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down, and personal likes and dislikes, as well as prejudices and
emotions, counteracted.
Success depends not only on expert teaching, but on sympathy,
patience and the correct approach appropriate to the age, sex,
personality and the social and educational background of those
to whom it is directed.
Advice, guidance and practical help go shoulder to shoulder
with teaching.
The maximum effort must be directed towards children ana
young people so that good habits may be formed earlier. As has
been said, there is an important place for indirect instruction—
"Teach them. Knowing not, they learn it".
The foundations are laid in the HOME. Wise parents seek
every opportunity of improving their health knowledge. Older
children who practise at home habits they have learned at school
or youth centres often stimulate indifferent parents to follow suit.
Good health habits cannot be formed too early in life. Parents
and others who have children and young people under their care
have heavy teaching responsibilities. Children are imitators. They
copy the acts of their elders, the bad as well as the good. The
simple principles of cleanliness of the body, hands, hair and teeth
and of health should gradually become automatic.
HOME SAFETY
From January to December, 1967, a total of 6,856 home
accident cases were reported at Farnborough, Orpington and
Beckenham Hospitals. Of these 3,844 were adult and 3,012
children.
This shows a pronounced increase, as compared with the same
period in 1966, when the figures overall were 6.440. Of these,
3,703 were adults and 2,737 children.
Since the formation of Bromley Home Safety Committee in
November, 1967, the statistics of home accidents from Bromley
Hospital were obtained for the month of December which shows
that during that monthly period, a total of 135 adults and 114
children were admitted for treatment.
The three most prominent causes of these accidents, according
to the records shown at the hospital, were as follow:
1. FALLS. Are the chief danger to old people.
2. BURNS/SCALDS. Affect both the young and old people.
3. POISONING. Is the danger to adults especially in relation
to gas, medicinal substances (through overdoses,
mistakes, etc.) and also to the very young child who finds
drugs/tablets, etc., loose in cupboards, drawers, etc.