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BECKENHAM HOME SAFETY COMMITTEE
I have pleasure in submitting the following report on the work of
the Beckenham Home Safety Committee, forwarded to me by Mr. J.
Bretton, Local Safety Officer.
"During the past year, the Home Safety Committee has supported
the National Campaign on general Home Safety aspects, but particularly
on 'Danger of poisons in the Home', 'Water Safety', the latter, with the
excellent co-operation of the Baths authorities, in their promotion of
more winter training for all age groups.
Home Safety Training Year will continue throughout 1963. The
first three months will concentrate on the training of young people
through those organisations which provide home safety training courses.
From April to December, 'Consumer Education' will be the theme.
This will be achieved by distributing suitable leaflets through many
organisations and by home safety weeks in shops and stores. Encouraged
by the appeal for more Home Safety subscribers, the
recruitment drive will continue. It is hoped by the end of the year to
have at least 75 per cent membership of the home safety section by
Local Authorities.
It is proposed in the Spring of this year, the Road/Home Safety
Committees, will promote the publication of a joint SAFETY Handbook,
which will be distributed through the channels of ParentTeachers
Associations, Ratepayers Associations, Clinics, Libraries
and local offices.
Various Quiz Units and Portable Displays were shown at many
Summer Fetes and Shows, whilst small exhibitions were held at many
Clinics, Libraries and schools. A considerable amount of publicity
material was displayed throughout the Borough during the year,
particularly in school premises, this with the valued assistance of many
members of the Junior Accident Prevention Council.
An analysis of the accident figures from Beckenham Hospital
shows that home accidents continue to exceed road accidents in a
ratio of 4 or 5 to 1.
In addition it must be remembered that whilst all road accidents
involving personal injury must be reported, and therefore appear in
statistics, there are many home accidents which are treated either at
home or in the doctor's surgeries, and of which there are no records
available.
In 1962, Beckenham Hospital recorded 1,079 home accidents, of
which 490 were children. This compares with 1,075 home accidents in
1961, of which 743 were children.
It is pleasing to see such a good reduction in the numbers of
children who were injured.
As mentioned in the 1961 report, the appointment of a full time
Home Safety Organiser was approved in principle. It being agreed
that the present Road Safety Officer be appointed Local Safety Officer,
and to include all Home Safety problems in his duties but to have an
assistant for three days part-time.
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