SCD- english-HR-DRAFT4_Optimize

CGPriuvoiidtleection



Table of Contents Preparation for an Emergency................................... 7
Early Warning System...............................................12
Protecting your home and workplace from attacks...... 14

Sandbagging (house/wall)....................................17
Immediate Actions on Hearing a Warning................ 20
Protection from heavy artillery and small arms fire....... 22
After an incident....................................................... 24
Preparing for Evacuation.......................................... 26
Mine Risk Education................................................ 28
Chemical Attack.
...................................................... 33
Fire Safety.................................................................36
Road Safety.............................................................. 40
Siege Preparation..................................................... 41
Health....................................................................... 42

Emergency First Aid............................................ 43
Water and Sanitation........................................... 48
Prevent Dehydration............................................ 53
Oral Hygiene........................................................ 53
Dealing with extreme cold and hot temperatures..... 54
Mental Health...................................................... 56
SCD Contact Information......................................... 60
Quiz.......................................................................... 62

SCD Team Illustration

INTRODUCTION The Syria Civil Defense’s
number one priority is the
protection of civilians from
the dangers of war. Civil
Defense teams are neutral
and do not follow any po-
litical, religious, or military
group. SCD has different roles in the com-
munity including: marking areas contaminat-
ed by unexploded ordnance, assisting with
evacuations, search and rescue, awareness
raising, fire-fighting, and basic medical assis-
tance in emergency situations.

This guide provides information on how to
protect your home and your family from haz-
ards. Seek out your local SCD team if you
have questions.

Fill out the card on the back and keep them
in your pocket at all times. Do the same for
your family members.

Download the SCD application on your android phone for
additional information from SCD on how to protect yourself.
Go to Google Play Store and look for "The White Helmets"
application to download.

Or scan the
QR code

1 Preparation for
an Emergency

Preparation for an emergency

Before an attack or any emergency, prepare
yourself, family, and community.
Coordination and Preparation is Essential

1 Ensure that every High 2
member of your Risk
family has access
to
warning information A
and knows what to
do when they hear a B
warning.

2 React every time
you hear a siren
or warning. Take
warnings seriously,
even if they are
frequent.

Risk scale in C
becoming a
victim D

High Risk Low Risk Low
Risk
A - Standing in an open
space or in the street 8

B - Lying down in an
open space or in the
street

C - Lying down behind
lower grounds or
behind a closed door

D - Lying down in an
underground shelter
in your house or
a shelter with no
windows

36

3 Practice drills with your 6 Talk to the teachers 8 See the cards at the
family to determine at your child’s school end of the guide. Fill
each person’s role in about their emergency out the information,
an emergency. plans. Release cut out the card, and
students from school ensure everyone in
4 Choose a meeting at staggered times. your household carries
location that everyone it around.
knows and is 7 Keep several forms of
comfortable with. contact information 8
in multiple places in
5 Practice disaster drills case your phone is
in the community so not working or you
that everyone does lose it. All of your
not run to one shelter children should have
at the same time. This this information in case
could also create a you get separated.
gathering of people
that may be attacked.

5

9

Preparation for an emergency

9 If you live in an 9
apartment building,
coordinate with your 10
neighbors before
an incident occurs. 13 Identify safe places
In a conventional along your daily route
strike, it is advised such as basements
to go to lower floors so that you can
or to a basement or run to the nearest
shelter. In the event one if there is an
of a chemical attack, emergency.
it is advised to find
higher ground if 13
you cannot escape
the contaminated
area completely.
This requires
communication,
cooperation, and
planning with your
neighbors.

10 Put your glasses
in an eyeglass case
next to you when you
sleep, this can prevent
them from breaking
and throwing you into
a panic.

