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43
Demonstrations and lectures on the principals and administration
of health education and the social aspects of disease
were again given at:-
The Central Council for Health Education
Battersea College of Technology
The Royal College of Nursing
King Edward's Hospital Fund
The Women Public Health Officers' Association
The London Hospital
Croydon, General and Mayday Hospitals
Croydon Technical College - Pre-Nursing Course
Sessions were also devoted to students from many of the
above organisations and from the London University Institute of
Education and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The great upsurge of activity and interest in health education
projects during the year was most stimulating and keeping
information and materials flowing smoothly certainly fully
stretched the administrative ability and ingenuity of the health
education staff. It was, however, greatly facilitated by the
completion of the new health education unit, a fully equipped
lecture-cum-workroom and new offices.
Smoking and Lung Cancer See p. 8 in the Section of the Annual
Report of the Principal School Medical Officer.
Home Safety
Once again falls accounted for the greatest number of home
accidents and fatalities in the Borough and most of the accidents
and all the fatalities occurred in the older age groups. Many of
the injuries were fractures which are slow to heal in the elderly
increasing the risk of death by pneumonia or pulmonary
embolism. New dwellings or improved dwellings for the old and in
time new household equipment designed for safety, will doubtless
help to reduce these accidents in the future. In the meantime
education for growing old needs to begin much earlier in life
and those caring for the elderly need to be made aware that in
time normal tasks become dangerous due to faculties failing more
than is apparent. Poor circulation causes dizziness and poor
balance, and hearing and vision gradually deteriorate without
this being realised. Blurred vision may then give rise to tripPing,
to difficulty in reading instructions on bottles, and
there is always danger from spectacles steaming up. Emotional
difficulties too predispose to accidents and old people, especially
those living alone, need looking after and loving.