UNIT 7 PUBLIC AND HOME SAFETY

Structure
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Safety at Home
7.2.1 Areas at Home that have a Potential for Accidents
7.2.2 Activities that have a Potential for Accidents
7.2.3 Things that One Uses at Home which have a Potential for Accidents
7.3 Public Safety
7.3.1 Road Accidents
7.3.2 Railway and Aeroplane Accidents
7.4 Prevention
7.4.1 Individual Measures
7.4.2 Measures that Reduce the Incidence of Accidents
7.4.3 Measures Imposed by Law

7.6 Glossary
7.7 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

7.1 INTRODUCTION

Having learnt about feeding and nourishing your body, keeping it clean, healthy,
suitably clad and well protected from infection and disease, about ensuring its
optimum physical and mental health and performance, one would think all would
be well, and usually it is. There is, however, another aspect to our living and
working, the possibility of injury to our body as a result of our action or the actions I
of those around us. In other words, we need to be concerned about our safety, and 1
the safety of those around us. The threat to this safety comes from events which
occur suddenly and unexpectedly. These are called accidents. There can also be a
threat to safety from deliberate untoward action called crime but thal is basically a
social problem and problem of law and order. We will concentrate here on
accidents or unexpected untoward occurrences.

, Accidents, allhough defined as unexpected, unforeseen, chance events, do have a

cause and effect patlern, and are a part of a sequence of events. If one is alert,
observant, careful and aware of what is going on around him, the chances are that
accidents would be nipped in the bud; in other words, nearly all accidents are
avoidable and preventable, except natural calamities like cyclones or earthquakes.
There are signals Lo warn LIS of an impending untoward occurrence if we would
only lake note of them. There are cause-and-effect patterns for us to be able to
foresee the possibility of an even1 and prevent its occurrence. A simple every day
example is boiling milk. The boiling starts gradually and if you are watchful you
see it rising very slowly, and you can turn the heat off in time, or you can hear the
kit-kit sound of the porcelain milk boiler and get to the vessel in time to stop it. If
you ignore these signals, the milk will boil over. A frayed electric cord is a sign
that worse can happen if you do not either change the cord or tape it with an
insulalor in time. A one year old baby crawling towards a staircase is sure to result
in disaster, as would a stool or table near a window in a high rise building with
children in the apartments.
Accidents occur in public places, as well as at home. In fact a majority of accidents
occur at home. We will discuss accidents under two categories-safety at home, .
and safety in public.
 Objectives qublic and
Home Safety
i

1 After going through this unit, you should be able to :

f a list various possibilities that are there at home, and its surroundings for
1 accidents to take ulace: and

An average family generally consists of persons of three different age groups-the

old, the young and the children. Each of these has different degrees of proneness for
accidents. The older and the younger generations are more prone to accidents than

and the completeness of recovery from such accidents. The above 60-year olds get
hurt more by falls and slips, the teenagers and young adults get involved more in
vehicle accidents, and the very young babies, in accidents involving suffocation and
ingested objects, and little children in falls and burns.

No home can be made totally accident-free but it can be made safe within
reasonable limits. This involves understanding what the accident potentials of an
average home are, anticipating them and making sure that conditions are such that
they do not happen. The accident potentials of a home would, of course, depend on
the kind of home and its location. Homes with thatch roofs have high potential for

the potential for accidents. We will talk in terms of an average modem home in our
discussions regarding safety.

Let us consider home safety from the point of view of the different areas of the
house where danger to safety is likely to lurk, activities which are routine but have
a potential for accidents, as well as the things used in homes which present risks if
not positive danger to safety.

[ 7.2.1 Areas at Home which have a High Potential for

Accidents
Certain areas of our homes present higher risks of accidents than others; for
example, staircases are more accident-prone than bedrooms; kitchens are more
accident-prone than dinning rooms. Some of these areas need to be planned

1) The design and construction of the house : The design and construction of the
house should conform to standards of safety laid down by law. These, hopefully,
are ascertained before a building plan is approved for construction. In addition to
this, there are laws that generally cover safety against fire, safety of lift or elevator,
and safety of electrical connections. Unfortunately, these are not implemented
uniformly in all States. For example, there is an All India Lift Regulation Act

building is required to have fire-alarms, open fire-escapes, fire-fighting equipment

which works and is connected to water source. Unfortunately, there is no such
requirement for hokes.
 >nmentalSanitation The material used for the floors in the house and for the surface of the steps is
jafety important. It should not be slippery. The width of the steps should be adequate for
the largest possible foot size. In a double-storey t;ouse, the kind of railings used on
the staircase is important. Little children should not be able to slip out through
them. The terrace, if it is approachable, should have adequate protective railing or
wall around it. The differences in floor levels, specially in areas mostly used by
guests, is important. A difference of 6 or 8 is not very noticeable and can cause
strangers to trip and fall. These are only some examples of where one needs to pay
attention in order to minimise accidents at home.