11 Keep a flash light
nearby when you
sleep.

12 Plan your movements
so that you are not
exposed for too long.


10

14 Prepare an An emergency bag should include :
emergency bag!
Pack an emergency A Plenty of water
bag in case you have B High-energy food (like nuts and or dates)
to evacuate or move C Communication equipment such as a
to a shelter or safe
place. Keep this bag portable radio (solar, wind-up, or with extra
near an exit or near batteries), walkie talkie, satellite phone, and
your person so that mobile phone if you have one
you can reach it in an D First aid supplies and prescription medications
emergency. E Flashlight (solar, wind-up, or with extra batteries)
F Pocket knife
E G Matches and/or a lighter
H Candles
I I Extra clothing (a jacket, a change of under
clothing and socks, sturdy shoes)
J Emergency blanket
K Necessary personal toiletries
L Assistive devices
M Emergency contact information (phone
numbers and email address in case your
phone is lost, broken, or you cannot charge it)
N Copies of vital records and documents
O Cash

C A
G

O
JD

First Aid

11

2 Early Warning
System

Early Warning System

What is Sentry? You can get warnings
Sentry is an early warning system for airstrikes via FB Messenger in
against civilians in Syria. It disseminates warnings one of two ways:
regarding military aircraft sightings in Syria prior to
airstrikes in order to alert civilians and reduce the 1 Send a message to our
number of casualties. Sentry is a service provided by homepage on Facebook
Syrian Civil Defense (SCD).

How does Sentry work?
2 Search for
Sentry securely aggregates validated aircraft "Sentry Syria" account
observations from trained civilian observatories, within "FB Messenger"
processes and predicts the potential target location and start a conversation
and the arrival time of the aircraft, and then with it.
publishes the relevant warnings as fast as possible.
You will then be taken to the
How are Sentry alerts being published?
service subscription interface,
Warnings are currently being disseminated via social which will help you identify
media (Facebook - Facebook Page and Facebook and sign up for the region(s)
Messenger, Twitter, and location-specific Telegram for which you wish to receive
channels), Radio Fresh station, and in the future via warnings.
SCD sirens. A specialized monitoring team validates
the published warnings 24/7.

How do you access Sentry warnings?
For access to Sentry warnings, go to our Facebook homepage (Sentry Syria):
https://www.facebook.com/Sentry.Syria. There you will find a list of all region-
specific Telegram channels for which Sentry currently sends warnings.

13

3 Protecting
your home
and workplace
from attacks

Protecting your home and workplace from attacks

1 Create a family safe 1
room. Locate a place
in your home away
from exterior walls,
windows, and stored
fuel. If possible, stay
near a stairwell and
on the bottom floor or
basement.

Take fur-
niture, appliances, and
any glass or ceramic
out of your safe room.

2 Create a safe hav- 3 Glass windows should 5 Hang heavy curtains
en. This is especially be removed and that reach the floor in
important for families replaced with nylon. If windows to prevent fly-
living in single story possible, cover win- ing glass and debris in
buildings without a dows with timber or the event of an attack.

basement or internal sandbags.
rooms. 6 Keep objects and
4 Eliminate as much furniture at least 30cm
Go to your SCD center glass and sharp ob- away from walls. These
for a step by step guide jects as possible inside become secondary
to build a safe haven. the home. fragments under the
blast pressure of an
5 explosion.

6

30 cm

15

Protecting your home and workplace from attacks

7 Do not store fuel 7
directly outside your
house.
If you must,
keep fuel as far away
from the bedroom and
kitchen as possible.

8 Place sandbags
around your generator
or fuel drum (see page
X for how to stack
sandbags).

9 Ensure that there is
proper ventilation in the
home especially in the
winter.

10 10 Build trenches if you

live or work in the open
or in the countryside.

11 Sandbags or earth
bund walls around the
perimeter of a building
may also help to absorb
some of the secondary
fragments and blast if
constructed correctly
(see page X).

For more information on protecting your home, visit
your local SCD center to retrieve a step by step guide to
building the designs listed above to protect your home.
You can also download the SCD application!

16

Sandbagging (house/wall)

Sandbags will not protect you from everything
but they can absorb the damaging effects of
blast, small arms fire, and secondary fragments
from explosive hazards if constructed properly
and placed strategically around the structures
and objects you wish to protect.

These rules will ensure that the construction is
strong. If you take short-cuts or ignore these
rules, you may put lives in danger.

Basic sandbag construction

The basic materials
are:

1 Sandbags preferably 3 2
60cm by 30cm. Hes- 4
sian bags are preferred
because they are more
resilient to UV light
than polypropylenese.

Use material that you
know is strong especial-
ly if you are not mixing
sand with cement.

