Accident in the Home and School: Need for Safety – JSS1 Social Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

An accident is a sudden, unpleasant event that causes injury to a person or a group of people.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define accident;
2. define safety;
3. state the reasons why safety is needed;
4. list common accidents in the home and in school;
5. state ways of preventing accidents at home and in school.

What are accident and safety?

An accident is an unplanned event, while safety is the protection that keeps people from being hurt.

• Accident: the sudden occurrence of an unpleasant event which causes injury to an individual or a group of people.
• Safety: a situation which prevents any form of injury when carrying out a task.
• Who needs safety: any person or organisation that values human life needs safety.

Why do we need safety?

We need safety to protect life, health and property while we work, play and travel.

1. To prevent loss of life: when carrying out a task, safety ensures that measures are put in place to prevent the death of an individual.
2. To minimise risk: safety reduces the risk of being injured while carrying out a task.
3. To prevent temporary or permanent disabilities: some people lose their eyes, limbs, arms and other parts of the body because proper safety measures are not put in place.
4. To prevent damage to property: road and fire accidents can cause great damage to many properties.
5. To prevent avoidable accidents: many accidents can be avoided if proper safety measures are put in place. For instance, if the necessary gadgets are installed at a swimming pool, drowning can be prevented.

What are the common accidents in the home?

Common home accidents are burns, cuts, falls, poisoning, electric shock and choking.

• Burns and scalds: injuries from fire, hot oil, hot water or a hot pot.
• Cuts: injuries from knives, broken glass, blades and tin lids.
• Falls: slipping on a wet floor or falling from stairs, trees or a bed.
• Poisoning: swallowing medicine, kerosene, insecticide or bleach by mistake.
• Electric shock: touching bare wires, faulty sockets or plugs with wet hands.
• Choking: food or a small object blocking the throat, mostly in young children.
• Fire outbreak: fire from candles, stoves, matches or an overloaded socket.

What are the common accidents in school?

Common school accidents are falls, cuts, sports injuries, injuries from fighting and road accidents near the gate.

• Falls: running on stairs, corridors or wet floors.
• Sports injuries: sprains, bruises and broken bones during games and races.
• Cuts and burns: careless use of sharp tools or chemicals in the laboratory and workshop.
• Injuries from fighting and rough play: pushing, tripping and throwing objects.
• Stampede: injuries when many pupils rush through a door or gate at once.
• Road accidents: pupils hit by vehicles when crossing the road in front of the school.

What causes accidents?

Accidents are mostly caused by carelessness, ignorance, haste and faulty things.

• Carelessness: not paying attention to what one is doing.
• Ignorance: not knowing the danger of an object or action.
• Haste: rushing and running when one should walk.
• Faulty equipment: broken chairs, bad wiring, loose sockets and leaking gas cylinders.
• Poor lighting and wet floors: these make people trip and slip.
• Overcrowding: too many people in a small space.
• Disobeying rules: ignoring safety signs and instructions.

How can accidents be prevented?

Accidents are prevented by keeping dangerous things out of reach, obeying rules and repairing faults early.

At home

• Medicines and chemicals: keep them locked away and clearly labelled, away from children.
• Matches, lighters and kerosene: keep them out of the reach of children.
• Electricity: cover sockets, repair bare wires and never touch switches with wet hands.
• Floors: wipe spilled water and oil at once.
• Cooking: turn pot handles inward and switch off the stove or gas after use.
• Sharp objects: store knives and blades safely.

In school

• Movement: walk, do not run, on stairs and in corridors.
• Laboratory and workshop: obey the rules and follow the teacher’s instructions.
• Behaviour: do not fight, push or throw objects.
• Road safety: use the zebra crossing or a safe place, and look both ways.
• Orderly queues: leave classrooms and the assembly ground in an orderly line.
• Faults: report broken chairs, doors and wires to a teacher.

What are examples of accidents, causes and safety measures?

What should we do when an accident happens?

When an accident happens, stay calm and get an adult or teacher to help at once.

1. Stay calm and do not panic.
2. Call a teacher, parent or another adult quickly.
3. Move away from any danger such as fire or live wires.
4. Do not move a person who is badly hurt unless there is danger.
5. Give simple first aid if you have been taught how.
6. Take the injured person to a clinic or hospital.

Evaluation

1. Define the following: (a) accident, (b) safety.
2. State the reasons for safety.
3. List four common accidents in the home.
4. State three causes of accidents in school.
5. Mention three ways of preventing accidents at home.

Assignment

Write out, in your own words, any three reasons why safety is needed.