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47
Old age is wretched if it has to defend itself with an apology,
and its worst feature is that it makes those at that season of life
feel that they are troublesome to others.
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 adults, and 3,012
children.
This shows a pronounced increase, as compared with the
same period in 1966, when the overall figures were 6,440. Of these
3,703 were adults and 2,737 children.
Since the formation of Bromley Home Safety Committee in
November 1967, statistics of home accidents from Bromley Hospital
were obtained for the month of December, which shows that
during that month, a total of 135 adults and 114 children were
treated for injuries sustained in their homes.
The three most prominent causes of these accidents, according
to the hospital authorities are as follow:—
1. FALLS, being the chief danger to the older person.
2. BURNS/SCALDS effect both the very young and old
people.
3. POISONING. Being the danger to adults, particularly in
relation to gas, medicinal substances through overdoses,
mistakes, etc., and also to the very young child who
finds drugs/tablets loose in cupboards, drawers, etc.
Those members of the Home Safety Committees within the
Borough, who work for the cause of Home Safety, know well that
accidents are "caused" and therefore can "be prevented". For
these people, study of many cases has proved that these accidents
are not "bolts from the blue", or sudden acts of unkind fate, but
a chain of events starting from a cause and leading to a result, a
tragic result which could have been prevented by action somewhere
along the line.
The aspirin bottle "could" have been put away after the
last use, the mat could have had a non-slip backing, the handle
of the saucepan "could" have been turned away from the front
of the cooker. If these simple acts had been carried out, a small
child could have been saved a trip to hospital, an old person
could have avoided a fall, and the scalding accident need not have
happened.
The Press, Radio and Television play their part in reaching
the public with help and advice on the causes and prevention of
these accidents. Health and Welfare and Home Safety Committees,
Health Visitors, Nurses, Teachers and Voluntary Workers all play
their part in trying to reduce these unnecessary accidents, but the