First Aid and CPR: Accidents and Risks

Accidents

Again, accidents don't just happen. If you study accidents, you soon learn that all accidents follow a pattern, or the elements of an accident.

The elements of an accident are:

  1. The situation
  2. The unsafe habit
  3. The unsafe act which leads to the results of:
  4. The accident itself
  5. The related injuries

Scenario

You come home from school everyday and throw your books on the stairs that lead to the second floor. Everybody in your house knows about this habit. You have a friend come over to pick up some sports equipment. You both go upstairs to your room to get the equipment.  The friend remembers he has to leave and runs down the stairs. He doesn't realizing the books are there, slips on the books, falls down the stairs, and breaks his ankle.

Now, you try. Complete the Think & Click activity by identifying the elements of the accident in the scenario. Click on the question to reveal the answer.

think and click What is the situation?

The situation is having someone new in your house and the books on the stairs. 

think and click What is the unsafe habit?

The habit is putting the books on the stairs. 

think and click What is the unsafe act which lead to the results of the accident?

Having someone come over who is not familiar with your habits was the unsafe act that caused the accident and injury. 

How many times have you said, "If only I hadn't done that?"  The safety conscious person is always alert to the risks of a situation and tries to break the accident chain by changing the situation.  Changing the unsafe habit or avoiding risks and acting in a safe manner reduces the number of accidents.  In public situations in the United States we have laws that employers have to follow so that people visiting their sites aren't injured.  If you take a look at your school there are many regulations in place to help keep children safe.