jackets when boating or swimming in open water
- Avoid alcohol near pools, rivers, or oceans
- Install barriers and covers around home pools
- Educate communities on water safety and emergency response
Accidental falls
Symptoms
- Immediate pain at the site of impact
- Visible bruising or hematomas
- Reduced mobility or inability to stand up
- Local swelling, often around joints
- Visible fracture or deformity of a limb
- Headache, confusion, or loss of consciousness (in case of head trauma)
- Dizziness or nausea, especially in the elderly
🩺 Treatment
- Immobilize the affected area while awaiting medical evaluation
- Apply ice to reduce swelling
- Administer a painkiller if necessary (preferably paracetamol)
- Transport the person to a health center if there is intense pain or suspected fracture
- Neurological monitoring in case of a head injury
- Physical rehabilitation if there is a loss of mobility or serious fall
📌 Summary
Definition: Accidental falls are sudden and unintentional events where a person loses balance and falls to the ground or another surface. They can lead to serious or even fatal injuries, especially among the elderly.
Affected population: Mainly people over 65 years old, but also young children and individuals with balance or mobility disorders.
Common causes: Slippery floors, poor visibility, inappropriate footwear, balance disorders, muscle weakness, chronic illnesses, medications affecting alertness or coordination, obstacles in the home environment.
🛡️ Prevention
- Install grab bars and non-slip mats in bathrooms
- Keep floors dry and well-lit throughout the home
- Wear closed shoes with non-slip soles
- Avoid floor obstacles (loose rugs, cables, clutter)
- Practice balance and muscle-strengthening exercises
- Regularly check vision and hearing in the elderly
- Avoid unstable step stools or climbing without assistance
Firearm injuries
🔴 Symptoms
- Heavy bleeding at the point of impact
- Immediate intense pain
- Possible loss of consciousness in severe injuries
- Breathing difficulty if the lungs are affected
- Numbness or paralysis in case of nerve damage
- Hemorrhagic shock: pale skin, cold sweats, confusion
🔴 Symptoms
- Redness, pain, and swelling of the burned area
- Appearance of fluid-filled blisters (2nd-degree burns)
- Whitish, blackened, or charred skin (3rd-degree burns)
- Loss of sensation in the affected area in severe cases
- Fever or chills in case of burn infection
- Signs of shock: rapid breathing, weak pulse, confusion
📌 Summary
Definition: Firearm injuries are wounds caused by a projectile fired from a weapon. They can result in severe damage to internal organs, massive hemorrhage, or death, depending on the area hit and the power of the weapon.
Affected population: Mainly young adults, men, people living in high-crime or armed conflict areas. Civilians are often collateral victims in certain regions.
Common causes: Gun violence, domestic conflicts, wars, handling accidents, crime, uncontrolled firearm possession, untreated mental disorders, arms trafficking.
🩺 Treatment
- Immediately cool the burned area with lukewarm water for 10 to 20 minutes
- Do not apply ice or greasy substances (such as butter)
- Protect the burn with a sterile dressing or clean cloth
- Give a painkiller (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
- Seek medical attention promptly in case of deep, widespread burns, or those on the face, hands, or genitals
- Medical monitoring and specialized care for third-degree burns
Burns
🔴 Symptoms
- Sharp or diffuse pain depending on the nature of the accident (fall, burn, cut, etc.)
- Visible bruises or hematomas on the skin
- Light to heavy bleeding
- Swelling or limb deformity (possible sprain or fracture)
- Redness, blisters, or damaged skin (in case of burn)
- Loss of consciousness or dizziness (head trauma, inhalation of toxic gases)
🩺 Treatment
- Immediately disinfect small wounds or cuts
- Apply a clean compress and maintain pressure in case of bleeding
- Rest a painful limb and apply ice in case of a sprain
- Cool burns with lukewarm water for several minutes
- Seek emergency care if loss of consciousness, severe burn, or suspected fracture
- Do not administer medication without medical advice if in doubt
📌 Summary
Definition: Burns are injuries to the skin and sometimes deeper tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. They are classified as first, second, or third degree depending on their severity.
