Red Alert Honor

Science & Health

Requirements

  1. Explain what should be done to avoid injuries and/or possible loss of life in the following situations:
    • Fire in your home, or in a neighbor's home, or in a public building
    • If you are lost, by car, in a remote or deserted place
    • Car accident
    • Earthquake
    • Flood
    • Cyclone
    • Hurricane
    • Storm
    • Nuclear accident
    • Landslide
    • If a boat or canoe capsizes in open water

    Answer: The answer varies according to each situation listed. General principles by scenario: 1) House fire: leave immediately by the safest route, crouched down and breathing near the floor (hot and toxic smoke rises); test doors with the back of your hand before opening and never go back for objects. 2) Drowning: never enter the water without training; extend a branch, rope, or floating object from the bank and call for help. 3) Electric shock: cut the power at the main switch before touching the victim; never touch someone connected to the current. 4) Storm/lightning: take shelter in an enclosed place, away from isolated trees, poles, water, and metal objects. 5) Poisoning: do not induce vomiting without guidance; call the poison control center and bring the product's packaging. 6) Traffic/being run over: signal the area, do not move the victim unnecessarily, and call for help. In all of them: stay calm, get away from the danger, call for help (192/193), and only render aid if it is safe for you. — Smoke inhalation is the most common cause of deaths in fires, according to the Brazilian Fire Department, and can lead to loss of consciousness in just 2 minutes at high temperatures.

  2. When calling for help in an emergency, what essential information should be given, and who should hang up the phone last? What are the main emergency numbers in your country?

    Answer: Essential information when calling: 1) the exact location (full address, landmark); 2) what happened (type of emergency: medical, fire, accident); 3) the number of victims and their condition (conscious, breathing, bleeding); 4) your name and a contact phone number; 5) risks at the scene (fire, leak, loose wires). Who hangs up last: the dispatcher — never hang up first, as they may ask for more data or give first-aid instructions. Main emergency numbers in Brazil: 192 (SAMU/ambulance), 193 (Fire Department), 190 (Military Police), 199 (Civil Defense), and 197 (Civil Police). 911 is for the USA; in Brazil use 190/192/193. — SAMU 192 and Fire Department 193 operators are trained to collect data in a specific order following an international protocol, and hanging up prematurely can compromise the team's quick arrival at the correct location of the emergency.

  3. Demonstrate what first aid measures you should take in an emergency under the following circumstances:
    • Someone's clothing catches fire
    • A severe hemorrhage
    • Someone is choking
    • Someone has swallowed poison

    Answer: You shout 'stop, drop, and roll!' and help the victim lie down and roll on the ground to smother the flames. — The 'Stop, Drop and Roll' technique has been taught worldwide since 1970 by the National Fire Protection Association as an effective protocol for putting out a fire on clothing.

  4. Do the following:
    • Draw an escape route for your family in case of a fire in your home, for when the normal exits are blocked.
    • Conduct a fire drill with your family.
    • Discuss with your instructor the procedures for evacuating people from the church and school in case of fire. Alternatives for preventing panic should be analyzed.

    Answer: You mark all the exits (doors and windows) with arrows indicating primary and alternative routes, identify an outdoor meeting point, and list the location of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the house. — NFPA studies show that families with a rehearsed escape plan are 4x more likely to evacuate safely in a real fire, and the safe time to evacuate a house is only 2 minutes before the smoke causes total unconsciousness.

  5. What should you and your parents do to prevent the kidnapping of children in your family? What should you do if you were kidnapped?

    Answer: Prevention (you and your parents): agree on a secret family code word; do not walk alone in isolated places; never accept rides, candy, or gifts from strangers; memorize your parents' full name, phone, and address; always walk accompanied and in a group; parents should always know where you are and who is with you; do not share personal data, photos, or location on social media; be wary of an adult who asks a child for help (an adult asks another adult for help). What to do if kidnapped: shout very loudly "help, this is not my dad/my mom!" to draw attention; react at the moment of the approach (kick, bite, struggle, and run to a place with people); do not get into the car under any circumstances; if already taken, stay calm, observe details (faces, license plates, streets, sounds), ask to go to the bathroom/public places, and try to escape or ask any adult, police officer, or store employee for help; never say that you are alone and try to leave trails/clues. — SaferNet Brasil records thousands of attempts at online grooming of minors each year, and 90% of kidnappings are carried out by people known to the family, according to current official data from the Brazilian Federal Police.