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Smoking: In December the Ministry of Health launched a campaign against smoking
which was supplemented by local publicity from the Health Education section.
In June, a preliminary report prepared on behalf of the Ministry of Health by
Government Social Survey was published, analysing the habits and attitudes of 854
adolescents and 984 adults. It revealed that concentration, relaxation, nervous
tension, food substitution, and confidence boosting were the chief motives for smoking
in adults, whereas in adolescents they were curiosity, a desire to appear grown-up, and
social conformity. Males of 16 to 20 years are now starting to smoke earlier than did
males who are now over 21 years; young females are smoking earlier and in larger
numbers than older women, due mainly to changing social conventions.
From the subjects interviewed who smoke, lung cancer as a personal risk was
admitted by 61 per cent of adolescents but only 30 per cent of adults.
The report referred to the various influences which encouraged or discouraged
smoking and pointed out that any lines of propaganda which exceed a reasonable
degree of acceptance by the subject or make a too drastic attack on his "defensive
arguments" may induce strong resistant reactions.
Displays: A display of health education and home safety posters, with original
photographs illustrating the main activities of the Department, was mounted at
the North Peckham Civic Centre for two weeks in November.
Small displays on various subjects were also arranged at monthly intervals in
the windows of the Lordship Lane area office.
In-service training: In conjunction with the Central Council for Health Education
a two-day course on "Progress in Health Education" was organised in February for
representative members of all sections of the Health, Welfare and Children's Departments.
The Course was opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Southwark, and the
lectures and demonstrations by Dr. S. Caruana and Mr. D. Lynton Porter of the
Central Council provided useful guidance in modern health education techniques.
An additional short course was arranged for health visitors and school nurses
on methods of teaching children the dangers of smoking, and also an extended
series of lectures and films on hygiene, home safety and other appropriate subjects
for home helps.
Accident Prevention: Particular attention has been given to home safety throughout
the year in view of the heavy casualties which continue to occur, mainly through
thoughtlessness.
Several fatal drowning accidents have occurred in recent years in the Grand
Surrey Canal which intersects the Borough. During the summer posters on water
safety were extensively displayed and talks given to schoolchildren on the dangers
of playing near the Canal banks.
A considerable amount of publicity material was also issued in connection
with various other accident hazards, including safe storage of medicines and poisons,
fire prevention, falls, and a "Buy for Safety" campaign sponsored by the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Accidents, covering flame resistant garments, heating and
domestic equipment, toys, cots etc. Whilst legislation requires approved safety
standards for many such goods offered for sale, there remains a danger in unsafe
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