2 Shovels.

3 String. (optional) 1

4 Sand or earth material
(less than 2mm)

17

Sandbagging (house/wall)

5 Use a 1 to 4 ratio for 5
the slope of a sandbag
wall to keep it from trenches
falling over.

If sandbags are not
available, receptacles
such as boxes, baskets,
sacks and oil drums can
be filled with sand, earth,
or rubble.

It is not necessary but
your structure will last
much longer if cement is
used.

Cement can be mixed
with the material used to
fill the bags. A ration of
1 part cement to 8 parts
sand is sufficient. The
mixture sets as the bag
absorbs moisture.

A Fill the bags with sand
up to two-thirds full
only. Do not overfill
sandbags.

B Tie the necks or fold
over the extra mate-
rial if you do not have
string.


C Lay the sandbags so
that neither the necks
nor the seams are on
the outer face of the
wall.


D Tuck in the unfilled
end of each bag as
you lay it.

E After laying them
down, beat the bag
with a board or shovel
to make sure it is
steady and compact.

18

Sandbag Design 1 To build corners, follow the diagram below. If they are not
constructed properly, the structure will be weakened.
This design when done
under the following Layers 1,3,5 etc... Layers 2,4,6 etc...
specifications will be
slightly stronger than Headers Stretchers Bag sizes:
Design Two. Full bag = 0.6 x 0.3 x 0.1m
3/4 bag = 0.4 x 0.3 x 0.1 m
A The first layer consists
of sandbags laid per- 3/4 3/4
pendicular to the wall 3/4 3/4
you are creating.
Headers
B In the second layer,
the sandbags are laid
lengthways along the
wall.

C Stagger the joints of
the sandbags.

D The third layer will
consist of sandbags
placed perpendicu-
lar and then a layer
lengthwise along the
wall and so on.

Stretchers

Sandbag Design 2 Use these same techniques if you are building a safe
haven for you and your family or protecting an oil drum or
A Lay sandbags parallel. generator.
Stagger the joints of
the sandbags in a design 2
“brick pattern”
19
B Do not place the open
end of the sandbag at
the outer edge of the
wall

C Ensure the slope is 1
to 4 as shown in the
picture as you stack
the sandbags to a
maximum height of
1.5 meters

4 Immediate
Actions on
Hearing a
Warning

Immediate Actions on Hearing a Warning

If you are indoors: 2 9

1 Do not go outside If you are in a car: 13 Put your hands over
your ears
2 Stay calm and turn off 9 Turn off the engine, get
any open flames you out of the car, run into 14 Close your eyes
are using. a building or shelter if 15 Open your mouth
there is one nearby.
3 Move to lower floors slightly
10 If you are not near a
4 Take shelter in your building, turn off the 11
safe haven engine, get out, and
assume the “drop,
5 If you do not have cover and hold on
a basement or safe position.”
haven, stay in a room
away from external 11 ‘Drop, cover and
walls, furniture, mirrors, hold on.’ This position
dishes, appliances, attempts to protect
gas, and other items you from the worst and
that could become most-common injuries,
secondary fragments by protecting your
and injure you. head, neck and throat.

6 Stay away from 12 Pull your hands,
windows. arms, feet and legs
together
If you are outside:

7 Move into a building
basement, first floor, or
trench if close by.

8 Get low and protect
your neck and head.

7

21

5 Protection
from heavy
artillery and
small arms fire

Protection from heavy artillery and small arms fire

Artillery and mortars are indirect fire weapons.
If you hear or see artillery fire, remember that it
may be the first round of a series. Do not wait
for the next shells before taking cover.

air raid many targets

In Aleppo, people sewed 2
together bed sheets to
cover entire streets to
protect people from sniper
fire. While a bullet can
easily penetrate a sheet, it
stops the sniper from ever
focusing on a target.

Avoiding small 4 If you are in a building, 7 Do not be tempted to
arms fire stay there! look up to see what is
If you are in a going on. A sniper may
dangerous area: 5 Do not look out the be waiting for visible
window. movement. Instead, af-
1 Drop ter taking cover, crawl
2 Take cover 6 Lie down or crawl to a few meters away
3 Stay covered a place where there while maintaining your
are at least two walls cover.
between you and the
direction of gunfire.

