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their part in reaching the public with help and advice on the causes
and prevention of accidents. Home Safety Committees, Health
Committees, Health Visitors and Nurses, Teachers and Voluntary
Workers all play their part, but the accident rate remains still too
high and "I didn't know" or "I never realised" continue to be the
cry of a victim of an unnecessary home accident .
From January to December, 1966, a total of 6,440 home
accident cases were treated at Farnborough, Orpington and
Beckenham Hospitals, of these 3,703 were adults and 2,737
children.
These unfortunate people, treated at the local hospitals were
resident within the Borough.
The three most prominent causes according to the statistics
supplied by the Hospital Authorities were as follow :—
1. FALLS Being the chief danger to old people.
2. BURNS/SCALDS Affect young children and old people, and
in fact all age groups.
3. POISONING Being mainly the danger to adults,
ally in relation to gas and medicinal
substances, in the latter case being due to
such things as overdoses.
This needless loss of life and health is caused by ignorance,
carelessness and to some extent by existing conditions of physical
disability, particularly among the elderly, and can be remedied
only by a nationwide campaign to make the public aware of the
risk, and willing to accept responsibility for safety in the home.
One way of clarifying and driving home this knowledge that
accidents can be prevented, is by studying all kinds of home accidents
until the chain of cause and effect is crystal clear and
irrefutable. To do this, the best possible means is by education.
This is done mainly by lectures, displays of publicity material,
film shows and newspaper articles on the subject.
As a result of these displays and exhibitions, many requests
have been received for lectures and talks on home safety to Parent
Teachers' Associations, Teachers' Training Colleges, Schools,
Youth Clubs, Old People's Clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Guide
Associations. In the latter cases, many of these training lectures
are required as part of the syllabus for the Duke of Edinburgh's
Award Scheme. All these lectures and tests, etc., were given by
Health Visitors and the Health Education Officer.
The health education of children cannot be effective in
isolation, and must be developed with the co-operation and understanding
of parents and teachers. Therefore, invitations to give
talks to these Association Meetings are always received with
pleasure, and are well attended.