Let us overcome challenges
10 confronted in life
We confront various challenges in our daily life. Due to the changes that take place
during adolescence we face many challenges such as strong emotions, conflicts
caused by interpersonal relationships, diseases, accidents, natural disasters, sexual
abuse and delinquency. Having a proper understanding about these challenges help
us to identify them early, respond effectively and take measures to overcome
them. We have discussed some of these challenges in the previous grades.
We have learnt about certain challenges like diseases, changes taking place in
adolescence and social challenges which we naturally face in day-to-day life.
In this chapter we will learn about accidents related to sports and day-to-day
activities, natural disasters and sexual abuse. We will also learn about the measures
that should be taken to prevent such incidents and first aid that can be given to a
victim at such times.
Sports related injuries
Injuries caused by sports can be divided into two, namely, external injuries and
internal injuries. Although injuries are divided into two, in reality they can occur
simultaneously. This classification can be applied to other injuries, too.
table 10.1
External injuries Internal injuries
Bruises Injury to bones
Lacerations Injury to joints
Cuts Injury to muscles
Piercings Injury to ligaments
Blisters Injury to nerves and other
internal organs
Sports injuries can happen due to personal factors and external factors.
190
,Personal factors
• Level of physical fitness not adequate for the sport
• Participating in sports without warm up exercises
• Lack of proper training
• Not taking adequate time to recover after a sport
• Overtraining
• Adopting wrong training methods and techniques
• Taking part in activities that are not age appropriate
Poor physical health
• Not taking adequate amounts of water and food.
External factors
• Not wearing safety gear recommended for the sport
• Use of improper sports equipment
• Lack of standard playgrounds
• Not observing the rules of the game
• Environmental factors (e.g: extreme weather conditions)
Activity
Design a poster / leaflet giving instructions to pupils in order to raise awareness on
ways of minimizing sports injuries during the annual sports meet of your school.
External injuries
1. Bruises
Damage caused to the external surface of the skin is a bruise. A bruise can be
caused when the skin brushes against a rough surface like the ground, a sharp object
like the edge of a cable or a thorny bush. A bruise does not cause heavy bleeding.
Keeping the affected area clean with some simple treatment would heal the wound.
2. Lacerations
An irregular tear of the skin (including the full thickness of the skin) is called a
laceration. A laceration most often happens with a contusion of the skin that lies
just over a bone.
When treating a laceration, the injured area can be bandaged with a clean strip of
cloth in order to stop bleeding. Sometimes it may need suturing.
191
, 3. Cuts
A cut is caused by a sharp object. A cut can be either superficial or deep; a deep
cut may damage the internal organs. If the cut is deep the affected area should be
immobilized using a support to stop the bleeding.
4. Piercing
Piercing could be caused by a sharp tool or a pointed object. While the surface
wound caused by piercing may be small in area, the wound can go deep into the
body.
When the body is pierced, internal haemorrhage (internal bleeding) is most likely
to occur rather than external bleeding. Therefore it is very important that the patient
seeks medical treatment immediately. If the pointed object is still present in the
body, do not attempt to remove it . Seek immediate medical help from a hospital.
5. Contusions
In the case of a contusion, a greater damage could have happened to the organs in the
inner part of the affected area than what is seen superficially on the skin. Swelling
and reddening of the skin of the affected area could be noticed. A contusion could
cause severe pain. Fractures and internal bleeding are also possible.
A contusion can be caused by a fall or when hit with a blunt tool. PRICES protocol
(a method of immediate treatment for injury) can be used to minimize the effects
of a contusion.
6. Blisters
A blister is a painful red swelling on the skin that contains liquid usually formed
by burning or friction (e.g: by a new shoe or sports equipment or burn). Usually
a blister will heal on its own. However, if it is broken, it can get infected. Blisters
should not be covered tightly. Formation of blisters can be prevented by wearing
properly designed sportswear and using the same equipment both at practice and
the actual events.
Immediately after a burn injury, the affected area should be washed with flowing
water. It helps minimize the formation of blisters.
192
, • RICE treatment is a commonly used method of giving first aid for internal
injuries. PRICES treatment is a further development of the RICE method.
PRICES
P - Protection
R - Rest
I - Ice
C - Compression
E - Elevation
S - Support
Internal Injuries
1. Fractures
A fracture is the most common type of injury caused
to bones. Bones of the limbs and even the skull can
get fractured. A fracture may be open to the outside.
When a fracture is suspected, the affected area should
be kept immobilized and the patient taken to hospital
immediately.
Figure 10.1
2. Joint injuries
The most serious injury that can be caused to a joint is for it to get dislocated, i.e.,
the bones forming a joint suddenly get dislodged from their correct positions. When
a joint gets dislocated, the bones may fracture and ligaments may get damaged. In
the case of a dislocation, keep the affected joint immobilized and do not try to put
the bones back into place on your own. Take the patient immediately immobilized
to hospital for treatment by a professional.
3. Ligament injuries
Ligaments are strong strips of tissue in the body that connect bones together.
Ligaments can get damaged in an accident and consequent swelling, pain and
lack of proper functioning of the joint can be experienced. In the case of ligament
damage, the affected area should be kept immobilized, bandaged and in an elevated
position (PRICES treatment).