23

6 After an
incident

After an incident

If you are trapped: 1 If you are near an
area that has been
1 Do not keep shouting attacked:
as this will exhaust
3 Do not crowd around
you. Instead, make Syria Civil Defence as
they work. This area
large noises by using could be struck again.
Wait at least 20 min-
something solid to hit utes before approach-
ing an attack site.
the door or walls to let
4 Stay off the site. The
people know where weight of additional
people could lead the
you are. Pending changes structure to collapse.

If there is a fire: 5 If you are not involved
in the rescue effort or
2 Cover your mouth assisting SCD, stay
and nose with cloth away from the area
and crouching down and encourage others
as low as possible as to do the same.
you escape. If you are
unable to see because
of smoke, follow the
wall to find an exit.

2 5
Pending changes

Many SCD members
have been killed in
“double tap” strikes.
Remember, the attack
might not be over. The
attacker might be waiting
for people to congregate
after the first strike to hit
the area again.

25

7 Preparing for
Evacuation

Preparing for Evacuation

1 Confirm the safety of 3 6
your family.
3 9 Access to a smart-
2 Check the inside of the phone, radio, and
house. 7 Before making a move trusted social media
and in transit, try to may provide the warn-
3 Confirm that all pos- gather information ings you need.
sible sources of fire about the safety of the
are off including circuit route and destination. 10 Ask SCD if their
breakers, generators, members have safety
electrical appliances, 8 Use a battery-powered advice about the route
and gas valve. A small (or rechargeable) radio and destination.
flame could cause a and call people you
fire if the gas pipe is know at your destina-
broken and an electri- tion for advice.
cal appliance switched
on could cause a fire
when power is restored.

4 Take an emergency
bag with you.

5 Make a list with your
family of the people
you need to contact
about your departure.
In an emergency, you
may be too distressed
to remember every-
thing.

6 Lock your door when
you leave.

47

27

8 Mine Risk
Education

Mine Risk Education

There are 1,500 casualties monthly from explosive
remnants of war around the world. Mines and un-
exploded munitions remain a threat long after the
conflict is over. Even if you have touched or seen
others touch unexploded ordnance or mines with-
out being harmed, this does not mean that they
are not dangerous! The next time you touch one,
could be your last.
There are many different kinds of munitions and
explosive devices. Anti-personnel mines are typi-
cally designed to blow off a foot. A cluster bomblet
picked up by an inquisitive child will result in upper
limb and face injuries and possibly death.

A Unexploded Ordnance B Unexploded Ordnance C Bounding Mine.They can
found in Syria Found in Syria be many colors including
green, metal colored,
yellow, and brown.

D Improvised Explosive E Anti-Vehicle Mine F Anti-Personnel Mine
Device Found in Syria 29 Found in Syria

Mine Risk Education

Explosive remnants of war
may be partially hidden
as well.

1 Improvised explosive G Unexploded Ordnance H Common Anti-Personnel
devices, unexploded Found in Syria Mine Found in Syria
ordnance, and mines
come in many shapes 8 10
and sizes.
7 Areas of recent air strikes
2 They can be made of 8 Border areas
metal, plastic and 9 Dead animals (could
wood.
be an IED or could be
3 They can be detonated Always make sure you an indicator that the
in many ways as well. stay alert for suspicious area is contaminated)
UXO might explode objects or in suspicious 10 Areas where you see
through touch and areas such as: the earth has been dis-
extreme temperature. turbed. It could be from
IEDs might be remotely 4 Abandoned homes a recent explosion.
detonated. 11 Seemingly innocent
5 Abandoned military
Ask people where the bases and frontlines objects in an odd area
dangers are especially if
you are entering a new 6 Overgrown grass 11
area or returning home
after a long absence. For
more information, ask
your local SCD center.

69

30

12 14

Ask people in your area
what the local signage
is and ask where con-
taminated areas are.

Official and unofficial 17 24 Do not throw water
markings signifying on it or try to burn the
a contaminated area If you see anything area around it.
include: strange, that could be
an explosive remnant of 25 Mentally note the
12 A skull sign war: area and inform SCD.
19 Stay calm.
13 Sticks coming out of 20 Do not get near it. 26 If possible, make an
the ground (may have 21 Do not touch it. improvised marker to
a piece of cloth tied 22 Do not step on it. warn others and help
to it) 23 Do not kick it. SCD find the item. Do
this away from the
14 A manmade pile of item and do not put
rocks yourself in any danger
when doing so.
15 Plastic bottle or can
on a stick

16 Tape (can be red and
white or not)

17 Spray painted signs
indicating danger or
simply an X

18 Red painted rocks

Even people considered
experts could engage in
risky behaviors. Regard-
less of what others tell
you, protect yourself and
your family by following
this safety advice. Kids,
do not be afraid to tell
your parents what you
have learned!

