Unit 14 Safety First
Part Ⅰ Getting ready
Wherever you go, whatever you do, safety is always first. It is therefore important for us to be able to identify potential hazards and learn some ways of removing or remedying the problem.
A The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
1. adhesive dressing: sticky covering put on a wound to protect it while it heals
2. pillion rider: a person who sits behind the one controlling the motor-cycle
3. pinch: squeeze between the thumb and a finger
4. tilt: cause to slope, as by raising one end
5. publicize: make widely known to the public
6. fracture: a crack or break in something, especially a bone
7. vomit: eject part or all of the contents of the stomach through the mouth
8. anaesthetic: a substance that stops you feeling pain either in the whole of your body when you're unconscious or in a part of your body when you're awake
9. fatal: capable of causing death
10. exhaust: gas that is produced when the engine of a motor vehicle is running
When you run and play in the field, you may sometimes fall and bruise your knee. Small cuts and minor grazes are unavoidable in our daily life. Such cuts and grazes will usually need little or no treatment. The bleeding will clean the wound naturally, and it should stop within a few minutes, as the blood clots and dries. More serious cuts may need to be gently cleaned with soft cotton and warm water. They should then be dressed with a clean cotton bandage.
B You are going to hear a checklist of questions about simple first aid. Supply the missing words.
Follow this simple checklist of questions. Ask yourself each of these questions in order to make sure you treat cuts and grazes properly:
First. Is the cut on the _______? If it is, call a doctor as soon as possible-especially if the ________ is injured.
Second. Is the cut bleeding badly? If it is, put a clean piece of ________ wool over it and press down firmly for about _________ minutes.
Thirdly. Ask yourself if the cut is still bleeding _______. If it is, dress it with a clean cotton bandage and call a doctor as ________ as possible.
Fourthly. Is the cut a ________ one, and is it wide open? If it is, clean the cut _______, with clean cotton wool and a little warm water, then hold it ________ with an adhesive dressing.
Fifth question. Was the cut made by a _______ or a long, sharp piece of wood? If it was, there may be some ________ in the cut. Let it bleed for a while, to clean itself. Then clean it with cotton wool and warm water and dress it with a clean cotton ________.
Finally, don't forget that young ________ can become very easily upset or shocked by a cut-especially if it is a serious one. Try to keep them ________ and quiet. Don't give them anything to drink, but keep their lips ________ with a little water.
A bicycle is a very useful transportation tool. Cycling is also a good exercise for your health. Nevertheless, it is important to learn some knowledge to cycle safely. Always check the condition of your bicycle. Ride a bicycle which is of the right size and suitable for your cycling ability. Remember to keep your bicycle in a safe place and to lock it whenever it is left unattended. Observe all the traffic rules.
C You are going to hear someone giving you some advice on cycling. Supply the missing information.
Before you cycle
Check to see that your bicycle is in good working order before you use it, Check these things:
● Is the chain _________?
● Is the seat too high or too _________?
● Is there a _____________ at the rear?
● Are the ______________ well adjusted?
● Are the _________ pumped up?
● Does the bell _________?
● Do the brakes _________?
When you are cycling
● Ride safely ... not too _________.
● Use your brakes gently to control your _________.
● Ride carefully on _______ roads.
● Keep both ________ on the handlebars.
● Keep a __________ from other vehicles.
● Obey all traffic _________ on the road.
● Use a carrier or _________ to carry all packages.
● Watch out for doors ____________ when cycling near a parked vehicle.
● ___________ as you are approaching a junction.
● _______ the bell to let pedestrians know that you are coming.
● _____ clear hand signals.
Remember
● Never cycle ________ the flow of traffic.
● Never __________ a pillion rider on your bicycle.
part Ⅱ Kiss of life
Anyone whose breathing has stopped needs artificial respiration at once. Breathing can stop from one of many reasons: drowning, electric shock, poisoning, suffocation or a sudden illness such as a heart attack. Lack of oxygen can cause brain damage within only three to five minutes and longer oxygen starvation leads to death.
A You are going to hear someone telling you how to give artificial respiration. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the notes column. After the second listening, arrange the pictures in the correct order.
To check whether a person is breathing, you may put your ear close to his nose and mouth: you should be able to hear air passing in and out of his throat. Or you may put a mirror close to his lips: if he is breathing, the mirror mists over.
B Now try this: listen to an authentic version of a dialogue. A swimming instructor is demonstrating artificial respiration for two students. Listen carefully. Complete each step for artificial respiration.
● Get the person lying ___________. Check for breathing. Listen at ___________.
● Lift the neck ___________ and press down ___________.
● Pinch ___________ and keep ___________ on the forehead, with the other hand to keep ___________.
● Make ___________, Give ___________ as quickly as possible.
● Breathe ___________ and keep ___________.
Part Ⅲ Climbing
Mountain climbing is the sport of attaining high points in mountainous regions, mainly for the pleasure of the climb. It differs from other outdoor sports in that nature alone provides the field of action for the participant. Some people say climbing is safe, but others say it is a dangerous pastime. What do you think?
A The following words and phrase will appear in a radio feature. Listen to the words and phrase first. Study the definitions carefully.
1. Mont Blanc: a mountain, 4 810 meters high, in the Alps on the French-Italian border
2. massif: a large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range
3. ascent: an upward journey
4. staggering: surprising
5. bicentenary: a 200th anniversary or its celebration
6. Chamonix: a town in S. E. France, in the Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc
7. unforeseen: unexpected
8. gendarme: a member of French national police organization constituting a branch of the armed forces with responsibility for general law enforcement
9. footing: a secure placement of the feet in standing or moving
B Listen to this radio feature carefully. Pay attention to all the numbers and their relevant information. While listening for the first time, take down key words in the notes column. After the second listening, complete the chart.
