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Fires caused by oil heaters—In February and March, 1960 two fires in Islington caused
by oil heaters resulted in the deaths of four children, all under five years of age. Apparently
the oil heaters were overturned while the children were left unattended by an adult. In
the second of these fires three children died and four were rescued, but there was no
evidence that the provisions of the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948
had been infringed, since the children were being minded as a neighbourly act and not for
reward.
Consideration was given to various ways of making the public more careful in the use
of these heaters. Apart from warnings displayed in public exhibitions on accidents in the
home, the most practicable course was for health visitors during their home visits and
talks at welfare centres persistently to stress the inherent dangers and to advise on precautions.
As an aid a warning handbill was produced by the Council.
Bathing centres—The number of schoolchildren needing cleansing at bathing centres
had fallen considerably in the division, as in other parts of the county. For many years
they had been referred under agreements with the Metropolitan Borough Councils of
Finsbury and Islington to either the bathing centre at Finsbury Health Centre or the
Islington centre in Seven Sisters Road.
From 31 March the referral of schoolchildren to the centre at Finsbury Health Centre
ceased. This rationalisation of the use of cleansing stations was facilitated by the use of
Lorexane, which was issued throughout the year from welfare centres, school treatment
centres and day nurseries for home treatment. Economies in the deployment of nursing
staff were effected by a revision of the forms and procedure used for referring children
to the centres and following up their treatment. This permitted school nursing staff formerly
working at these centres to be withdrawn and diverted to other work.
Vaccination against poliomyelitis—The response to the extension of eligibility for
vaccination to persons up to 40 years of age was, on the whole, disappointing. Special
sessions which had been instituted for persons up to 26 years of age were kept in being
to serve the new age group. A special series of lunch.time sessions was arranged in the
Kingsway Hall from the end of May to mid.July for the benefit of office workers in Holborn.
Letters were sent again to firms in the division inviting staff to these sessions and offering
a visit by the mobile immunisation clinic.
During 1960 a total of 19,465 injections was given to the new age group (9,242 first
injections 7,910 second injections and 2,313 third injections), while 1,934 records of
completed courses were received from general practitioners in the division. The greatest
response from the public was in May and June.

* Including revisits to same establishments for second injections.
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