31

Mine Risk Education

27 Tread carefully when 20
leaving the area. If 22
there is one cluster
bomb, there are
usually many. They
could be spread out
over the equivalent
of two to four football
fields. IEDs may also
be connected to oth-
er devices that you
cannot see.

28 Stay on the well- 28
trodden road as it is
a better indicator that
the road is safe to
use. Off road could
be laid with mines or
UXO.

29 If there is a road
block, do not go
around or over it.
Reverse back on the
road you came from
and find another safe
route whether you are
on foot or driving a
vehicle.

SCD teams are specially 29
trained and equipped to
mark and safely destroy
many of these muni-
tions. Do not mimic their
behaviors.

32

9 Chemical
Attack

Chemical Attack

Can you depict gases being heavier
than surrounding air somehow? Other
drawings similar to one from previous
guide above.

Chemical agents are generally liquids, often
aerosolized, which may have immediate
effects or be delayed for a few hours.
Protection of breathing airways is extremely
important if chemical or biological agents are
present.

Warning Signs of an Attack or Incident

Indicators of a chemi- Symptoms include: There are many chem-
cal attack include: 6 Constricted breathing ical and biological
1 Unusual dead or dying 7 Red eyes and agents that could be
used as a weapon, but
animals in the area excessive tearing we can make the fol-
2 Unusual liquid sprays 8 Excessive saliva lowing generalizations
for your protection:
or vapors
10 Seek medical atten-
3 Unexplained odors 9 Convulsions tion immediately even
(smell of bitter almonds, if exposure is limited.
newly mown hay) 7
11 If you are in the open,
4 People displaying evacuate the area
symptoms of nausea, upwind of the attack,
difficulty breathing, cover your mouth and
convulsions, or disori- nose with your sleeve
entation or any piece of cloth.

5 Gas clouds that may
be green or yellow.

34

12 Many chemical 11
agents are heavier 13
than air and stay
close to the ground. 14
If you cannot imme- 17
diately evacuate the
area, move to higher
ground.

13 Scrub your skin with
large amounts of
warm soapy water
or a mixture of 10
parts water to 1 part
bleach (10:1).

14 If water is not avail-
able, sprinkle talcum
powder liberally over
the affected skin area,
wait 30 seconds, and
brush off with a rag
or gauze pad. The
powder absorbs the
agent so it must be
brushed off complete-
ly. If available, rubber
gloves should be
used when carrying
out this procedure.

15 In extremis, rub dry
earth on the skin, or
take clothes off and
roll around in the
dirt, then wash and
change clothing.

16 Cover arms and legs
and make sure any
cuts or abrasions are
covered or ban-
daged.

17 Destroy heavily con-
taminated clothing by
incinerating it. Put on
clean clothing.


35

10 Fire
Safety

Fire Safety

You can take simple steps to prevent
a fire from starting.

Fire prevention 5
checklist:

1 Put out cigarettes in a
closed container with
a little water in it to
ensure that it is extin-
guished.

1 5 Containers of water 7 Do not store fuel/gas
are not located near near living areas.
2 Carpet or furniture is electrical appliances.
not covering power 8 Turn off electricity and
cords.
6 Propane gas tanks close windows and
are fixed with chains doors.
3 Electrical appliances to prevent them from
not in use are un- falling over. 9 Ensure that the kitchen
plugged.
stove area is not
6 cluttered and has no
4 Do not leave loose flammable objects.

wires in sockets. Take measures to
prevent the stove from
falling over.

