Home Emergency Guide

FIRST AID

  • Action in an emergency ……………..10
  • Resuscitation techniques …………….12
  • Choking (adults and children)………………………22
  • Choking (babies under 1) ……………………………24
  • Heart attack……………………………….25
  • Asthma attack ……………………………26
  • Shock…………………………………………27
  • Anaphylactic shock …………………….28
  • Head injury ………………………………..29
  • Stroke………………………………………..30
  • Severe bleeding………………………….31
  • Penetrating chest wounds ……………………………………..32
  • Cuts and scrapes…………………………33
  • Splinters …………………………………….34
  • Eye wound…………………………………35
  • Foreign object in the eye ……………36
  • Chemicals in the eye …………………..37
  • Bleeding from the mouth …………..38
  • Nosebleed………………………………….39
  • Emergency childbirth………………….40
  • Major seizures ……………………………42
  • Febrile seizures…………………………..43
  • Broken arm………………………………..44
  • Broken leg …………………………………45
  • Spinal injuries …………………………….46
  • Sprains and strains ……………………..47
  • Severe burns………………………………48
  • Minor burns and scalds……………….49
  • Sunburn …………………………………….50
  • Heat exhaustion…………………………51
  • Heatstroke …………………………………52
  • Fainting……………………………………..53
  • Hypothermia ……………………………..54
  • Frostbite…………………………………….55
  • Swallowed poisons……………………..56
  • Snake and spider bites………………..57
  • Animal and tick bites…………………58
  • Insect and scorpion stings ……………….59
  • First-aid equipment……..60
Read More

FAMILY ILLNESS

  • How to use this section ……………..66
  • Assessing symptoms (adults) ………..68
  • Assessing symptoms (children) ……………………………………70
  • Not feeling well ………………………..72
  • Fever (adults) ……………………………..74
  • Fever (children) …………………………..76
  • Excessive sweating …………………….78
  • Lumps and swellings ………………….80
  • Feeling faint /passing out …………..82
  • Headache………………………………….84
  • Vertigo ……………………………………..86
  • Numbness and /or tingling …………88
  • Facial pain…………………………………90
  • Difficulty speaking …………………….91
  • Forgetfulness or confusion…………92
  • General skin problems………………..94
  • Rash with fever …………………………96
  • Eye pain or irritation ………………….98
  • Disturbed/impaired vision ………..100
  • Earache …………………………………..102
  • Sore throat ……………………………..103
  • Hoarseness or loss of voice …………………………….104
  • Coughing (adults) ……………………..106
  • Coughing (children) …………………..108
  • Shortness of breath (adults) …………………………………….110
  • Breathing problems (children) ………………………………….112
  • Wheezing………………………………..114
  • Difficulty swallowing………………..115
  • Vomiting (adults) ………………………116
  • Vomiting (children) ……………………118
  • Abdominal pain (adults) …………………………………….120
  • Abdominal pain (women) …………………………………..122
  • Abdominal pain (children) ………………………………….124
  • Abdominal swelling …………………126
  • Anal and rectal problems …………127
  • Diarrhea (adults)……………………….128
  • Diarrhea (children) …………………….130
  • Constipation ……………………………132
  • Chest pain……………………………….134
  • Palpitations……………………………..136
  • Poor bladder control………………..137
  • Painful urination ……………………..138
  • Back pain ………………………………..140
  • Neck pain or stiffness………………..142
  • Arm or hand pain ……………………144
  • Leg pain ………………………………….145
  • Joint pain………………………………..146
  • Swollen ankles…………………………148
  • Erectile dysfunction …………………150
  • Testes and scrotum problems…………………………………151
  • Penis problems ………………………..152
  • Breast problems ………………………154
  • Painful menstrual periods ………..156
  • Heavy menstrual periods………….157
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding………………………………….158
  • Vaginal discharge…………………….160
  • Genital irritation (women) …………………………………..161
  • Home medicine chest………………..162
  • Caring for a sick person……………164
Read More

HOUSEHOLD EMERGENCIES

  • Home safety…………………………….172
  • Yard safety………………………………178
  • Fires in the home …………………….180
  • Gas leaks …………………………………184
  • Plumbing problems …………………………………186
  • Central-heating problems …………………………………192
  • Air-conditioning problems …………………………………194
  • Electrical problems …………………..196
  • Structural problems………………….200
  • Insects and pests………………………208
  • Furniture and furnishings ………………………………210
  • Home security………………………….212
Read More

NATURAL DISASTERS

  • Planning for disaster………………..220
  • Severe storm……………………………226
  • Flood ………………………………………228
  • Extreme cold……………………………230
  • Wildfire…………………………………..232
  • Hurricane ………………………………..234
  • Tornado…………………………………..236
  • Earthquake ……………………………..238
  • Volcanic eruption …………………….240
  • Tsunami…………………………………..242
  • Post-disaster survival………………..244
Read More

OTHER

  • Useful addresses and online listings……………………250
  • Index ………………………………………253
  • Acknowledgments …………………..256
Read More