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HEALTH EDUCATION & HOME SAFETY
Health Education
It is obvious that to motivate the general public into taking action against illness
and disease continual education and correct information must be given to them, as they
themselves will not necessarily seek out such information to improve and maintain their health.
The promotion of good health as a community ideal has been the prime object of the Health
Education Section throughout the past year. The section continued its role as a co-ordinating
unit in specific and general health subjects as well as awakening and supporting health
education conciousness within the community. Both statutory and voluntary functions were
involved and good liaison was established with potential and practising health educators by
way of advice, aids, equipment, projects and syllabuses.
To widen and stimulate the health patterns of the community, training schemes for
adults who are in constant contact with the younger generation proved to be a valuable method.
The "in-service" training programme on Health Education for Primary School teachers was held
throughout the Spring Term at Stockwell College and the well attended course for Girl Guides
at Bromley Town Hall during November and December brought requests for further courses.
Health Education was also included as part of the Home Help "in-service" training scheme
and, coupled with a general campaign on Hypothermia, the problems concerning the elderly
of our community were conveyed to as many as possible.
Many talks were given on Health Education. Supporting, for example, the schoolteachers
with their health lessons, talks were given to Parents' Associations. It was indeed
gratifying to see the interest expressed by the parents. Parents are always anxious to expand
their knowledge on health matters and the majority do realise their responsibilities towards
their children. Elderly persons clubs. Youth clubs. Young Wives Groups and many Voluntary
Societies have requested talks covering a variety of health subjects including drugs, diets,
care of feet, teeth, eyes or the new baby, and the health educators have been only too pleased
to give the correct information to an interested audience.
Great use was made of the section as a resource centre. Over the past year
continual assessments of new materials and techniques were made, and support can now be
given to the health visitors, midwives and schools with more up-to-date audio visual aids and
background materials. It was beneficial to work with the Public Health Inspectors in the
production of an exhibition presenting a Clean Food Campaign in July.
The Health Education Section has, by working with National Campaigns and with
continual surveys and gathering of information, communicated the need to improve the Borough's
health.
Home Safety
The amalgamation of Bromley, Beckenham and Orpington Home Safety Committees to
form the London Borough of Bromley Home Safety Committee in September 1972, brought about
a more united effort to reduce the number of home accidents within the borough.
As the follow-up surveys showed, two local campaigns were well received by the
general public.
The hospitals within the Bromley Group gave a 'nil' return on firework casualties
for November, 1972. This was due partly to the national campaign on the subject on television,
the radio and in the press but also to the enthusiastic response on the part of local residents
and traders to the request to display the firework poster which we produced. Many associations
and groups also adopted the suggestion of arranging organised firework displays.
The continual high number of poisonings reported throughout the year resulted in the
"Return Unwanted Medicine and Tablets" campaign.
With the co-operation of the local dispensing chemists, the campaign produced an
overwhelming response but, more important, also succeeded in making householders more
conscious of the dangers of misusing medicines and tablets.
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