2) Bathrooms : The hvo most common accidents that occur here are, falls by
slipping on unclean or wet and slippery floors and electric shock from water
heating devices or as a result of touching electrical switches with wet hands. Use of
immersion heaters is very dangerous specially in homes with little children who are
mobile. In such a home immersion heaters should be forbidden. Hot water on a
stove is also a danger -both, the vessel of hot water as well as the stove. Charcoal
angethies present an added danger of carbon-monoxide poisoning. It is very
important to (a) keep the bathroom floors dry, ' nd (b) keep the floor scrubbed and
clean. Unclean and wet floor, and soap left on the floor, present danger of slipping
and falling. Buckets, taps, sinks, toilet bowls and, sometimes a low dividing wall,
present additional risks of injuries to the body, particularly to the head, if you slip
and fall. Generally, one closes the door while using the bathroom. Therefore, it is
not easy to get help in case of an incapacitating accident. It is safer to ask young
children not to latch the door from inside while going for a bath, and for you to be
attentive to any unusual sounds from the bathroom till the child comes out. One can
never be too careful in such matters. This precaution is also essential for adults who
are old or unwell. Electrical appliances in the bathroom are specially dangerous.
Hair driers can slip from your hand and fall in water, and your instinctive attempt to
retrieve it can give you a fatal electrical shock -so can a plug-in radio or an
imersion heater. Being wet makes you very vulnerable to electrical shocks. Even
touching a switch with a wet finger can give you a shock. Only those electrical
equipments which are an absolute must in a bathroom should be used there, and
they should be wired properly and adequately.
Bath-tubs, with water, big or small, can cause a h d e n t s by drowning for children,
as well as adults specially those who are old, heart patients or epileptic. Slipping
and falling jn a bath-tub can cause head injury and unconsciousness, and as a result,
drowning. Small children should never be left in the tub unattended even for a
second -even in a few inches of water. Slippery bath-tubs make matters worse.

3) Kitchen : This is another accident prone area in the house. It should

generally be out of bounds for under 6-year olds, as well as for old people who are
not steady on their feet, or with their hands. The dangers here are many :
Gas-stove and cylinder : You must absolutely observe all regulations laid down
by gas companies. These are advertised on the T.V. as well. Do not permit young
children and not-so-intelligent household help to operate the stove and the cylinder.
It is better to do the job yourself than to run the risk of fire or explosion as a result
of gas leakage due to negligence or incompetent handling. Kerosene stoves and
cans or bottles of kerosene stored in the kitchen also present danger of accidents.
Extra kerosene ought not to be stored in the kitchen-there is danger of its spilling
and catching fire. Kerosene stoves, if not handled properly or if leaking, can be a
fire hazard. The old type of kerosene stove called a primus is specially hazardous
because it needs to be pumped aod if pumped too much it can explode and cause
fatal accidents. Pressures cookers if not kept clean and serviced, can cause serious
accidents. Hot oil in open vessels used for deep-frying is a very common feature of
our kitchen and very often kept at floor level. This is a common source of very
serious accidents particularly with very young eager cooks or small children
hanging around the mother who is cooking. Oil kept on fire for too long catches fire
72
which can also cause accidents -never put water to extinguish such fire, instead Public and
Home Safety
promptly cover the vessel with a metal cover and the fire will die down. Hot
boiling water in a large vessel is another source of danger. Long handles of vessels
on the fire can create problems if they stick out enough to be knocked off by
movement of people. Always turn such handles away from yourself where they
cannot be knocked against, while one is moving around in the kitchen. Electrical
equipment like mixies, grinders, ec., if not used intelligently can cause accidents.
Remember, these grinders and choppers can do to your finger what they can do to
the coconut you put in: Never try to stir the contents without turning the equipment
off. With electricity going off in most of our towns so very often, one runs the risk
of leaving mixies or grinders which stop as a result of electricity failure, connected
and 'on'; such equipment will get turned on when the electricity is restored, and if
unattended, can cause serious accidents. Disconnect all equipment in use as soon as
the electricity fails. Knives are another cause of accidents. They should be kept out
of the reach of children. Besides injuring your hands in the process of cutting, they
can cause grievious injury to your foot if they happen to fall on it. Be careful how
and where you place the knife while you are working with it. E l e ~ s i cknives are
particularly menacing. They should only be used by those who can handle them and
never by children, or any one not steady with his hands or who has poor eyesight.
Synthetic inaterial clothing, particularly sarees and dipattas are dangerous to wear
while cooking; they catch fire easily, burn very fast and stick to your body. Saree
pallu and dupattas should be tucked in while cooking. Long hair should be tied in
securely when working in the kitchen. A steel kitchen counter can be dangerous for
electrical appliances unless they have a non-conducting base. Open drawers and
cupboard doors can cause injury to the head or cause you to trip and fall.