10 Check that the gas
hose is not degraded.

11 Remove flammable
objects from around
an oil stove.


12 Do not dry clothes
closer than a meter
from a heater.

37

Fire Safety

13 Keep floor coverings In a camp setting 21 Store gas canisters
and curtains away away from living
from the source of In a camp, fires can spaces.
heat. spread quickly as they
have the oxygen they 22 Get a phone number
14 Secure candles on a need to grow. Addition- for a local rescue
stable platform and ally, most tents in Syria team like SCD in
keep them away from are not fire resistant. case a fire breaks
curtains. out.
18 Make sure that there
15 Do not place flam- are 5 meters between On farmland
mable objects in you and the next tent.
locations that could If this is not possible, 23 Never refuel equip-
be evacuation routes try to maximize the ment with the engine
such as the hallways amount of space. running.
or stairs.
19 Keep control of 24 Allow hot engines to
16 When you hear a fires for cooking or cool for 15 minutes
warning siren, turn anything else. Do not before refueling.
off the gas stove or place them close to
put out a flame in use the tent. 25 Carry 4 gallons of
before taking cover. water to use if a fire
20 Put out cigarettes in a ignites.
17 Ensure that you turn glass or metal recep-
the gas valve or fire tacle with a little water 26 Do not smoke near
off before evacuating in it to ensure that the equipment. Put ciga-
the house. embers are out. rettes out safely in a
receptacle with some
water.

CAMP
SETTING

38

Farmers in Syria lost thousands of hectares of crops to
fires. The ongoing drought exacerbates the spread of these
fires. It is hard to prevent crop fires caused by explosive
weapons, but you can leave 9 meters of mowed grass, bare
ground, or rock to create a solid fire break. This will help
to compartmentalize the fire so that you do not lose your
whole crop.

Do not touch bare 27
wires or power lines
27 If you see dangerous
Electricity could be lines getting in your
flowing through broken path or becoming
or sagging power lines, dangerous for your
posing the danger of children, tell your
electrocution. Do not local authorities or
go near such lines and SCD.
never touch one. The
same follows if trees or
signs are touching the
power line.

39

11 Road
Safety

Always wear a seatbelt. Seatbelts have greatly
reduced head, face, and chest injuries.

At checkpoints:

1 Approach slowly.

2 At night, if your Not in Document
headlights are on, dip
your headlights well in
advance of the check-
point.

3 Change to side lights if
possible.

4 Switch on your inside At new or improvised road-blocks:
light so they can see
that you pose no Stop short of the checkpoint. Wait to see what is going
threat. on. Is other traffic passing through the road-block? How
are the occupants of the vehicles being treated as they
5 Always try to avoid pass through? Ask people in other vehicles who mans the
driving at night. checkpoint and if it is safe to proceed. If it is not safe, you
may be able to turn back before being noticed.

40

12 Siege
Preparation

Throughout the conflict, some areas have either
been completely besieged or a cut in supply
lines have made acquiring supplies more difficult
or expensive. Stay prepared by always having
extra commodities on hand.

Stockpiling 3 Extra one month of 10 Diapers (or plastic
prescription or essen- bags and napkins for
In times when you have tial medication avail- emergency diapers
access to food, medi- able especially if you do
cine, and water, it is time not have enough wa-
to stockpile. In the event 4 Flashlight and extra ter to clean nappies)
that you can no longer batteries
access certain goods, Store water
use perishable food first 5 Candles
and then move on to dry 6 Food that does not A bathtub can usually
goods and non-perish- hold about 180 liters of
able foods. require cooking (cans water. If water is stored
and jars) in the bathtub, it can be
Maintain: used for domestic pur-
7 Bleach or chlorine poses such as laundry,
1 12 (2 liter) bottles avail- tablets for disinfecting cleaning, and toilets. If
able for each person in water you do not have a tub
the house for drinking or bottles, put a clean
8 Tissues or napkins plastic bag inside a box
2 5 kilos of pulses and (about 12 rolls) and fill it with water.
dry beans
9 Powdered infant formula

41

13 Health

Emergency First Aid

This section will provide you with basic first aid
information in the event of an emergency. If the
situation is severe, ensure that the patient gets
to a medical professional as soon as possible.

