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(b) In schools
Some health education by health visitors and school nurses is
carried out at all comprehensive health surveys when help and
advice can be given to individual children as required. Many older
boys and girls take this opportunity to seek advice from the school
nurse on personal health problems.
More formal teaching is undertaken regularly in eight schools in
the Borough. In these schools the health visitors or school nurses
take part in a course planned in conjunction with the school staff
on some aspect of health education or social studies. For instance,
one school had a series of studies on " Revolution " and the health
visitor discussed with the girls " Revolution in Medicine". Others
gave talks on the local health services and arranged visits to local
nurseries and clinics for some of the students. One very successful
venture has been a regular visit to one of the Colleges of Education
in the Borough when a health education film is shown and the
health visitors answer questions and take part in the discussion.
(c) In local groups and clubs
A number of invitations are received to give talks to groups such
as Young Wives' Clubs, etc. Many groups ask for a health visitor
regularly once or twice a year. We are always pleased to have the
opportunity of meeting as wide a section of the local population
as possible.
Home safety—accidents in the home
The majority of accidents in the home occur to the old and the
very young. Old people sometimes do not realize that their mental
powers may be failing or that their reactions are slowing down
and for this reason most accidents to old people take the form of
falls. There may be hazards in the home which are a source of
danger, e.g., a gas meter which is too high to reach, and the field
workers who visit the homes of old people keep a watchful eye
for any factors which may give rise to an accident. With young
children the pattern of accidents is quite different and one of the
commonest types at present is the swallowing of harmful substances
such as tablets, medicines, detergents, paraffin, etc. In all such
cases which are reported to the Health Department by hospitals
or from other sources, the health visitor pays an early visit to the
home and stresses the importance of keeping all harmful substances,
medicines, etc., out of the reach or preferably locked
away. The other types of accident which are frequently associated
with young children are burns and scalds. Many accidents are
caused every year through failure to fit suitable fireguards. The
Council has a scheme whereby these may be lent to the mothers
of young children where the mothers cannot afford to buy guards.
Young children cannot be expected to realize the potential hazards
in every home and it is for this reason that publicity on these
matters is directed towards the parents of young children by means