4) Staircases : The surface of the steps, the shape of the staircases, the kind of
railings, etc., have a great deal to do with how safe your staircases are. Make sure
the height of all steps is uniform, preferably seven-and-half inches. Circular
staircases which are narrow towards the inner edge can cause a fall if you step on
the narrow end; carpeting the staircases makes it safer from the point of view of fall
by slipping, but the carpets must be fitted properly and securely and should not
have any torn areas or edges for the foot to trip. The last step should be made
noticeable. There are many falls as a result of mistaking the second last step for the
last one. Children and old people are particularly prone to falling or slipping on
staircases. Make sure the steps are always clean and dry. Do not leave things lying
around on them, particularly toys, which cannot be noticed and can be stepped upon
causing a nasty fall. When carrying material on the stairs make sure your line of
vision is clear. Be careful of long and flowing garments while using the stairs.
Always support children and old and weak people while negotiating staircases.
Always have adequate lights on staircases. In most apartments, this is precisely
where you find the lights gone. If you have small children at home, put gates at
each staircase to protect them.

5) Storage places : Rooms or other areas which are used for storage are also
accident-prone areas. They need not be so if you plan and use them well. As far as
possible, keep storage facilities within easy reach. Avoid situations where you have
to use a stool or a ladder to get to things. The idea of making 'lofts' in homes for
storing trunks, suitcases and sundry items is not very pectical and safe, particularly
for families where the children have grown up and gone, leaving behind only the
old parents. It is dangerous for them to be climbing on stools, ladders, or step-
ladders to get to what they want. The temptation to do so is high when you need
something and no one is around to help. Falls in such situations can cause serious
fractures. Even standing on toes and stretching yourself to reach for something can
cause an injury to muscles. If the person is alone in the house the danger becomes
more pronounced.
Environmental Sanitation While storing your things, keep heavy and large items at lower levels. Do not store
and Safety
trunks and suitcases which you need frequently on top of each other. Here again
the temptation to lift such items is high, and it can give you a nasty catch in the
back. Such catches-pulling of a muscle or a tendon-take a long time to heal and
are very painful and troublesome. This is one of the most common accidents that
adults have. They are, however, totally avoidable with a little thought and
anticipatory planning.
Do not store large containers of liquids at a higher level. They can spill while you
try to get them down can cause accidents. Make sure storage places are not clutterd,
and are kept clean. Storing oils and fats may cause some to drop on the floor
making it slippery and dangerous. All storage places should have adequate lights as
well as ventilation. The light switch should be outside the door so you can put the
lights on before going in.
6 ) Elevators or lifts : Lifts are becoming very common specially in apartment
buildings. Yet, they are still a novelty for children and a favourite place to fool
around. This is specially so for visiting children who are not used to a lift.
Although lifts are remarkably safe, they are not meant for children to play around
in.
As mentioned earlier, although there is an All India Lift Regulations Act which
requires a periodic inspection certificate before renewing the annual licence for the
operation of the lift, not many places with lifts either follow it or are aware of it.
This does make lifts a little more dangerous than they normally would be. The
doors can be hazardous for children getting caught when the door closes can be
painful and also cause injury. In a moving lift this can cause death. You must
educate children about the use of a lift and its dangers, and supervise the activilieh
of children visiting your apartments.
7.2.2 Activities that have a Potential for Accidents
1) Parking your vehicle : To leave a car with keys in the ignition and/or the
vehicle in gear is highly dangerous specially with young children around;
the temptation to climb in and turn the ignition key on, is too much to resist.
2) Backing your car in your home yard needs to be done with care as to who
or what is behind the car--special1 y with little children who might have
followed you and could be behind the car totally invisible to you from the
driver's seat.
3) Deep-frying in the kitchen is accident prone--child should not be allowed1
in when this is going on, particularly if you are working at floor level.
4) Playing with fire-crackers is a very risky activity. Not only is it important
to supervise children lighting fire-crackers, you must make sure you are not
wearing sarees, dupattas or dhoties made of synthetic material. Storing fire-
crackers in the house is also risky. One should never stock them at all.
5) Keeping the bedroom warm when it is very cold, particularly using
charcoal burners can and does often cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning,
if you keep the doors and windows shut to keep the cold out.
6 ) Cleaning or handling firearms at home presents danger of their bcing
loaded and going off unintentionally causing an accident.
7) Using drilling machines, electric shavers or soldering irons at home are
activities which are potentially dangerous specially with children around.
Make sure to disconnect the tool if the current goes off in the middle of your
work.
8) A simple, almost daily chore of ironing is a common cause of fires or
burns-if you leave the iron flat on the ironing table to answer the door or
the telephone, or if someone accidently knocks against a hot iron while i t is
waiting for you to resume your ironing.
9) Flying kites on roof-tops causes a lot of fatal accidents by falls,
particularly if the roof has no railing or protective wall around it.
10) Using pressure cooker--;ln indispensible activity in most houses, needs to
74 be carried out with care-it can cause accidents with the safety valve
blowing off. or sometimes the vessel itself flvine off the bllrner
 Consuming alcoholic beverages in excess by either of the parents can PuMk and
11)
Home Safety
cause or abet most types of home accidents. Since alcohol impaiq attention
as well as muscular coordination, it can cause accidents while cooking, or
using electrical appliances or while bathing a baby, or while minding a child
when supervision is momentarily relaxed.
12) Giving bath to babies requires all your attention and all through 'the
activity. You must not leave the baby alone even for a second or allow your
attention to be diverted. Ignore the telephone ring or the door bell.
13) The process of eating :This routine act is a very common cause of fatal
accidents in homes; however, timely action and help can prevent death. The
openings of the digestive tract (oesophagus) and the respiratory tract
(trachea) are adjacent to each other, one leads to the stomach and the other
to the lungs. Normally, reflex makes sure that while one is open to receive
what is legitimately supposed to go in, the other gets shut. If, however, what
goes into the stomach enters the leading to the lungs, death by
suffocation woad the result because of obstruction of the air passage.
Accidents of food going into the air passage (trachea) occur when you talk
or laugh while you are in the process of masticating the food, usually this
rings about a fit cough which bring the offending material out and the
victim recovers. If however the substance enters far down the trachea the
victim is likely to get choked to death in a minute or two.
Infants and small children can choke on any kind of food specially peanuts.
They can also choke on soft mushy food if you stuff too much into their
mouths, or if you feed them while they are lying down, or if you make them
laugh while feeding them, or keep putting food into their mouth while they
are crying. Most of the time you can handle the situation by holding the
child upside down by his legs and slapping his back. Lozenges or any round
and small objects which a child can put into his mouth are a source of risk.
If you are fortunate and the objects are tiny enough, they can go down the
trachea into smaller breathing vessles in the lungs from where they can be
removed by the doctor.
In adults, such accidents usually occur when you are eating too fast and
gulping down large pieces of meat. Alcohol before meals increases the
tendency to do this. Sudden laughter while-eatingcan bring this about. The
victim cannot speak at all and 'turns blAe'. His only reflex action is to get up
suddenly and make for the sink if he does not collapse before. If something
like this happens it is better to assume it is choking and act accordingly. The
person might hold his throat and signal to you that he is choking. That is
enough for you to act immediately. This is what you should do :