1 If the injured person is 3 When calling for help, These steps can save a
conscious, try to com- the information you life until help comes.
fort them as much as need to convey is:
possible. Tell them that 4 Severe bleeding can
help is on the way. A the exact location be life threatening
The most common
2 In the event of an B the type of incident cause of avoidable
attack, someone may C the hazards (such as a death is bleeding from
have multiple injuries wounds on limbs. This
but blood and dust mine field or sniper area) can be preventable if
can cover external and D the access (is the road you follow the rules set
internal injuries. Do not out below.
try to do more that you blocked?)
are capable of. You E the number of casualties 5 General treatment
may do more harm F emergency response Directly apply sterile
than good. gauze or a clean cloth
you require to the bleeding and
compress strongly
1 with your hand or a
bandage. The size
of the cloth should
be large enough to
completely cover the
wound. In order to
prevent infection, put
a plastic bag over your
hand if possible.

43

Emergency First Aid

6 Degree of bleeding A
and treatment
Not in Document
A Venous bleeding
When blood is dark
red and flows out
continuously, bleeding
is from a vein. Firmly
press a bandage on
the wound to stop the
bleeding.

B Arterial bleeding B
When the blood is
bright red and spurts Not in Document
out, it is arterial
bleeding and must be C
stopped immediately.
Call for an ambulance Not in Document
or medical help since
profuse bleeding could
result in death quickly.

B1 Cover the wound
with a thick piece of
gauze or clean cloth

B2 Apply direct pressure artery at the center of stop naturally. Treat
to the wound to stop the inner side of the by washing with clean
the bleeding upper arm. water and applying
a bandage. Apply
B3 If that does not stop B5 For leg bleeding, moderate pressure to
the bleeding, press straighten the bleed- the wound to stop the
down hard on the ing leg and strongly bleeding.
artery between the press down at the
injury and the heart. groin using your fist. Always keep the wound
clean and covered to
B4 For bleeding from the C Capillary bleeding prevent infection and
lower portion of the Bleeding from capil- disease transmission.
arm, use your thumb lary veins will usually
to strongly press the

44

Burn degree

Degree Layer of skin Appearance of skin Symptom
damaged

First epidermis Skin is red Painful, tender and sore

Second dermis Skin is red and appears Strong pain and a burning
Third swollen; blisters may sensation. If the burn is deep-
form. er, the pain and sensation of
the skin is diminished.
Subcutaneous fat Skin is dry and leath-
tissue ery. It might be white No pain or sensation in the
and charred in some area with 3rd degree burns but
areas. the area around it may still be
painful

7 First Aid for Burns C Clothing catching C4 Try to remove the
fire clothing on fire.
In general, cool area with
clean water and cover C1 If your clothing C5 Roll around.
area with wet clean cloth catches fire, do not C6 Beat your body.
run. C7 Pour water over
A Minor Burns
If the burn covers less C2 Stay where you are. yourself.
than 10 percent of the C3 Drop to the floor or
body (the area of the
palm of your hand is ground.
about 1 percent of the
body surface), cool If someone else’s clothing has caught fire, pour water
with clean water for on them or cover the person with natural fiber clothes
over 15 minutes until like cotton or wool to extinguish the fire. Any synthetic
the pain eases. material could melt on the skin.

B Severe burns C#
Cool the burned area
with water over the Not in Document
clothes. Cover the
burn with clean thick
cloth such as towels,
to protect from pres-
sure and friction. See
a doctor as soon as
possible.

45

Emergency First Aid

8 Exposure to C Cover small burning
incendiary weapons particles with wet ster-
ile gauze or any clean
If incendiary weapons cloth or towel soaked
such as white phospho- in water. Ensure it is
rous, napalm or thermite clean water as risk of
are suspected: infection is high.

B Remove all clothing
and large particles
using a metal object
like a blunt knife.

A Put the casualty E1 D Change the dressing
downwind of you E3 every 3 - 5 minutes to
and be careful not to remove any burning
get burning particles E2 material until the
on yourself. casualty gets to a
E4 medical facility.
E8
E6 E9 46 E If clean, the following
items could be used
E5 E7 for bandages or
compressors:

E1 Scarf
E2 Handkerchief
E3 Necktie
E4 Curtains
E5 Underwear
E6 Disposable diapers
E7 Sanitary napkins
E8 Plastic wrap
E9 Tights

