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41
Until a year or so ago almost any form of cancer education
was resisted by both the public and the staff. However, since
the publicity given to the possibility of smear tests being made
available for healthy women to detect the early signs of cervical
cancer, there have been a number of requests from women's groups
to discuss this. The opportunity was always taken to explain the
outward signs of early cancer in accessable parts of the body
and the importance of the giving up of cigarette smoking in the
prevention of lung cancer.
The health education team has enjoyed co-operating with
Dr. Gibbons in her Weight Control Clinics for school children.
(See the "School Health Section" page 64 ). These have been held
in the health education lecture room and help and advice have
been given with visual aids to stimulate discussion. This project
demonstrates the practical application of health education
in a particular condition and aims to prevent future mental and
physical ill health.
Home Safety
In 1964 information had been received from the Croydon
Ambulance Service of the number of children taken to hospital
following poisoning accidents. During 1965 extra efforts were
made to educate young mothers and school children about this
risk. Poisoning accidents also formed the main theme of the
stand for the Ashburton Flower Show; we were greatly indebted to
the curator at Kew Gardens who donated many common poisonous
plants and berries free of charge for the occasion and this part
of the stand was a great attraction to the public.
Following a recommendation from the Medical Officer of
Health, the Housing Committee and Borough Engineer's Architects
agreed at the end of the year to the "Barry Bucknell Safety
Device" being fitted to medicine cupboards which in future will
be incorporated in standard kitchen equipment, one to each
dwelling unit.
In recognition of the Golden Jubilee of the Royal Society
for the Prevention of Accidents in 1966 a recommendation was
also made to the Housing Committee that bath rails should be
fitted in all council houses and flats built in Croydon in
future.
Demonstrations of Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation were given to
many groups during the year. The department purchased a ResusciAnne
model and the complete set of Admiralty Films on this
subject.