View report page

Table I (a) shows that in the group 15 to 65 years more than
half the accidents occur in the middle period of life, i.e., between
21 and 45; 72 per cent, of these in women. Young people from
15 to 20 are far less liable. These results confirm the view that the
housewife has a high occupational risk of minor accidents.
As is to be expected,after 65 (Table I (b)) there is a relative increase
in the number and seriousness of accidents and the female
proportion is greater than would be expected from the numbers
at risk. Accidents in old people are closely linked with increasing
frailty and disability and those living alone are particularly
prone. Lack of attention to foot defects also predisposes to falls.
The Nature of the accidents
Table II gives the type of accidents in age and sex groups.
Falls make up nearly half the total. Falls on slippery floors
increase in number as age advances and once more women
are the chief victims. The stairs are a particular hazard to young
and middle-aged housewives. As was to be expected very young
boys hurt themselves from falls more often than girls; the stairs
prove a risk to them also.