WHEN SOMETHING GETS STUCK IN THE THROAT

When food or something else sticks in a
person's throat and he cannot bnathe, quickly

Stand behind him and wrap your arms

around his waist,
put your fist against his belly above the
navel and below the ribs,
and prtss into his belly with a sudden
strong upward jerk.
This forces the air from his lungs and-
should free-histhmat. Repeai several times if
necessary.
Envhnmental Sanltatlon Practice this so that you will remember it if need arises. It is simple and in
and Sofety
most cases works. A victim of choking lasts only four minutes at the
maximum unless attended to; therefore, act fast. If he has lost consciousness
it is a matter of only seconds.
If you are alone and choke on food, throw yourself with force across a table
edge, a sink, a shelf, or a Lowwall which will catch you just below the rib
cage and lhmw your neck and head down. Repeat with force if you can till
the substance dislodges.
Do not be afraid to cause some injuries like fractured rib or ruptured
stomach. These can be taken care of; asphyxiation is fatal.

14) Sleeping :Small babies can suffocate with bed linen because they cannot
push it off. You must be very careful how you cover Lhe baby while putting
him to sleep. Make sure that nothing can fall or slip on to his face,
smothering him. Small children also need protection from rolling off the bed
while asleep.

15) Smoking specially in bed can put the bed on fire if you happen to fall
asleep with a lighted cigarette. Partially extinguished cigarette butts left on
upholstered chairs can put the upholstery on fire. Cigarette lighters and
matches are hazardous in the hands of children.

7.2.3 Things that are Normally used at Home and have a

Potential for Accidents
1) Electrical items : Electricity is common and indispensible in most houses
today, but if not handled with care and caution it can cause instantaneous death.
The electric sockets themselves are a source of danger. You must not have them at
floor level. Little babies who can crawl tend to stick their fingers into them. There
are dummy plugs available to cover them. It is common for people to continue
using a half-broken plug or just insert the two naked wires into the socket to draw
current- the most dangerous activity indeed. Frayed or broken electrical wires
must always be either changed or taped with insulating tape. The old taped area
can, after sometime, slip. off on touching and &use accident.
Immersion heaters, as mentioned before, are dangerous items to use and in case of
leakage in it would be deadly with the water.
If you find that an electric plug'gets very warm, have it disconnekted and checked
there is obviously a loose connection which is causing sparking. If left like that, the
socket will bum-it can also cause fire. This is the cause of fires in a large number
I n of homes and buildings, particularly if some easily combustible material is close to

Electrical room heaters and electric fans are hazardous with small children around.
These should be out of the reach for them. Vacuum cleaners can be cause of electric
shock if the cord is frayed, or if you try to remove something stuck in it without
turning it off.
2) Medicines and chemicals (insecticides, pesticides, etc.) : Every home
needs some of these to be .kept at home, either for a current usage or for
emergencies. Particular care should, however, be taken to store them in a place
which is not in the way of daily activities, and which is not accessible to children.
If possible, they should be kept under lock. Each of these items should be labelled.
Medicines should be checked periodically to see if they have expired, and expiry
date is usually printed on most liquid medicines, as well as tablets strips. All
expired ones should be thrown out of reach of children or even household pets. One
needs to be specially careful about throwing away tablets-kids have a way of
getting into waste baskets, and colourful tablets lying inside can be a temptation to
eat.
 Public and
3) sharp tools and h i v e s : Very useful indeed in homes, these need to be Home Safety
stored carefully and kept out of reach of children.

