Among the accidents that occur most frequently in young children and adults are burns, falls or cuts. Personal accidents are situations that, for the most part, are beyond the control of those who suffer them regardless of age and where they are. Babies or young children are the most likely to have them due to their curious and learning nature.
Young people, adults and the elderly can also have different types of accidents depending on their lifestyle, profession or places they frequent, being the home where the most common accidents occur. A messy environment with objects on the floor or not properly secured are the main causes of accidents that can cause serious injuries and even death.
There are many places, sometimes unlikely, where accidents can occur, the most dangerous being the kitchen and bathroom spaces, where the majority of accidents happen, especially when it comes to children and the elderly.
Most frequent accidents
Burns
This is one of the most common accidents of all ages, be it at home, at work or on the street. However, they are more frequent in children who can touch a stove or hot pot without knowing the risk.
Hot drinks such as coffee or tea can cause burns on the lips if caution is not exercised, especially if they are taken in the street and / or walking, which is when there is less control.
Mishandling kitchen utensils such as hot pots or pans can cause them to fall, causing various types of related injuries.
There are also other types of burns such as those that cause overexposure to the sun either intensionally or by falling asleep, even when using a good sunscreen.
Poisoning
It is produced by eating, drinking or breathing chemicals that are not suitable for the human body. Children are more exposed to this situation and can take various cleaning products, medicines and others out of simple curiosity
According to the US Center for Disease Control, this is the most common type of accident with the highest number of victims among children.
Poisoning also occurs in young people and adults when they work or frequent places exposed to products or substances dangerous to the body. For this reason, many companies provide their workers with safety implements according to the type of work to be done.
Excessive cleaning can be harmful especially if strong chemicals are used on surfaces or utensils that come into contact with food or that can fall on them even in minute quantities.
Falls
Falls are accidents that accompany people throughout their lives, being more common in young children who are learning to walk and in the elderly who, due to their age and reflexes, do not have a resistant balance.
Falls are caused by lack of balance, these can have various reasons such as a slippery floor in the shower or bathtub, recently cleaned floors, stairs with poor structure among others.
The work centers have safety codes that guarantee the free movement of their workers avoiding trips and slips that cause falls or other derivative accidents.
You can also have a fall due to tension or exaggerated effort to reach an object or climb a short or unstable staircase causing loss of balance.
In the case of babies, these generate displacements when rolling on themselves, so it is not advisable to leave them alone in high spaces, much less confined, such as changing tables or dressers.
Cuts
This type of accident is related to the use of knives, machetes or other utensils used for cooking, although it is not always the person who is injured who is using it.
A knife put pointed up in a dish rack or lack of care when drying and storing them can cause various cuts that will vary in depth according to the edge it contains.
Any sharp surface that is exposed can also cause accidents such as a broken window or the remains of a previously broken glass object.
Cuts in the office can happen with something as simple as a sheet of paper since its edges become sharp according to the handling of it. Similarly, a scissors placed with the tip up can be dangerous.
Drowning
It occurs for different reasons, and can be better avoided according to age and lifestyle.
Choking from eating is when we ingest very large portions of food that get stuck in the throat or windpipe preventing the passage of air, this also happens if we eat ice and in large pieces.
Inhaling gas or other unauthorized or toxic substances produces drowning and its effect will be faster in places with poor ventilation. Likewise, covering children or people with limited mobility with heavy clothing or blankets can cause suffocation while sleeping.
Another form of drowning occurs when using the bathtubs, especially if you do not have good control of the body or have taken medications with a numbing effect such as relaxants.
The use of bathtubs in young children and the elderly has a greater risk as long as they are not properly supervised.
Hitting with objects
Falling objects can happen in any environment, whether inside or outside the home or work, especially if proper order is not maintained.
In homes with children, as well as public places where large numbers of people travel, you should avoid placing heavy objects or sharp objects at heights, reducing the risk that they will fall on someone or are scattered on the ground causing falls
In workplaces such as constructions, the worker is forced to wear a helmet and special work boots to avoid being hit by tools that may fall from different heights.
In highly seismic places, greater care is taken to have furniture and decorations attached to the walls, ensuring that objects fall to a minimum and the risk of accidents is less despite the intensity of this phenomenon.
References
- Baby Center. (1997 - 2019). Common childhood accidents and how to prevent them. California, USA. Recovered from babycenter.com
- Benenden Health. (2019). 10 Most Common Accidents in the Home and How to Treat Them. York, UK. Recovered from benenden.co.uk