London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southwark 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]

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Water Safety
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents state that more than
three quarters of the total drowning accidents in England and Wales occur in
inland waters, and the age group most at risk is the 5 — 9 year olds. Water
safety publicity by posters, leaflets, talks in mothers' clubs and schools has
received particular attention during the summer months but is now being extended
throughout the year. There were 3 fatal drowning accidents of Southwark residents
in 1970 as compared with 5 in both 1969 and 1968. (See table 14).

TABLE 14

Deaths from Accidental Drowning

Age Group19701969
76Male
Female1
66-75Male1
Female1
51-65Male22
Female
36-50Male1
Female
TotalsMale24
Female11

Dental Hygiene
The School Dental Service of the Inner London Education Authority has
again given the closest co-operation with the Health Department in promoting
dental hygiene education. The help of mothers has been enlisted to encourage
children in the care of their teeth; films or short talks on the subject were included
in the programmes for mothers' clubs and child health clinics.
Education for dental care must be aimed at the very young child, and a
'soft approach' is necessary to allay any natural apprehension about the dental
surgery. To this end a cut-out card representing a large tooth brush was designed
on which children filled in spaces as they completed each morning and evening
toothbrushing drill. These cards had to be signed by the parent and on completion
the child was presented with a certificate.
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