Answer the following questions.
a. How is first aid provided to victims of disasters who are injured?
b. State the scientific and eco-friendly methods of waste management.
c. Explain with suitable examples, the relationship between weather forecasting and disaster management.
d. Why is e-waste harmful? Express your opinion about this.
e. How will you register individual your participation in solid waste management?
a. How is first aid provided to victims of disasters who are injured?
a. The following first aid should be provided to victims of disasters:
- Airway: If a person faces difficulty in breathing, raise the chin or hold the head in backward sloping position, so as to keep the respiratory passage open.
- Breathing: If the person has stopped breathing, give artificial respiration mouth to mouth.
- Circulation: If the person is unconscious, first give mouth to mouth respiration. If the person doesn't revives, perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) by pressing the heart hard using both palms. Repeat these two steps alternately after every 15 minutes.
- Bleeding: Cover the wound with an antiseptic pad and apply pressure for 5 minutes using thumb or palm.
- Fracture: Immobilise the fractured part using any wooden rods, rulers etc.
- Burns: Hold the burned part under cold and flowing water for at least 10 minutes.
- Sprain, Twisting and Contusion: Let the person rest, apply ice pack on the injured area, then massage it gently and keep the affected area elevated.
b. The scientific and eco-friendly methods of waste management are:
Incineration: Incineration is a process of solid waste disposal in which the waste is burned at very high temperatures, resulting in reduction of weight and volume of the waste, and decrease in toxicity of hazardous components of the wastes. It is a prefered method for disposal of biomedical waste.
Landfill sites: Industrial solid waste can be disposed off in an eco-friendly manner in lanfills. Landfill are basically large dug outs which are used to dump the wastes. These landfill areas can then be converted into a playground or a park, once the site is full.
Pyrolysis: It is a method for the solid waste management. It is the chemical decomposition of solid waste by heat under high pressure and the end products of pyrolysis are used to produce steam and electricity.
Composting: It is a method which is used for management of organic wastes. It is a process in which organic waste material is decomposed in pits to release nutrients.
Vermicomposting: The process of making compost from kitchen garbage using earthworms is called vermicomposting.
c. Weather forecasting and disaster management go hand in hand. Weather forecasting helps in predicting the weather of an area for the next 2-3 days. Any kind of unfavourable changes which could occur in the near future are predicted by the meteorological department. For example, if there are any chances of cyclones, dust storms or heavy rainfall, the authorities can be informed prior about these developments and the required measures can be taken. The fishermen are alerted by the concerned agencies about heavy rainfall, or high tides so that they do not enter the sea during that time. If we know that a disaster may occur during a definite period of time, disaster management can be helpful in reducing the loss to lives and property. The disaster management teams and the local people can be informed about it and the required precautions can be undertaken.
d. e-wastes refer to the electronic wastes, that include old and discarded electric appliances, such as computers, TVs, refrigerators, cell phones, electronic toys, batteries, etc. Most of the electronic wastes are generated in cities, however, due to faster rate of development and improved lifestyle, now small towns and villages are also contributing to e-waste generation.
e-wastes are very dangerous and polluting as they contain many harmful substances, such as plastics, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These substances are not just non-biodegradable, but they also result in several life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Many of these harmful metals can enter the food chain and result in bioaccumulation.
e. Solid waste management can also be practiced at individual levels. We can segregate our kitchen wastes into biodegradable and non biodegradable waste. Fruit and vegetable peels, leftover food etc. can be used to create compost which can then be used in plants, parks and fields. Non biodegradable waste need not go into waste rather it can through the process of reuse and recycle. For example old glass jars and bottles can be used as planters, or pen holders etc. Things which can not be reused or recycled can be considered wastes. We should also try to use less of plastic bags and more of jute bags for our daily chores. Use of disposable products should be avoided as they add to the menace of waste disposal.
- Airway: If a person faces difficulty in breathing, raise the chin or hold the head in backward sloping position, so as to keep the respiratory passage open.
- Breathing: If the person has stopped breathing, give artificial respiration mouth to mouth.
- Circulation: If the person is unconscious, first give mouth to mouth respiration. If the person doesn't revives, perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) by pressing the heart hard using both palms. Repeat these two steps alternately after every 15 minutes.
- Bleeding: Cover the wound with an antiseptic pad and apply pressure for 5 minutes using thumb or palm.
- Fracture: Immobilise the fractured part using any wooden rods, rulers etc.
- Burns: Hold the burned part under cold and flowing water for at least 10 minutes.
- Sprain, Twisting and Contusion: Let the person rest, apply ice pack on the injured area, then massage it gently and keep the affected area elevated.
b. The scientific and eco-friendly methods of waste management are:
Incineration: Incineration is a process of solid waste disposal in which the waste is burned at very high temperatures, resulting in reduction of weight and volume of the waste, and decrease in toxicity of hazardous components of the wastes. It is a prefered method for disposal of biomedical waste.
Landfill sites: Industrial solid waste can be disposed off in an eco-friendly manner in lanfills. Landfill are basically large dug outs which are used to dump the wastes. These landfill areas can then be converted into a playground or a park, once the site is full.
Pyrolysis: It is a method for the solid waste management. It is the chemical decomposition of solid waste by heat under high pressure and the end products of pyrolysis are used to produce steam and electricity.
Composting: It is a method which is used for management of organic wastes. It is a process in which organic waste material is decomposed in pits to release nutrients.
Vermicomposting: The process of making compost from kitchen garbage using earthworms is called vermicomposting.
c. Weather forecasting and disaster management go hand in hand. Weather forecasting helps in predicting the weather of an area for the next 2-3 days. Any kind of unfavourable changes which could occur in the near future are predicted by the meteorological department. For example, if there are any chances of cyclones, dust storms or heavy rainfall, the authorities can be informed prior about these developments and the required measures can be taken. The fishermen are alerted by the concerned agencies about heavy rainfall, or high tides so that they do not enter the sea during that time. If we know that a disaster may occur during a definite period of time, disaster management can be helpful in reducing the loss to lives and property. The disaster management teams and the local people can be informed about it and the required precautions can be undertaken.
d. e-wastes refer to the electronic wastes, that include old and discarded electric appliances, such as computers, TVs, refrigerators, cell phones, electronic toys, batteries, etc. Most of the electronic wastes are generated in cities, however, due to faster rate of development and improved lifestyle, now small towns and villages are also contributing to e-waste generation.
e-wastes are very dangerous and polluting as they contain many harmful substances, such as plastics, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These substances are not just non-biodegradable, but they also result in several life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Many of these harmful metals can enter the food chain and result in bioaccumulation.
e. Solid waste management can also be practiced at individual levels. We can segregate our kitchen wastes into biodegradable and non biodegradable waste. Fruit and vegetable peels, leftover food etc. can be used to create compost which can then be used in plants, parks and fields. Non biodegradable waste need not go into waste rather it can through the process of reuse and recycle. For example old glass jars and bottles can be used as planters, or pen holders etc. Things which can not be reused or recycled can be considered wastes. We should also try to use less of plastic bags and more of jute bags for our daily chores. Use of disposable products should be avoided as they add to the menace of waste disposal.
