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Landmines come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. Mines can be buried underground or hidden in grass, trees or water. Rusty mines that have been exposed to the weather may be difficult to recognize but they are still dangerous.
Landmines are usually not visible. Special caution is needed near areas of military action or abandoned or overgrown areas. Mined areas may be marked with a picture of a skull and crossbones, crossed sticks or knotted grass. No one should go into these marked areas.
Mines and unexploded ammunition should never be touched. Many of these items are intended to explode when they hit the ground, but sometimes they do not detonate. They are still extremely dangerous. Burning of fields will neither detonate all landmines nor render the area safe.
Some mines are set off by weight, others by tripping or pulling a wire, others just by touching or tilting them. No one should ever step over a trip wire – underground mines may be nearby. Where there is one mine, often there are others. Anyone who sees a mine should stop walking and retrace her or his steps, or stay very still and call for help.
If a landmine injury occurs:
- Apply firm pressure to the bleeding area until the bleeding stops.
- If the bleeding does not seem to be lessening, tie a cloth or piece of clothing (a tourniquet) just above or as close to the wound as possible and send for medical assistance. If help is delayed more than one hour, loosen the tourniquet each hour to check the bleeding. Remove the tourniquet if the bleeding has stopped.
- If the child is breathing but unconscious, roll the child onto her or his side so that the tongue does not block breathing.
Professional demining is the best solution to ensure that the area is safe.
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