Figures Relevant information
2 _________________________________
9 _________________________________
30 _________________________________
245 _________________________________
1000+ _________________________________
31 _________________________________
40 _________________________________
80% _________________________________
3/4 _________________________________
C Now listen to the radio feature again. Answer the questions. The words and phrases in the brackets may help you do the exercise.
(ascent/ unforeseen conditions/ waitress in Chamonix/ down the mountain/ slips/ weather conditions/ climbers themselves/ tired)
1. What happened in 1786?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
2. Who was the first woman to conquer the mountain? When?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
3. When do most of the accidents happen?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
4. What are some of the causes of accidents? What is the most common cause according to the speaker?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Part Ⅳ More about the topic: Treating Shock
When you suddenly have an experience which is unpleasant, upsetting, or very surprising, you have a shock. However, in medicine, shock is a serious physical condition in which your blood cannot circulate properly, for example, because you have had a bad injury.
The following passage gives you some hints on how to treat shock. Supply the missing words while listening.
Right, tonight we're going to look at the problem of shock. In medical terms, ______ isn't just emotional upset. It is a very definite physical condition in which the ______ and the circulation gradually lose _______ Gradually the patient becomes pale and cold, drowsy, and perhaps he or __________ even loses consciousness. Shock can result from all major __________ -bleeding, wounds, burns and fractures -and the speed of the patient's deterioration depends on the severity of the _______ So whenever someone has been badly injured, you must do ________ things: you must give specific help for the actual ________ itself, and you must also do something to halt or at least to try and ________ the shock process. Now here's one or two hints on ______ to do this.
First of all, you _______ move the patient unless you absolutely have to. If you're in a burning house or in the middle of a motorway, you'll have to ______ him, of course. But otherwise treat him where he is until the doctor or the ambulance _______. And the next thing to remember is that you should position the patient ______ down with his head low and his feet raised. This is to ______ the blood flow to the heart, lungs and brain. But _______, of course, be tempted to move any part that might be fractured. Be careful always of that. _________ any tight clothing, such as braces, belt, collar, or even-you'll be surprised to learn nowadays-corsets. This will ________ the patient more comfortable and allow him to ________ more easily.
Keep the patient warm by _________ a blanket or coat loosely over them. If he's lying on a cold surface, then try to _________ something underneath him as well. But again, do that very gently. _________ use hot-water bottles, because hot-water bottles actually _________ blood away from the internal organs towards the skin surface. So although that may sound like a commonsense thing to do, it actually ________.
Reassure the patient, this is very important, by being _________ yourself, confident, methodical and, above everything, sympathetic the whole time. Even if the patient seems to be _________, they may be able to hear any unfavorable comments you make, in _______ fact. And if he hears or sees you whispering, then he's bound to imagine the worst. He'll be in a very ________ state and this will make his condition _______ too.
And the final ______ to remember is that you must not give anything at all by ______. Any sort of drink, whether alcohol or tea or ______, may be vomited up, causing choking. And it may also complicate _________ if an anaesthetic is needed later in _________. So all the old wives' tales you've heard about administering brandy, forget them. If the ________ feels dry and he says he's thirsty, or you suspect that they may be thirsty, you can allow him to suck gently a ________ or a sponge moistened with water.
Part Ⅴ Memory test: Surviving in the Snow
It's not impossible for us to be stuck in bad weather some day like storms and snowfalls. Do you know how to deal with that?
The following radio feature gives you some advice on how to survive in the snow. Listen carefully. Decide whether the statements are true or false. Put "T" or "F" in the brackets.
( ) 1. According to the presenter, it is even more tragic when we consider most of the deaths could not be avoided.
( ) 2. Since the car is the most important piece of survival equipment, don't leave it unless you can see your destination.
( ) 3. If you know you're going to hit bad weather, remember to bring blankets, a sleeping bag and, ideally, hot drinks.
( ) 4. In order to keep the car ventilated, have the window on the side away from the wind open a little.
( ) 5. It's dangerous to use the car heater to keep warm because the exhaust can kill you in a few hours.
( ) 6. If you know you're setting off in bad weather, ring up your destination to the police in case something happens on the way.
Part Ⅵ Reminder of key points in this unit
Verb & Verb Phrase Noun & Noun Phrase Other
Part Ⅰ press down graze at the rear
keep a distance from cotton bandage upwards
approach adhesive dressing
pump up hand signal
adjust flow of traffic
pillion rider
junction
pedestrian
Part Ⅱ drain artificial respiration backwards
pinch nostril
tilt victim
take a deep breath
make a tight seal
seal off
keep a steady rhythm
Part Ⅲ give much publicity sporting activity due to
publicize massif unforeseen
take sufficient ac- nationality liable to
count of bicentenary
ascent
rescue operation
footing
slip
Part Ⅳ depend on fracture drowsy
lose consciousness deterioration pale
reassure circulation confident
vomit up hint methodical
halt choking sympathetic
suck anaesthetic the old wives' tales
moisten sponge
Part Ⅴ break down survival equipment in for
get caught destination away from
get lost drift fatal
suffocate snowfall apart from
ventilate sleeping bag
set off shovel
ring up hot drink
take a turn for exhaust fume
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