London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1963
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1963
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ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
The following summary of home accidents occurring within the Administrative
County of London during 1963 has been prepared from statistical
information which has kindly been provided by the County Medical Officer
of Health. During the year, 92 Chelsea home accident cases were removed
to hospital by the London Ambulance Service compared with 91 and 111 cases
in 1962 and 1961 respectively. The home accident figures for L.C.C. Health
Division I (comprising the boroughs of Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith
and Fulham) are shown separately, and it will be observed that falls in and
about the home were again responsible for the highest casualty rate. Of a
total of 1,199 accident cases reported in Health Division I during the period
under review, 911 (76.0%) were due to falls.
Summary of Home Accidents reported by the London Ambulance Service.
| Cause of accident | Conty of London | Division I -comprising Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith and Fulham |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| On stairs | 961 | 137 |
| From ladder | 102 | 12 |
| From chair | 132 | 14 |
| Outside (i.e. windows, | ||
| balconies, roofs, etc.) | 233 | 44 |
| In garden | 174 | 10 |
| In bath | 23 | 2 |
| From one level to another, (i.e. tables, boxes, beds, etc.) | 400 | 52 |
| On same level (i.e. in room, over objects) | 866 | 105 |
| Unspecified | 4,009 | 535 |
| Sub-Total | 6,900 | 911 |
| Hit by object | 189 | 22 |
| Cooking stove (saucepans, water, fats, etc.) | 140 | 15 |
| Teapot | 52 | 9 |
| Other boiling water | 194 | 23 |
| Electric shock | 43 | 4 |
| Poisoning (including foreign objects) | 393 | 45 |
| Gassing | 294 | 39 |
| Knife-like wounds (including spikes and cuts from glass) | 319 | 38 |
| Fires | 44 | |
| Windows (trapping) | 36 | 4 |
| Suffocation | 45 | 4 |
| Not specified | 436 | 41 |
| TOTAL | 9,308 | 1,199 |