9 Exposure to 10 First-Aid for and the joints on both
chemicals Fractures and sides of the fracture
Sprains with a cloth.
When the skin has
come in contact with a A Try not to move the E Do not tie the knot
chemical, wash off with person or the part that right over the wound.
water. Do not scrub with is painful.
a brush. This will irritate F If the broken arm or
the wound. Immediately B Rinse any wound dislocated shoulder
dispose of clothing or clean with water and needs additional sup-
shoes that have been apply a sterile gauze. port, you can create a
covered with the chem- sling from a triangular
ical. See a doctor as C Prepare a splint to bandage. Scarves and
soon as possible. support the broken large handkerchiefs
bone. can also serve as
triangular bandages.
D Immobilize the injury
by binding the splint

47

Water and Sanitation

Having access to clean water and good sanita-
tion is important for preventing many illnesses
and outbreaks. Some illnesses can be treated
with medicine. However, in Syria, many bacteria
have developed resistance and medicine may
be difficult to acquire.

Prevention is key!

Ways to protect you 2
and your family:

1 If possible, use bottled
water with unbroken
seals.

2 If bottled water is
unavailable, boil the
water or treat it with
chlorine or household
bleach (see example).

3 Any food should be 3
thoroughly cooked.

4 Handwashing after
using the bathroom
and before preparing
food or eating is critical
for prevention.

5 Prevent disease from
spreading by properly
disposing of human

48

Water and Sanitation
4

waste. Latrines should Vaccinate!
be located away from
homes and at least 30 Cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A can be prevented
meters from a body of through careful sanitation and hygiene. However, you
water. must always be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, ty-
phoid, diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis. An oral chol-
6 If you think your drink- era vaccine may also be available. Approach your local
ing source has been clinic if you or your children have not been vaccinated. In
contaminated, let your the event of an outbreak, you will be better protected.
local authorities know.
9 Bring water to a boil through a clean cloth,
Disinfection of for three minutes. paper towel, or coffee
Drinking Water filter.
10 Let water cool nat-
The instructions below urally and store it in 13 Mix liquid chlorine
show you how to boil clean containers with bleach stored at
and disinfect water to kill covers. room temperature
most disease-causing for less than one
microorganisms in the 11 Disinfect water using year with your water
water. Only use water regular, unscented according to the table
that has been properly chlorine bleach, if you below.
disinfected for drinking, cannot boil water.
cooking, washing dishes The label should 14 Stir and let stand
and for brushing teeth. say that it contains for 30 minutes. The
8.25% of sodium water should have a
7 Boil water, if you do hypochlorite. Do not slight chlorine odor.
not have bottled water. use anything that is
Boiling is sufficient scented, color safe, 15 If the chlorine taste is
to kill pathogenic or contains added too strong, pour the
bacteria, viruses and ingredients. water from one clean
protozoa. container to another
12 If water is cloudy, let and let it stand for a
8 If water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it few hours before use.
it settle and filter it
through a clean cloth
or coffee filter.

49

Water and Sanitation

Volume of Water Amount of 8.25% Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach to Add
1 liter 2 drops
4 liters 6 drops
7.5 liters 12 drops (1/8 teaspoon)
15 liters 1/4 teaspoon

30 liters 1/2 teaspoon

Danger of hood, contact your local 23 Make a basic fly trap
standing water authorities or Syria Civil (see below).
Defence.
16 Breeding place for Make a Fly Trap
mosquitoes and flies Preventing illness
which carry disease. spread by flies 24 Cut a plastic water
bottle 1/3 down from
17 Standing water from Flies are known for the top.
flooding can carry spreading at least 200
cholera, typhoid fe- known pathogens and 25 Pour a sugary liquid
ver, and hepatitis A. parasites to humans. such as juice, vinegar
Some diseases known or soda into the bot-
18 If there is open sew- to be spread by flies tom half of the bottle
age and the water include typhoid, cholera up to 2cm.
level rises, small cuts and dysentery.
can get infected. 26 Turn the top part of
Preventing the spread the bottle upside
19 Promotes the growth of flies down and place into
of mold inside your the bottom half.
home which can 20 Remove any items
cause respiratory that are attracting 27 Use tape or glue to
problems. flies, including rotting put them together.
food and dirty drains.
It is important to keep 28 Flies attracted by the
any kind of receptacle 21 Take out the trash smell will
go into the
upside down to avoid regularly and cover it. bottle and not be
water buildup. If you able to get
out.
notice stagnant or green 22 If you have a fan, this
water in your neighbor- can also discourage
insects.

50