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5. HOME SAFETY
The Service is specifically charged with the promotion of home
safety and the consequent reduction of home and holiday accidents.
Considerable emphasis is placed on this subject, therefore, and
a number of minor campaigns are mounted throughout the year
in addition to the normal programme of the whole field.
A number of the programmes given to local organisations and
schools include talks by the Home Safety Officer and, on many
occasions where the subject handled falls within the main health
education stream, a film on home safety is included.
Displays on this important subject are mounted at convenient
locations, such as bazaars and local fetes. Persons having the
responsibility for the young and elderly frequently seek the advice
of the Home Safety Officer.
Home Safety features in many badges and awards of youth
organisations, notably the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Training courses and examinations in respect of these form an
important section of the activities of the Home Safety Officer.
6. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
The 16 mm. magnetic sound colour film produced by the Service
in 1967 entitled "They Have a Future" continued to attract increased
demand during the year. This film illustrates the work
carried out for mentally handicapped children at the Maze Hill
Centre. On 14 occasions, requests for showing the film, together
with an explanatory talk were fulfilled, the majority being from
outside the Borough. A copy of the film was loaned to other
organisations from all over the United Kingdom on a further 11
occasions.
The success of the first film encouraged the Service to undertake
a more ambitious production, with optical sound track, illustrating
the Greenwich services for the elderly, which are among the foremost
in the country. The film, entitled "Henry", features an
elderly widower. During a visit by a Council's Old People's
Visitor, the services available to "Henry" are reviewed.
Shooting, editing, sound tracking and commentary of the film
were carried out entirely by Health Education Service staff. The
film, in 16 mm. colour and lasting 28 minutes, was produced using
external professional facilities only in processing and copying. By
this means the total excess cost to the Council was £250. Production
took 3 months.