SPEAKING FIRST-AID IN THE LABORATORY 2 W orking in groups and keeping your fingers crossed discuss what the most frequent laboratory accidents are and what should be done if they occur. Here are some possible situations; add any more which you or your classmates have experienced or which you can think of. You burn your skin touching hot glassware. You splash a chemical in your eye. You severely cut yourself with broken glass. You accidentally inhale or swallow a poisonous chemical. Somebody near you faints. Somebody near you catches fire. ......................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................... Here are some suggestions for some emergency first aid which might help your discussion. Recline the person so that the head is lower than the body. Rinse with plenty of cold water. Swab with a disinfectant. Use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Wrap the person in a fire blanket. HANDS-ON Module 1 ACTIVITIES Apply pressure directly on the wound. Ask the teacher for an antidote. Call the poison control centre. Get medical assistance. Provide the person with fresh air. 57