4. Muscle injuries
Piercing, contusions, cut injuries or fractures can cause injury to muscles. Muscles
193
10 confronted in life
We confront various challenges in our daily life. Due to the changes that take place
during adolescence we face many challenges such as strong emotions, conflicts
caused by interpersonal relationships, diseases, accidents, natural disasters, sexual
abuse and delinquency. Having a proper understanding about these challenges help
us to identify them early, respond effectively and take measures to overcome
them. We have discussed some of these challenges in the previous grades.
We have learnt about certain challenges like diseases, changes taking place in
adolescence and social challenges which we naturally face in day-to-day life.
In this chapter we will learn about accidents related to sports and day-to-day
activities, natural disasters and sexual abuse. We will also learn about the measures
that should be taken to prevent such incidents and first aid that can be given to a
victim at such times.
Sports related injuries
Injuries caused by sports can be divided into two, namely, external injuries and
internal injuries. Although injuries are divided into two, in reality they can occur
simultaneously. This classification can be applied to other injuries, too.
table 10.1
External injuries Internal injuries
Bruises Injury to bones
Lacerations Injury to joints
Cuts Injury to muscles
Piercings Injury to ligaments
Blisters Injury to nerves and other
internal organs
Sports injuries can happen due to personal factors and external factors.
190
,Personal factors
• Level of physical fitness not adequate for the sport
• Participating in sports without warm up exercises
• Lack of proper training
• Not taking adequate time to recover after a sport
• Overtraining
• Adopting wrong training methods and techniques
• Taking part in activities that are not age appropriate
Poor physical health
• Not taking adequate amounts of water and food.
External factors
• Not wearing safety gear recommended for the sport
• Use of improper sports equipment
• Lack of standard playgrounds
• Not observing the rules of the game
• Environmental factors (e.g: extreme weather conditions)
Activity
Design a poster / leaflet giving instructions to pupils in order to raise awareness on
ways of minimizing sports injuries during the annual sports meet of your school.
External injuries
1. Bruises
Damage caused to the external surface of the skin is a bruise. A bruise can be
caused when the skin brushes against a rough surface like the ground, a sharp object
like the edge of a cable or a thorny bush. A bruise does not cause heavy bleeding.
Keeping the affected area clean with some simple treatment would heal the wound.
2. Lacerations
An irregular tear of the skin (including the full thickness of the skin) is called a
laceration. A laceration most often happens with a contusion of the skin that lies
just over a bone.
When treating a laceration, the injured area can be bandaged with a clean strip of
cloth in order to stop bleeding. Sometimes it may need suturing.
191
, 3. Cuts
A cut is caused by a sharp object. A cut can be either superficial or deep; a deep
cut may damage the internal organs. If the cut is deep the affected area should be
immobilized using a support to stop the bleeding.
4. Piercing
Piercing could be caused by a sharp tool or a pointed object. While the surface
wound caused by piercing may be small in area, the wound can go deep into the
body.
When the body is pierced, internal haemorrhage (internal bleeding) is most likely
to occur rather than external bleeding. Therefore it is very important that the patient
seeks medical treatment immediately. If the pointed object is still present in the
body, do not attempt to remove it . Seek immediate medical help from a hospital.
5. Contusions
In the case of a contusion, a greater damage could have happened to the organs in the
inner part of the affected area than what is seen superficially on the skin. Swelling
and reddening of the skin of the affected area could be noticed. A contusion could
cause severe pain. Fractures and internal bleeding are also possible.
A contusion can be caused by a fall or when hit with a blunt tool. PRICES protocol
(a method of immediate treatment for injury) can be used to minimize the effects
of a contusion.
6. Blisters
A blister is a painful red swelling on the skin that contains liquid usually formed
by burning or friction (e.g: by a new shoe or sports equipment or burn). Usually
a blister will heal on its own. However, if it is broken, it can get infected. Blisters
should not be covered tightly. Formation of blisters can be prevented by wearing
properly designed sportswear and using the same equipment both at practice and
the actual events.
Immediately after a burn injury, the affected area should be washed with flowing
water. It helps minimize the formation of blisters.
192
, • RICE treatment is a commonly used method of giving first aid for internal
injuries. PRICES treatment is a further development of the RICE method.
PRICES
P - Protection
R - Rest
I - Ice
C - Compression
E - Elevation
S - Support
Internal Injuries
1. Fractures
A fracture is the most common type of injury caused
to bones. Bones of the limbs and even the skull can
get fractured. A fracture may be open to the outside.
When a fracture is suspected, the affected area should
be kept immobilized and the patient taken to hospital
immediately.
Figure 10.1
2. Joint injuries
The most serious injury that can be caused to a joint is for it to get dislocated, i.e.,
the bones forming a joint suddenly get dislodged from their correct positions. When
a joint gets dislocated, the bones may fracture and ligaments may get damaged. In
the case of a dislocation, keep the affected joint immobilized and do not try to put
the bones back into place on your own. Take the patient immediately immobilized
to hospital for treatment by a professional.
3. Ligament injuries
Ligaments are strong strips of tissue in the body that connect bones together.
Ligaments can get damaged in an accident and consequent swelling, pain and
lack of proper functioning of the joint can be experienced. In the case of ligament
damage, the affected area should be kept immobilized, bandaged and in an elevated
position (PRICES treatment).
4. Muscle injuries
Piercing, contusions, cut injuries or fractures can cause injury to muscles. Muscles
193
