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38
RONE SAFETY
Miss D.E. Blackmore, S.R.N., S.C.M.. H.V. Cert.
Home Safety Officer
Work on the various aspects of Home Safety continued into
1961. Of particular importance was the poison campaign carried
out in conjunction with the South Eastern Gas Board, aimed particularly
at the elderly, against the dangers of faulty gas
appliances. The necessity of checking old and probably leaky
apparatus was stressed and Mr. Driver, an official lecturer of
the Board, visited Old Peoples' Clubs and spoke on "The Safe Use
of Gas." His assistant demonstrated the special cooker for
handicapped people, with particular emphasis on simple meals for
the elderly, which provided an opportunity for the old people to
discuss their problems with the expert; these talks, followed
up by visits to their homes by gas officials, were very much
appreciated.
Prior to National Fire Prevention Week, Health Visitors and
Public Health Inspectors had an opportunity of visiting the new
Fire Station,Old Town,to discuss hazards with the Fire Officers.
During this week, the station was open to the public in the
evenings when film shows and discussions were held and fire
apparatus and non-inflammable night-wear etc., were on show. The
film "Fireguards and Fabrics" was shown when the Home Safety
Officer was invited to speak to the staff of a Croydon firm
which now sells non-inflammable night-wear. Another store put
on a special display of fireguards. The arrangements for this
week represented a combined effort with the Fire Officers who
also visited Infant Welfare Centres and Toddlers' clubs to instruct
mothers on fire prevention.
The dangers connected with water, swimming and picnicing
were demonstrated at summer fetes. A demonstration plastic
bathroom cupboard, designed to show the dangers in the storage
of drugs, attracted a great deal of Interest as parents and
children were allowed to participate.
As indicated in the Table below, the number of deaths from
home accidents has increased as well as the cases taken to
hospital, and although continued publicity was given, people
appeared to be reluctant to take elementary precautions.
Accidents usually result as the culmination of three main
causes, one of which is the gradual adopting of a careless
attitude towards faulty equipment. An example of this is where