4) Fire arms and fire-crackers : As far as possible, these ~houldnot be kept at

home - they are too dangerous to have around. If, However, you do need to, make
sure they are kept under lock and out of general reach.
Motor vehicles when not in use should always be left in neutral gear, with the
5)
ignition key out and vehicle locked. If parked on an incline you will need to leave
it in gear, but make sure it is locked. Put a barrier behind the wheels to prevent it
from rolling down.
6) Television sets : Trying to pry into its working or trying to repair it can
cause electrocution. It can also set fire to the set, as well as to the house. A T.V.
should be placed in a place that alIows adequate ventilation because it generates
considerable heat. Children should not be allowed to play near it. Knocking the
front panel can cause the T.V. tube to implode and cause injury by flying glass
pieces. Turn the set off while cleaning the front panel. Never use a liquid cleaner-
it might cause electrical shock or damage the plastic tube cover.

7) Glue is a common material used at home. Little children are also allowed to
use it. It can, however, cause accidents, specially the type called super-glue. It can
glue your fingers together; if you touch your eyes with glue on your fingers, it can
glue eyelid shut. Sealing tape with glue on them are also hazardous. If you hold one
between your I ips just to provide support, it will stick to your lips and pull the
mucous membrane out with it. Do not give glue to children to work with. Give
them some other sticking paste which is less hazardous.
8) Plastic bags : The most commonly used items in every home today, are
hazardous for children who tend to put them over their heads-and can get
suffocated inside the bag. In the West, all plastic bags carry a warning to keep them
out of the reach of children.

9) Ropes and strings in the hands of children at play can be dangerous. Innocent
games of driving horses, for example, can cause strangulation.
10) Plants and berries in the garden or indoors can also be a source of danger.
Some of the cactus plants cause irritation if you touch them. Berries of the beautiful
Amaltash are highly poisonous and children are usually tempted to put them in
their mouths. The same is true of the mistle-toe berries. The poinsettia leaf if
chewed can kill a child, so can the castor beans. In case of accidents remove the
object from the mouth and either take the victim to the doctor immediately or call a
doctor on the phone and describe the source of poison and the symptoms you see.
Follow the doctor's instructions carefully.
Eheck Your Progress Exercise 1
1) Make a list of accident prone areas in your home. How would you modify
these areas in order to make them safer?
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Environmental Sanitatioi.

I
2) Check all electrical connections as well as electrical equipment in use at
and Safety
your home, that you think have a potential for accidents. What did you finr
about the following :
standard electical equipment Yes No
00
proper wall sockets ,

plugs with earthing

Yes
I
Yes
0
No

No
i
I 0
contact with moisture Yes No
00
What are your conclusions? 1

The highest danger to public safety comes from accidents on roads. The others are .
fire in public buildings, building collapses either due to man-made reasons or
natural disasters. We will discuss those that are within our capabilities to prevent.

7.3.1 Road Accidents

India has one of the highest road accident rates in the world. A large proportion of
vehicles involved in accidents are two-wheelers. They are less stable than cars and
provide much less protection to the riders. The nature of traffic on our road, the
lack of familiarity and understanding of a large number of our people with the way
a motorised vehicle operates and moves, increases the probability of accidents on
our roads. Some of the factors that are responsible for such a high incidence of
traffic accidents in our country are :
1) A combination of a variety of fast and slow moving vehicles, as well as men
and animals on the road, bullock-carts, bicycles, two-wheelers, three-wheelers,
care, buses, trucks, lorries, hand-pushed carts, pedestrian, children, as well as
goats, dogs, chicken and buffaloes.
2) Poorly maintained vehicles
3) Drivers with poor driving abilities and inadequate experience; many of
whom acquire licences without appearing for a driving test.
4) Overloading of public transport like buses and trucks, and even cars in
which the driver does not have enough maneuverability to drive. Adequate
!
space to be able to move freely is a must for the driver.
i
5) Poor road surfacc, inadequate road lighting, unmarked speed breakers. I

6) Crossings with no traffic lights or traffic police.

7) Inadequately trained and unintelligent traffic police who are not committed

8)
to their duties.
Unfamiliarity and lack of understanding of fast moving traffic in case of
i
most people who have, however, been inside a motorized vehicle leave
alone having driven one.
 Let us now see how some of these factors lead to traffic accidents : Public and
Home Safety
Speed : Speed by itself is not dangerous. After all on some roads in certain parts of
the world, people do drive perfectly safe at the speed of 100 kms or more per hour.
Safety at a particular speed is in relation to the conditions of ;he road which
includes its surface, its width, the kind of traffic on it, the areas it goes through and
the kinds of bends and turns it has, as well as on the ability and experienced driver.
A safe speed is a speed at which you have full control of the car, i.e., you are
maneuvering the car at your will; and not the car that is running away with you.
Keeping all factors in mind, a maximum speed limit is put for most roads and
areas. It is essential that we remain within that limit. The higher the rate of speed at
which a crash occurs, the greater are the chances of fatality.

