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69
December Christmas Decorations. A reference was made in 'Town Topics' warning householders
of how inflammable these can be and of their potential fire risk.
During the year there were three meetings of the Area 10 Home Safety Group Committee, on
8th March, 20th June and 23rd October, attended by Councillor Mrs. G.I. Dimmick and Dr. C. A.
eade.
Talks
Three talks were given, two by Dr. C. A. Meade and one by a member of the London Fire
Brigade.
SMOKING AND HEALTH
January A Report was submitted to the Public Health Committee on the effects of tobacco
smoking. The suggestion was also made that the Council should join the National
Society of Non-Smokers, but after due consideration this proposal was rejected
A copy of the report appears in the appendix on page 75.
April A Ministry of Health Circular (6/62) was received drawing attention to the report
on 'Smoking and Health' published by the Royal College of Physicians recommending
that there should be more education of the public on the hazards of smoking,
particularly of cigarettes. The Public Health Committee agreed to participate in
the publicity campaign sponsored by the Ministry of Health as part of the Health
Education Programme.
May Doctors, dentists, chemists and opticians were circularised and asked if they
were willing to exhibit posters and distribute leaflets. 33 agreed to do this.
July The Central Council for Health Education gave an outline of its intensive campaign
which it was intended to promote throughout the country. The Public Health
Committee agreed to support the campaign.
September This subject was given major importance in the autumn circular on Health Education
sent to all Borough Organisations. The L.C.C. also sent copies of Ministry
of Health posters to Post Offices and other government buildings.
November The Central Council for Health Education Demonstration Unit (photograph on
p. 58) visited a number of Schools and Youth Clubs in the Borough on 14th, 15th,
16th, 19th and 20th November. All the Youth Organisations and secondary schools
were circularised to see if they were interested in having the unit visit them. The
Unit consisted of a mini-van staffed by two lecturers who were specially trained
to deliver talks on the topic of smoking and health, and in the use of visual aids
such as films and filmstrips. The Unit was very well received and the programme
arranged is shown in the next page.
Four Billposting firms, including the London Transport Executive, were asked if
they would agree to exhibit copies of the Ministry of Health 'Boy' and 'Girl'
posters. All the firms said that they could not accept the posters as they were
worded, viz: .'Before you Smoke THINK. Cigarettes cause Lung Cancer', but
they would accept them if the word 'can' or 'may' was added so that the caption
read:.'Before you Smoke THINK. Cigarettes 'may' or 'can' cause Lung Cance'*.
This difficulty was reported to the Ministry of Health which pursued the matter
with the Joint Censorship Committee of the British and London Poster Advertising
Association.