SAFETY FOR THE ELDERLY: POISONING AND DANGERS OF WATER
Poisoning
Over half the fatal poisoning cases amongst elderly people involve drugs and medications. This is not surprising as people receiving a variety of treatments may become confused as to which medicines to take, when, and in what quantities. Gases and vapours are responsible for a third of the deaths by poison amongst the elderly. This usually takes the form of gas poisoning-from faulty gas appliances or as a result of failing to have flues cleaned regularly.
The dangers of water
Whether you are walking near a pool, boating on a lake, cruising down a canal or sailing on the sea, water is a real hazard that demands great respect.
When at the seaside:
• Don’t bathe when a red or other warning flag is up. It is not clever and could endanger the life of someone else who tries to save you.
• Keep a close eye on children -never let them play at the water’s edge unattended. Babies and small children can drown in a few centimeters of water before you even know they are in trouble.
• Ensure that non-swimmers and all children wear approved and properly constructed life jackets if they are on the water.
• Look before you dive-many people suffer serious illness because they have hit their heads on rocks or dived into inches of water.
• If you are on the water either in a boat, water skiing or windsurfing, watch out for bathers. Keep well out of the way or fun can turn to tragedy within a few seconds.
• Beware of poisonous jellyfish. Most jellyfish are harmless but the Portuguese man-of-war (distinguished by its air-filled bladder that stands up like a sail) is poisonous. Never swim behind a Portuguese man-of-war because the tentacles can stretch up to 45 meters (50 yds) and bear poisonous capsules.
• Listen to the locals when swimming anywhere unfamiliar. With holidays taking people into tropical and sub-tropical waters today some are getting bitten by poisonous fish. Some of these bites can be dangerous so ask if it is safe first.
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