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75
The London County Council's annual Home Safety Campaign, in which this
Council co-operates through the Public Health Department was again held during
the first week of November, and in view of the campaign initiated by the Home
Secretary the County Council placed emphasis on burning accidents resulting
from unguarded fires.
The Public Health Department took an active part in both the above-mentioned
campaigns and obtained from the Home Office and London County Council a total of
36,150 leaflets and bookmarks and 800 posters and stickers. Much of this material
was distributed and displayed in other Departments of the Council, notably the
Public Libraries and in view of the coincidence of the campaign week with the
5th November the Cleansing Department arranged for the display of stickers on
refuse vehicles giving a warning on improper handling of fireworks. The co operation
of coal merchants electrical and hardware stores was also obtained in displaying
posters and stickers.
In view of the liability of elderly persons to accidents, a special effort was
directed in Islington to old people's clubs. At many of these clubs a special talk
was given by either the Medical Officer of Health or Deputy Medical Officer of
Health and as they were very well attended and roused a lively interest in the
audiences it is felt that these talks served a very useful purpose.
Ministry of Health Coughs and Sneezes Campaign
As in previous years the Ministry of Health asked for the co -operation of local
authorities in the annual winter campaign against coughs and sneezes and supplied
a series of four posters for this purpose Through the Public Health Department
copies of the posters were distributed to medical practitioners in the borough for
display in waiting rooms to old people's clubs and to the various departments of
the Council.
Posters Leaflets and Publications
In my last Annual Report mention was made of the acquisition of seven poster
sites for use by the Public Health Department These sites were maintained in
regular use with a change of posters normally every month dealing with subjects
according to season or topicality. During the year posters were displayed on
various aspects of home accidents coughs and sneezes food hygiene infectious
diseases and rodent control.
Leaflets on similar subjects and the journal "Better Health continued
to be distributed through the Public Health Department and some other Departments
of the Council. The monthly journal "Family Doctor". published by the British
Medical Association is also provided for reading by members of the public in the
Public Health Department and Islington Public Libraries.
Publicity for Smoke Control Areas
In connection with the proposed Smoke Control Areas which were under consideration
during the year it was considered that a great deal of publicity would require
to be carried out. and the Public Health Committee therefore agreed to the production
of a pamphlet containing a short explanation of the Clean Air Act and its requirements
in connection with Smoke Control Areas. This pamphlet was distributed to householders
in the areas which were under consideration.