In 2019, an estimated 131,400 preventable injury-related deaths occurred in homes and communities, or about 76% of all preventable injury-related deaths that year. The number of deaths is up 4.9% from the 2018 total of 125,300. ... The death rate per 100,000 population was 40.03 – about 4.4% higher than the 2018 rate.
there are approximately 6,000 deaths a year as the result of a home accident
more than two million children under the age of 15 are taken to hospital every year following accidents in and around the home
every year over 62 children under 14 die as a result of an accident in the home
more accidents happen in the lounge/living room than anywhere else in the home
boys have more accidents than girls
The top 5 accidents in and around the home and how to deal with them
The type of accident that happen in the home vary according to age with young children and the elderly suffering more injuries than other age groups:
Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of injury in the home and can cause serious injury at any time of life. Every year more than 4,200 children are involved in falls on the stairs and 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured falling from windows
First Aid for Falls
First check that you and the casualty aren’t in any danger, for example from unstable flooring or falling objects
Check whether they’re they responsive (conscious)?
If they are not responsive – are they breathing?
If they are breathing normally but unresponsive, call 995 for an ambulance and monitor their airway and breathing. Do not move them unless you need to.
If they are not breathing call 995 for an ambulance immediately and ask someone to get a defibrillator
Leave the casualty in the position they’re in and open their airway (place 1 hand on the casualty’s forehead and gently tilt their head back, lifting the tip of the chin using 2 fingers. This moves the tongue away from the back of the throat.)
If this isn’t possible in the position they’re in, gently lay them on their back and open their airway
If you think the person may have a spinal injury, place your hands on either side of their head and use your fingertips to gently lift the angle of the jaw forward and upwards, without moving the head, to open the airway
Start CPR (30 chest compressions to 2 breaths)
If you are a professional caregiver, looking after someone in their home you should act according to your training provider by your respective agency.
If the casualty IS responsive (conscious):
Reassure them and try to find out how the accident happened. Be gentle and do not stress them if they are confused
See if there is any obvious bleeding, bruising or obvious sign of a bone injury
If you think they may have fallen from a height or could have injured their neck or spine, DO NOT move them. Try and keep them as still as possible and discourage them from twisting.
Call 995 for an ambulance and keep reassuring them until paramedics arrive
If you are aware of any bleeding apply firm pressure with a sterile dressing from a first aid kit if possible, if not, use any clean cloth. If you have protective gloves, put them on before treating the casualty
If the fall does not seem to be an emergency you do not need to call 995 but keep watch over the casualty closely for the next 24 or so hours, to make certain that no signs or symptoms of injury develop.
Always seek professional, medical help if you are concerned, especially if you think the fall has caused a head injury such as concussion or compression
Burns – scalds from hot liquids are the cause of most burn injuries amongst both adults and children. On average 110 children per day are seen in A&E with burn injuries and 46 as a result of a hot cup of tea or coffee spill.
First Aid for Burns
Cool the burn with running cold tap water for 20 minutes and remove all clothing and jewellery (unless it is melted or firmly stuck to the wound).
Call for help for any burn larger than a 50p coin: 995 for advice.
Cover with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing or cloth.
Most burns are preventable and a huge amount of long term pain and scarring can be avoided by taking a few simple steps to prevent burns from happening.
Choking – around 300 people die every year from choking and 85 per cent of deaths are caused by food.
Common choking hazards include:
putting too much food in your mouth at one time including handfuls of food such as nuts, popcorn etc.
large chunks of meat that are difficult to chew
foods with small diameters that fit easily into the windpipe (and can create a plug) such as hot dogs and grapes
large bites of dry and chewy foods such as peanut butter and bagels
How do I know if someone is choking?
If you think someone is choking, say “Are you choking?”
If choking is mild, they will be able to cough and to say “yes” to your question.
If choking is severe, they will be unable to speak, breathe or cough.
They need your help urgently – they will become unconscious if left untreated.
First Aid for a Choking Adult or Child
Encourage them to cough and remove any obvious obstruction from their mouth
Not working?
Give 5 sharp back blows – help them to lean forwards, supporting their upper body with one hand. With the heel of your other hand give them five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades.
Not working?
Give 5 abdominal thrusts: stand behind them and put your arms around their waist.
Place one hand in a clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest.
With your other hand, grasp your fist and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. After each back blow, check to see if the obstruction has cleared or if there’s anything in their mouth.
Not working?
Call 995 immediately
Repeat the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until help arrives, re-checking their mouth each time.
If they become unresponsive at any point, prepare to start CPR.
Cuts and Grazes – most cuts and grazes are minor and can be easily treated at home. Stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound thoroughly and covering it with a plaster or dressing is usually all that’s needed. Minor wounds should start to heal within a few days.
First Aid for Bleeding
If you are treating someone else always try to put on protective gloves before giving first aid.
Apply direct pressure, ideally by placing a sterile dressing directly over the wound
Apply pressure for several minutes until the bleeding stops
If there is an embedded object, apply pressure on either side but DO NOT remove the object
When to seek medical help:
You should seek advice from your pharmacist or GP if the cut becomes infected. You can also visit the local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit for medical assistance.
Signs of infection include:
Swelling of the affected area
Pus forming in the affected area
Redness spreading from the cut or graze
Feeling generally unwell
A high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
Swollen glands
NOTE: An infected wound can usually be successfully treated with a short course of antibiotics.
First Aid for a wound with an embedded object
If an object is embedded in a wound, do not remove it, as this could cause further damage. The object may also be stemming any bleeding.
Use sterile dressings and bandages to apply padding on either side of the object
NOTE: Build it up to avoid pressure on the object
Hold the padding firmly in place with a roller bandage or folded triangular bandage
NOTE: Apply the bandage in a criss-cross method to avoid pressure on the object
Take or send the casualty to hospital so that the object can be safely removed.
First Aid for Poisoning
Treatment for a corrosive substance such as bleach, acid
Protect yourself from the chemical – wear protective gloves etc
Wash the corrosive substance away with water, if possible, and treat as with burns
DO NOT make the casualty vomit (if the substance burned the throat on the way down it will burn on the way up too!)
Get the casualty to rinse their mouth and then give small sips of milk or water
Call 995 for emergency help and provide as much information as possible about the substance that has been swallowed.
If the casualty becomes unresponsive, check Airway and Breathing and place them in the recovery position
If the casualty stops breathing, start CPR using a face shield to protect yourself
Treatment for a non-corrosive substance such as medication
Call 995 for emergency help and provide as much information as possible about the substance that has been swallowed
If the casualty becomes unresponsive, check Airway and Breathing and place them in the recovery position
If the casualty stops breathing, start CPR
DO NOT make the casualty vomit
Treatment for an inhaled poison such as fumes or smoke
Move the casualty to fresh air away from the poisonous substance
If the casualty becomes unresponsive, check Airway and Breathing and place them in the recovery position
If the casualty stops breathing, start CPR
Call 995 for emergency help
Treat any burns
This guidance is for information purposes only and is not a replacement for taking a first aid training course.
Singapore First Aid Training Centre run regular First Aid courses in Singapore or on-site courses at your workplace or home. Do contact us at
Tel: 62978123
WhatsApp: 86715681