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BECKENHAM HOLES SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE
I have pleasure in submitting the following report on the work
of the Beckenhan Hone Safely Committee, forwarded to no by Mr. J. Bretton,
Local Safety Offioer.
During the past year, the Hone Safety Sub-Committee has supported
the National Campaign on general hone safety aspects, hut particularly
on the theme of "Sight Testing".
It is hoped through this part of the campaign to make all people
conscious of the appalling rate of eye injuries which occur almost daily.
Nearly all hone accidents can kill. Many non-fatal injuries leave
permanent disability, especially burns and scalds and fractures, but
tragic though these consequences are, they often seen less serious than
the accident which causes eye injury or blindness, so depriving the
vie tin of all or part of the sense of sight.
Prom. January to March, 1965, it is proposed to hold a "Winter Hazards"
campaign, dealing with falls and poisoning, and from October to December,
emphasis will be on National lire Prevention Campaign, and the Home Office,
in conjunction with R.S.P.A. and fire Protection Associations, are arranging
for full national publicity on this very costly and important subject.
Various Quiz Units and portable displays were shewn at nary Summer
Fetes and Shows, whilst large and snail exhibitions were held at Clinics
and Schools. A considerable quantity of publicity material was displayed
throughout the Borough daring the year, particularly on local Authority
and school premises, this with the valued assistance of various head
teachers and their staff, and members of the Junior Accident Prevention
Council.
A Road/Home Safety exhibition was one of the features at the Town Hall
during the visit of the "Young Citizens" on the 25th September, 1964,
The Local Safety Officer was in attendance, and many interesting questions
were asked and discussions took place among these young men and women.
Training equipment and propaganda material was on view, the latter being
freely distributed.
As a result of these exhibitions, displays, etc., many requests have
been made to the Local Safety Officer for lectures to be given to Youth
Clubs2 Parent Teachers' Associations, Scouts and Guides and St. John's
Ambulance, In the latter cases, many of these training lectures being
required as part of the syllabus for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
In 196/4- Beokenham Hospital recorded l,66l home accidents, of which
548 were children. This compares most favourably with the figures for
the previous year, when 2,153 accidents were recorded, of which 759
were children.
It is noted, however, that cuts, fractures and burns still predominate
as the chief causes of hone accidents,
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