The type of vehicle : The highest rate of fatalities in accidents are for the two-
wheelers and among the two-wheelers motor-cyclists top the list. Then come the
passenger cars-the lighter the car the worse are the effects of accident. The next
are trucks and lorries. The lowest number of accidents and fatality rates are for
passenger buses.

Age of driver : Perhaps because of the ease with which they can be tempted to
speed up, and the fact that they are the ones who rides motor cycles most, young
men in the age group of 15 to 35 years are involved in fatal accidents the most.

Irresponsible attitude towards driving : Securing licences by unlawful means,

driving without licence, unauthorised driving lessons on public roads and
highways, freedom to under-age youngsters to drive in ignorance and lack of
understanding of traffic rules, and utter selfishness on the roads, are the most
common factors which make for accidents on our roads. It must be made mandatory
for every driver to take a written test, as well as, a driving test before securing a
licence, which also means that a driver must be able to read and write.

Night driving : This is a common cause of trucks and lorry accidents. Drivers that
are tired and fall asleep on long streches of driving are very vulnerable accidents to
their own vehicles as well as, are a risk for others on the road. Indian road
conditions are also not conducive to safe night driving. One should avoid it as far

Alcohol : Driving under the influence of alcohol is very often the cause of
accidents, particularly among trucks and lorry drivers. Even moderate amounts of
alcohol increase the chances of accidents. The number of intoxicated drivers on the
roads increases at nights, over week-ends, on New Year's eve, and on ~ i w a land
i
Holi festival days.

7.3.2 Railway and Aeroplane Accidents

The incidence of train and plane accidents has increased alarmingly in the last
I couple of years. India has the world's largest network of trains carrying more than
one crore passengers daily. Poorly maintained railway tracks is the single major
cause of the total number of railway accidents. In the case of aeroplane accidents
the causes as far as they could be ascertained, are more or less evenly balanced
between human errors and aircraft or ground machinery failure. It would not be
wrong to say that here again optimal health and adequate rest are essential for an
alert mind and quick reflexes. Alertness to notice things, ability to come to quick
decisions, and take instant actions, are attributes of a healthy body and mind. A
mind that is not relaxed, and a body that is not well nourished and rested cannot
cope with these responsibilities efficiently.
79
Environmental Sanitation
and Safety 7.4 PREVENTION

We have gone into many aspects of prevention while discussing different types of
accidents that can occur at home, earlier in this Unit. One can summarise all of
them as follows :
1) Awareness that a situation has a potential for an accident is half the battle
won.
2) Knowledge and understanding of what you are doing goes a long way in
minimising the chances of accidents.
3) Being able to anticipate an occurrence, and taking precautions and care to
prevent that occurrence is the ultimate key to safety.

While we have emphasised the dangers to which everyone is exposed to, at home,
we would like to also emphasise that with fore-thought, effort and care, it is
possible for us to make our home the safe haven that tradilion has meant it to be. It
is not enough to be aware of the hazards that exist today, one needs to constantly
update oneself with advances in technology and the new products being made
available almost everyday. As modern technology stretches our hoizons into the
21st Century, it also increases the possibilities and varieties of accidenls with which
we musl learn to cope satisfactorily to our advantage.

We will now spcnd a little time talking about preventive measures for the kinds of
accidents we have discussed under public safety. These can be divided into three
categories: measures that involve lhe drivers of vehicles; measures that are no1
dependent upon the drivers but indirectly do reduce the incidence of accidents; and
measures that can be imposeed by law.

7.4.1 Individual Measures

There are safety precautions that the drivers of vehicles can take. Alertness and
undivided attention to driving are a must. Do not drive after taking alcohol-nc)
matter how little, or if you are on sleepingpills, tranquilizers, antihistatnines or
any such drug. Do not drive when you are overtired, sleepy or under tension. Use
of seat belts in cars and safety helrnets on motor cycles minimise accidents.
Leatlrer clothing and boots minimises injury in accidents. Childreta should always
be seated on the back seat in the car with an attender, and if possible should be
secured to the seat with a belt. It is safer to be a defensive driver than an aggressive
one. Try to anticipate all possible contingencies, specially, the ones that can come
upon you suddenly; for example the car in front of you stopping suddenly or a car
coming in front of you from a side lane, or a child running across the road just in
front of your car. This means your reflexes should be at peak-performance level
which, in turn, means, you should not be tired, emotionally disturbed, sleepy or
under influence of alcohol or sleep-inducing or relaxing drugs. Maintain your
vehicle well and make sure it is in good working condition, specially the breaks,
tyres, lights, and indicators. Check the air in the tyres for adequacy regularly.
Follow the road signs diligently and keep within the speed litnits specified. Keep
within your lane and know your limitations. Keep your mind on your driving and
on the traffic. Do not allow your attention to be diverted while you are driving.
Check what is behind you when backing up. Scooters and children are usually not
visible from the driver's seat, so get out and make sure.

