Page 48 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

the flow of blood. It is a good idea to wear protective gloves when dealing with
cuts that are bleeding.

The edges of a cut can be held together using butterfly bandages, and applying
an antiseptic cream will help reduce the chance of infection. The wound can
then be covered by a bandage or a sticking plaster. Care should be taken when
using plasters as some people can suffer reactions to the adhesive, which can
cause a rash.

Burns
Burns need to be treated immediately. First, cool the area with cold running water.
Alternatively, the burn can be cooled by submersing the affected area in a clean
bucket of clean, cold water. Keep the burn in the water for at least 10 minutes as
this is the single most effective way of stopping the pain. Remove anything that
could cause constriction (e.g. watches, jewellery) before the area starts to swell.
Once the burn has cooled sufficiently, it should be washed gently with clean
water and covered with a sterile burns sheet or other suitable non-fluffy
material. If no other materials are available, cling film or a clean plastic bag
could be used. Do not apply any antiseptic cream or ointments as these have
the effect of sealing the heat inside the burn, resulting in a more intense pain.
Do not pierce or pop any blisters that develop as this could result in the burn
becoming infected.
Depending on the severity of the burn, the person should be accompanied to
the nearest hospital accident and emergency department or a doctor.

KEY POINT
Remember: these tips are for minor injuries only. You should seek expert
medical attention if you think the wound is more serious or the following
circumstances are present:
● the wound will not stop bleeding
● the injury is to the eye or ear
● the wound was caused by a rusty or dirty object
● the cut is deep or wide
● the person’s last tetanus injection was more than 10 years ago
● the burn is larger than the palm of your hand or is situated on the neck,
face, groin, foot or back of the hand
● signs of infection, such as redness of the skin or fever, are present
● the person has lost consciousness.

Objects in the eye

Objects in the eye can be painful and irritating. Loose objects like an eyelash
or a speck of dirt, and even a contact lens, can float on the white of the eye.
Usually, these can be rinsed off easily but you must never touch anything that
penetrates the eyeball or rests on the coloured part of the eye (the pupil and
iris) because this may permanently damage the eye. Faced with this situation,
the casualty should seek immediate medical attention.

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