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12
FATAL ACCIDENTS
During the year under review, there were twenty fatal home
accidents to Enfield residents, this figure being eight more than
the previous year. In three cases, deaths occurred of young
children : at age three months from suffocation by a pillow, at
eleven months from asphyxia when the child's neck was trapped
by a collapsed pram, and at age fifteen months fiom a fall downstairs
when pneumonia followed lung contusion.
Of the remainder, fourteen occurred amongst elderly people—
ten being over eighty years of age.
The precipitating cause of death in eleven cases was a fall
leading in most instances to fractured bones followed usually by
lung complications. Of the other deaths, three were due to accidental
coal gas poisoning and three from burns sustained following
accidents with a gas ring, an open fire, and an electric fire.
The number of fatal road accidents to Enfield residents was
five which was a decrease of fourteen on the previous year.
Unfortunately there were nine cases of suicide (five male and
four female) although this was a reduction of five on the previous
year. Two of these were aged between 25 and 44 years, four aged
between 45 and 64 years, two aged between 65 and 74 years and
one aged over 75 years.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACTS, 1948 AND 1951.
No action was necessary during the year under these Acts.
Such cases as were brought to the notice of the Health
Department were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health in cooperation
either with the Medical Practitioners or Welfare Officer,
and the patients voluntarily agreed to go to Hospital or suitable
Home. Most old people show a natural reluctance to leave
their homes, which sometimes consist of a single room in a dirty
and unhygienic state owing to their inability to look after the
premises. Some should not be living alone, and although we must
not be hasty to criticize, there appears to be in some cases a need
for the awakening of responsibility of the family to its aged members.
In some instances, where reluctance to leave their homes is
encountered, provision of Home Help and District Nurse Services
can be arranged and a careful watch on the situation maintained
by members of the Health Department Staff. Compulsory removal
in the interests of the old person is rarely enforced, as
persuasion usually succeeds in the end.