Bicyclists and two-wheeler riders must observe all traffic regulations meant for car
drivers, like keeping inside your lane, signalling a turn and following traffic lights,
etc. .
 Puhllc and
7.4.2 Measures that Reduce the Incidence of Accidents Home Silfety

The quality of road surfaces, the kinds of turns the road takes, gentle curves or
sharp turns-the quality of lights on the roads, the traffic and other road signs
warning the drivers ahead of time about what is coming next, vehicle designs, and
protective equipment in the vehicles like seat belts, collapsible steering wheels, or
padded interior parts, etc., all have a significant hearing on minimising traffic
accidents. New models of vehicles are generally, advertised highlighting the safety
I measures incorporated into its design.

1 Traffic lights at important road intcrsections, road barriers at railway crossings,

I
; 1 tralfic police, road dividers and traffic regulations including speed limits, and rules
I
I about overtaking, are all measures to minimise traffic accidents. The regulations
I
slipulated must he followed by every driver as well as pedcstrian in order to make
roads safc for yourself and for others. The varied composition of the traffic that
moves simultaneously on our roads makes it evcn morc imperative for each of us to
follow the traffic regulations.

I
7.4.3 Measures Imposed by Law

This is whcrc most of our problems lie. The law o l our land has stipulated measures
that are supposed to he mandatory on its citizens, hut unfortunately it docs not have
adcquale machinery to implement thesc measures in a way that no one would dare
to defy them. The lcgislativc measures cnhrccd by thc s ~ t arc c a tninitnutn age for
drir-ing u huo-wheeler tnotorized vehicle, and for[our-wheeler r;ehiclcs, driving
tests fi)r issuing driving licences, tnandatory wearing oflhelmet by two-whccler
drivers as well as ridcrs,fitness certij'iculesjor vehicles, puinting the headlight
black in the 1~1111er one-tl~irdportion to prevent glare for the oncoming tratl'ic, spot
/1 check on highways and mads, are also made to check the validity of licences,
I'itness certificates and for levels ot'alcohol in the blood. Sl~ced1irnit.s on different
I
road are also stipulated by law to make our roads more safc. Some ot these arc
applicable thn~ughoutthc country while some come under lhc purvicw of the
dil'lcrcnt atatcs, lijr example, the rule ahout hclmeh difl'en ffom state to state. It is
I not only our moral oblig;~tion,hut also in the interest of our safely and of the safcty
1
ot'tlie public in general, Lo obey thesc laws and also lo inake sure that othcn ohcy
tlicm.'l'his i11Iitudc needs to hc inculcated in our childrcn right lro~n;I vcry.young
age. This mc;lns that wc ;IS parcnh hhould not only cncour;~gc,but totally prohihit
our less-than-1 X years oldh lo drive a scooter or a cilr, no ma tlcr how SmilrL we think
he or she is. Thih alxo means tli;~twc get a licence by appearing lor, and
Icgitim;~tclypassing, iI driving lcxt. For cvcry Ihtill tr;~l'l'icaccident thcrc are many
times that many injuries which tot21lly incapacitate the victim for lifc.

CLeck Your Progress Exercise 2

1I Check all the licences as well as fitness certificatcs for motorized vehicles at home,
if any, and scc if they arc valid. Give your comments about what you found.
7.5 LET U S SUM UP
In this unit you have learnt that -
1) The safety of our homes can not be taken for granted. Our homes are as safe
as we make them to be.
2) The possibility of something going wrong and causing injury is there in
almost all activities that we engage in routinely.This risk is also there in
many things that we use as a matter of course almost every day, but whether
this inherent possibility actually does result in an untoward incident depends
to a very large extent upon us.
3) By being knowledgeable about things w e dse, or things we do, by
exercising care in our actions, and by consciously taking all precautions to
make sure that nothing goes wrong, we can prevent occurrence of accidents.
4) The ability to anticipate an accident gives us the ability to prevent it.

7.6 GLOSSARY
Anticipate T o take action ahead of time
Antihistamines Medicines used to treat allergic reaction and
symptoms of cold, for example avil, forestol,
actifed
Contingencies Something which is liable, but not certain, to
occur
Fatality A disaster ending in death
Haven A place of safety
Hazardous Dangerous
Intoxicated Affected by an intoxicant like alcohol
Loft A shelf provided in the upper part of a room nearer
the ceiling
Maneuverability T o manage with skill
Pedestrain A person walking on foot
Potential Existing in possibility, not in actuality
Soldering The process of joining metallic surfaccs
S tep-ladder A high stool with steps on one side; used for
reaching heighLs
Tranquilizers Medicines to calm your mood
Untoward Inconvenient, full of trouble
Vulnerable Liable to injury

7.7 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

EXERCISES
Check Your Progress 1
1) Make a list of accidents that could take place in your own home if you were
not careful.
2) Check all electrical connections as well as electrical equipment in use at
your home, that you think have a potential for accidentx
Check Your Progress 2
Check all the licences as well as fitness certificates for vehicles at homc, if any, and
see if they are valid. Pollution levels for motorized vehicles are commonly
monitored now.
 ANNEXURE 1
Methods of excreta disposal
The methods of excreta disposal usually aim at creating a sanitation barrier. The
most important step in such methods is to separate the faeces and see that it is
properly disposed so that the disease causing agent has no access to others in any
way. Let us now see what methods are being adopted in areas where a closed
drainage system is not available.
Sanitary Latrines :A sanitary latrine is one which fulfills the following
criteria
- Excreta should not contaminate the groundwater or surface water.
- Excreta should notpollutesoil.
- Excreta should not be accessible to vehicles of transmission Iike flies,
rodents and animals (pigs, dogs, cattle).
- Excreta should not create a nuisance due to odour or unsightly
appearance.
There are several types of sanitary latrines some of which are described below : R.C.C.SLAB

