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45
This shows an increase of 1,379 casualties in 1969, as
compared with the previous year. Of these 915 were adults and
464 children.
This increase is most disappointing, although enquiries reveal
that the majority of these accidents, both to adults and children,
were of a minor nature. The message, however, is clear—more
and more effort must be made to make the public more conscious
of Accident Prevention.
Therefore, education of the public must be the foremost
priority, and must consist of example, teaching, exhortation and
publicity together on all fronts. To ignore any sector is wasted
effort.
It is useless to educate the child without educating the parents.
It is useless to educate the elderly, without educating those who
may have to look after them.
Once again, the three most prominent causes of home accidents,
and with possibly serious complications, according to the
statistics supplied by the hospital authorities were given as follows:
(1) FALLS are of chief danger to old people.
(2) BURNS/SCALDS affect both young and old.
(3) POISONING is a general danger to adults, especially in
relation to gas and medicinal substances, through overdose,
etc., and also to the very young who may find
drugs, tablets, medicines, detergents, etc., lying loose in
cupboards, drawers, etc.
Accidents at Home
The average individual has not only to learn how to prevent
accidents in his home, but must first be convinced that the various
dangers exist. It is seldom realised that more deaths are caused
by accidents in the home than by accidents on the roads. Between
1960 and 1965, the ratio was roughly six to five.
Most of the victims of accidents at home are children and
old people; about an eighth are under 15, and almost two-thirds
over 65. Both these groups are at greater risk than are children
of more responsible ages or adults in their prime of life.
By far the greatest number of accidental deaths in the home
are caused by falls (53% in 1964), followed by coal gas poisoning
(12%), burns and scalds (10%) and suffocation (10%).
Neary 90% of falls, over two-thirds of coal gas poisonings,
and well over half of burns and scalds involve people over 65.
Nearly 75% of accidents of suffocation (often due to babies
turning over on a down pillow) and 15% of burns and scalds,
happen to children under five years of age.