20 I can talk about injuries
A Burns and cuts
Hold
the affected area under running water1 for 15 minutes. Cover
it with a dry, clean dressing2 to prevent infection. If symptoms of infection develop, see your
doctor.
Wash
and dry your hands thoroughly. Clean
the wound under running water. Dry
the area, and put a dressing over it temporarily while you clean the skin around the wound. Cover the cut completely with a
dressing, or bandage3 it.
It should heal up in a few days.
Glossary
cover sth
put sth over sth. especially to protect it.
prevent sth
stop sth from happening. prevention N.
infection an illness caused by bacteria or a virus.
symptom a change in your body which is a sign of
illness.
develop grow or increase.
thoroughly in a very careful and complete way.
wound an area of damage to part of your body
(especially a cut).
temporarily for a short time only.
heal OR heal up become healthy again.
B A nasty injury
The other day I slipped1 and fell backwards and banged my elbow2 on the ground.
I
started to feel dizzy3 and then I fainted4. I was unconscious for a minute or so.
When
I came round, my arm was very
painful. It was quite swollen and bruised5, but it wasn’t bleeding. I realized it was a serious injury, so I went to hospital.
Glossary
nasty very bad or unpleasant.
injury an area of damage done to sb’s body,
especially in an accident. injure V.
backward(s) in the direction behind you. OPP forward(s).
bang sth hit a part of your body against sth when you
are moving.
dizzy feeling as if everything is turning around and
you might fall.
unconscious in a state like sleep, often caused by an
injury. OPP conscious.
come round become conscious again. OPPS faint, pass out.
swollen larger than usual because of an injury.
bleed lose blood from your body.
6 ABOUT YOU Which of the following have you done or
experienced? Tick them.
1 had a swollen eye.
2 fainted in a public place.
3 had a serious injury.
4 slipped and fallen into a river.
5 had a nasty burn on your arm.
6 lost quite a lot of blood in an accident.