Bore Hole Latrine :The latrine consists of a circular hole 30 to 40 cms (12-16
inches) in diamefer, dug vertiklly into the ground to a depth of 6 metres(20') by a I
special equipment known as auger. In areas where soil is loose and sandy, the hole
is to be lined with bamboo matting or earthenware rings to prevent a collapse. A
concrete squatting plate with a central opening and foot rests is placed over the
hole. A suitable enclosure is raised for privacy. For a small family of 5 to 6 people
a bore hole latrine can serve for over a year. When the contents of the bore-hole
reach within SOcrns (20 inches) to ground level, the squatting plate is removed and
the hole is closed with earth. A new hole is dug and similarly used. The excreta
undergoes purification by anaerobic digestion and is converted into a harmless
: mass. Care should be taken to locate the bore 15 m (50') away from a source of

I
Bore Hole Latrine
" water supply to prevent risk of pollution. Because of beiter innovations, the bore
hole latrines are not very popular now.

r Plan fnr hnre-hnlp l a t r i n e 1

C
** 'it' .GJ:11. r,
. Entrance r-
Black
+% PLANT
Wind 1

-
trim :It is an improvement over the bore hole latrine. A circular pit
75 ems (30") in diameter and 3 to 3.5 m (lR12 it-)deep is dug In iOose and ~ u Well
g Lawine
*
'

a&y soil the depth may be reduced to 1.5 tO 2 m (6-7 it.) 'he pit may lined . 83
potlerl rings ~ p t ao level of hard soil lo prevent caving in of the
squatting plate is p \ ~ on~ the d top of the pit and a super S t ~ c t u r e
 erected for privacy. This type of latrine can last for about 5 years for a family of 5
persons. When the pit is filled-up a'new pit can be wed. Similar to bore hole latrine
the excreta in this type of latrine is also converted into a harmless mass by
anaerobic digestion.
Water Seal Latrine : This can be stated to be the safest and best suited to the rural
families. In this hand-flushed water seal latrine, the water seal fitted in the squatting
plate serves (i) to prevent access of the excreta to flies and (ii) to prevent excape of
odours and foul gases. Once latrine is flushed, the water remaining in the bent pipe
called trap renders the excreta no longer visible. Basing on this principle, various
prototypes of water seal latrines have been designed namely PRAI type and RCA
type. These latrines can be of a Direct type (Figure) where the squatting plate is
fixed directly on the dug well or an indirect type where the pit is sited away from
the squatting plate and connected by a connecting pipe. An advantage with the
indirect type is that when a pit fills-up a second pit can be commissioned by merely
changing the direction of the connecting pipe.
Maintenance of Latrines : If following precautions can be taken up, the life ot
any latrine can be extended :
- Except the excreta, no other refuse or debris should be disposed.
- Squatting plate should be kept clean and dry.
- Proper flusing of the lztrine should be done after each use.
Thus water seal type of latrines can be an efficient method of disposal of human
excreta and preventing risk to health in unsewered areas.
Septic Tank : It is a water tight masonry construction for the disposal of
household sewage. It is useful for a single or small groups of houses and
institutions with their own water supplies in areas not having facilitv of public
sewerage system.
The tank can be sigle chambered or multi chambered with a capacity of 20 to 30
gallons (2% to 5 cubic feet) per persons using the facility. The minimum capacity
recommenced for construction in 500 gallons. The length is usually twice the
breadth. Depth is usually 5 to 7 ft. while construction care is taken to leave a liquid
depth of 4 ft. and leave an air space of a minimum of 1 ft. between the level of the
liquid in the tank and the undersurface of the cover by placing the inlet and outlet
suitably. The bottom is kept sloping towards inlet end. Usually in our country the
septic lank is constructed in a way to allow a retention period of one day. It is
covered with a concrete slab provided with a man hole.
What happens in the septic tank?
The solids settle down forming what is called as 'sludge', while lighter material
floats to form the scum. Then the mechanism of purification starts. The anaerobic
bacteria and fungi act on the sludge breaking them into simpler chemical forms,
reducing its size and converting into a stable and inoffensive form. Part of it is
converted into liquid and gaseous (methane) form. The effluent passes through the
outlet pipe and contains a number of hacterial cysts and ova of parasites and some
organic matter.
It then percolates into the sub-soil in the surroundings. The aerobic bacteria in the
soil act on the organic material. By the process of oxidation it is then converted into
stable end products like nitrates, carbon dioxide and water.
Caution :

Soap and disinfectants should not be used to clean the toilet as they kill the
contenfi f septic sb~dd
bacterial flora 01 the seplic lank. lire 0 hnk be
Once a year for efficient working.