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68
SECTION F
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
HEALTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH PUBLICITY
Home Safety
Islington Home Safety Committee
As mentioned in last year's Report, the Borough Home Safety Committee was formed in
1958 and the inaugural meeting was held on 30th October. At this meeting it was decided
to convene a Public Meeting, which took place on 8th January 1959 The principal speaker
was Mr John Watson F. R. C. S. E. , Consultant Plastic Surgeon The Queen Victoria Hospital
who dealt mainly with accidents causing burns and scalds. He pointed out that the annual
death rate in England and Wales from this cause was still some 700 while it was estimated
that 50,000 others received burns in the home sufficiently severe to require treatment in
hospital.
Mr. Watson considered that there were three ways in which the problem might be approached,
viz statistical analyses of the facts and figures, design and planning of homes and
education of the public. In the latter connection he felt it was dificult to get across to
people just what a serious burning accident meant in terms of economics and human suffering
Treatment of a child victim might extend over a period of ten years and the cost might be in
the region of £1,000.
While legislation such as the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act had done much to
improve the position, Mr. Watson said he felt that much more depended on education Perhaps
the best time to educate was to arrange classes for upper forms in schools and those in direct
contact with the public in their homes - nurses, health visitors people responsible for the
care of the elderly and young children - were in the best position to carry out educational
work where it was most needed.
The Chair was taken by Alderman Rogers, the Chairman of the Public Health Committee who
was also appointed Chairman of the Home Safety Committee The meeting was attended, amongst
others, by general practitioners, health visitors and social workers
Four ordinary meetings of the Home Safety Committee were held during the year and as well
as the numerous home safety aspects which were reported or discussed the meetings were preceded
by talks on specific accident prevention themes. In addition to Mr Watson's lecture, talks
were given by Miss Barbara Naish of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Mr HEP.
Heath of the North Thames Gas Board and Mr. L. C. Atkins of the London Electricity Board.
References from the Home Safety Committee included the siting of electric socket outlets
in municipal and private housing developments; the provision of fireguards of good standard to
persons in need through the National Assistance Board, the supply of specially designed gas
cookers for handicapped persons through the North Thames Gas Board. Individual problems were
also dealt with, such as the practice of a laundry van-man in throwing bundles of linen from
Estate balconies.
A suggestion made by the Home Safety Committee that safety hints should be published
weekly in the local newspapers was adopted by the Public Health Committee who also received
various reports from the Home Safety Committee during the year
" Check that Fall " Campaign
The annual home safety campaign by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and
Central Council for Health Education was designed this year to focus attention on the danger
of falls in the home and during the period October/December, emphasis was placed on falls of the
elderly.