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The informal discussions give the mothers an opportunity to air
their queries and problems, and go away with greater knowledge and
confidence to cope with their children.
HOME SAFETY
One of the most difficult aspects in the field of Health Education
is the promotion of Safety in the Home - it is not easy to persuade
housewives and husbands that their homes may not be as safe as the
think. Every year more people die as a result of accidents at home
than on the road, and our hospitals are kept very busy dealing with
both serious and minor injuries caused by falls, burns, cuts and
accidental poisoning. It is deplorable that some people 'don't'or
'won't' understand the necessity of using fireguards, particularly
where the safety of old people is concerned. Old folk 'feel the cold'
more than when they were younger and often remove the fireguard to
obtain more benefit from the heat of the fire and in this way danger
of accidental burning is aggravated. With this in mind, the Health
Visitors and the Home Safety Officer have taken every opportunity
to talk to people at home and in organisations on the need for constant
care at home, especially where there are elderly folk or young
children, and a regular programme of press advertising has been
carried out to supplement such talks.
Groups of girls in senior schools and in local organisations are
studying Home Safety as part of their efforts for the Duke of
Edinburgh's awards, and the Council's domestic helps have made a
special study of the problems, especially those concerning the elder
and infirm. Competitions on Home Safety have been organised among
senior schoolchildren, and booklets and other items have been distributed
through all women's organisations throughout the Borough.
Posters have been displayed at large factories and literature given
out at various out-door events during the year.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
I am pleased to report that for the third consecutive year it
not necessary to take formal action to secure the removal of any
persons from their own homes because they could no longer care for
themselves.
WELFARE SERVICE
I am indebted to the County Welfare Officer for the following
information:-
Residential accommodation for aged persons continues to be
developed to meet the increasing demand and a newly purpose-built
Home accommodating 61 persons is now fully occupied.
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