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A leaflet was specially designed and distributed to 650,000 homes, including all of the
Council's houses and flats (both in and out-county), many of the metropolitan borough
councils' housing estates and to houses in areas regarded as risk areas by reason of gross
multiple occupation or large immigrant populations. For the latter purpose the leaflets
were translated into Turkish and Greek Cypriot, Urdu, Bengali and Hindi. In addition, a
poster was produced illustrating the desirability of providing a separate guard for all
types of heater when children are present; this was displayed on most London railway
and underground stations. Monthly advertisements based on this poster were inserted in
local newspapers during the autumn and early winter.
Dental health—In response to a suggestion to local authorities by the Ministry of Health,
dental health weeks have been held in each division with the co-operation of the divisional
education offices. These 4 weeks' were preceded by periods of build-up and followed by
periods of lower level dental health activity in an endeavour to consolidate the message.
The degree of activity has varied between the divisions but many schools have participated
and much publicity material produced by the Council and by outside agencies has been
used. The campaigns have been supplemented by film showings, exhibitions and competitions.
Other material—While care has been taken not to produce any publicity material which
is exactly covered by that produced by outside agencies, the year has seen the production
of a wide variety of health education material produced by the department in co-operation
with the Chief Officer of Supplies. In addition to that referred to above, a leaflet was
produced on mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; this has been made available to professional
staff in the department who may be called upon to meet an emergency situation and it
has also been supplied to schools. A poster with an associated leaflet was prepared for
display in child welfare centres, warning mothers of the desirability of first ascertaining that
any child minder to whom they wish to give the charge of their child is either not in a
registerable category or if so, is properly registered. The leaflet was so designed that it
could be distributed by health visitors on its own. A separate leaflet was prepared for
distribution by health visitors and other field workers warning likely child minders, or
potential child minders, of the legal requirements of registering. A leaflet was also produced
for distribution to parents on the need for care in choosing children's shoes.
General—The nine health divisions have continued to provide health education on a
personal level through the day-to-day contact of the field staff with the public and make
their own arrangements for the ordering of material direct from those supplying it. The
departmental advisory panel on health education has met at approximately quarterly
intervals, as has the health education working party of senior nursing officers in the
divisions. The department has continued to be represented on the Education Officers'
standing advisory committee on health education in schools which has met quarterly.
Health education talks—The following tables show the variety and volume of talks and
discussions arranged and given by the field staff. Films and film strips supplied from the
central office continued to be widely used in these activities. Talks given by health visitors
in schools at the invitation of head teachers ranged over a variety of subjects and numbered
over 4,000.
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