Affected population: All age groups can be affected, but children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, especially at home. Workers exposed to thermal or electrical hazards are also at risk.
Common causes: Fire, boiling liquids, sun exposure, electric current, corrosive chemicals, explosions, domestic or industrial accidents.
🛡️ Prevention
- Keep children away from heat sources (stoves, candles, irons)
- Install smoke detectors at home and regularly check their operation
- Use appropriate protective equipment when handling chemicals or cooking
- Check the water temperature before a bath
- Never leave hot liquids within children's reach
- Raise family awareness of first aid actions in case of burns
Domestic accidents
🔴 Symptoms
- Sharp or diffuse pain depending on the type of accident (fall, burn, cut...)
- Visible bruises or contusions on the skin
- Minor to heavy bleeding
- Swelling or limb deformity (possible sprain or fracture)
- Redness, blisters, or damaged skin (in case of burns)
- Loss of consciousness or dizziness (head trauma, toxic gas inhalation)
🩺 Treatment
- Immediately disinfect small wounds or cuts
- Apply a clean compress and maintain pressure in case of bleeding
- Rest a painful limb and apply ice in case of a sprain
- Cool burns with lukewarm water for several minutes
- Seek emergency care if unconsciousness, severe burn, or suspected fracture occurs
- Do not administer medication without medical advice if in doubt
📌 Summary
Definition: Domestic accidents refer to all injuries occurring inside or in the immediate vicinity of a home. They include falls, burns, poisonings, electric shocks, and cuts, often unintentional.
Affected population: Children under 5 years old, elderly people, and individuals with disabilities are the most at risk. Women are also more affected in certain contexts where they spend more time at home.
Common causes: Slippery floors, improperly stored toxic household products, sharp objects, unsecured electrical outlets, cooking fires, poor organization of domestic space.
🛡️ Prevention
- Install child safety devices (gates, cupboard locks, outlet covers)
- Never leave sharp objects, toxic products, or medications within reach
- Avoid leaving hot or boiling liquids on table edges
- Keep floors dry and clear to prevent slips and falls
- Regularly check the condition of electrical installations and smoke detectors
- Raise awareness among all household members about good safety practices at home
Occupational accidents
🔴 Symptoms
- Sudden pain following exertion or impact
- Bruises, open wounds, or visible fractures
- Loss of consciousness in case of head trauma or electrocution
- Redness or skin irritation after contact with chemical products
- Difficulty breathing after inhalation of toxic substances
- Excessive fatigue or malaise related to physical overexertion
🩺 Treatment
- Immobilize the injured area in case of fracture or trauma
- Disinfect wounds and apply a sterile dressing
- Put the victim at rest and provide respiratory assistance if necessary
- Call emergency services or quickly direct to a medical center
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water in case of chemical splashes
- Follow a post-accident care protocol established by an occupational physician
📌 Summary
Definition: Workplace accidents are sudden events occurring at the workplace or during a work-related commute, resulting in injury or illness. They may have mechanical, chemical, electrical, or physical causes.
Affected population: Mainly laborers, artisans, farmers, transport workers, and personnel in the construction, industrial, or healthcare sectors. Informal workers are particularly vulnerable due to lack of social protection.
Common causes: Falls, handling dangerous machinery, contact with toxic substances, work overload, lack of safety training, insufficient or non-existent protective equipment.
🛡️ Prevention
- Provide and ensure the use of personal protective equipment (helmets, gloves, shoes, goggles, etc.)
- Regularly train employees on safety procedures and machine use
- Ensure regular maintenance of equipment and professional machinery
- Implement clear signage in high-risk areas
- Arrange workstations to reduce excessive physical effort
- Establish a safety culture within the company with regular audits
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