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46
Accidents at Home
The average individual has not only to learn how to prevent
accidents in his home, he must first be convinced that the various
dangers exist. It is seldom realised that more accidents are caused
in the home than on the roads. Between 1960 and 1965, the ratio
between them was roughly 6:5. Most of these victims of accident at
home are children and old people, about an eighth of them being
under 15, and almost two-thirds over 65. Both of these groups are
at greater risk than children of a more responsible age and adults
in the prime of life. By far the greatest number of accidental deaths
in the home are caused by falls (53 per cent in 1964) which are
followed by coal gas poisoning (12 per cent) burns and scalds (10
per cent) and suffocation (10 per cent). Nearly 90 per cent of the
falls, over two-thirds of the coal gas poisoning and well over half
the burns and scalds involve old people over 65.
The commonest causes of deaths through accidents at home to
children under 15 are suffocation, burning, scalding, and falls. In
one recent investigation of 1,639 cases of burning, 70 per cent of
the victims were children under the age of 15 years, and more than
80 per cent were due to injuries caused by ignited clothing.
Burns and scalds could be greatly reduced if fireguards were
universally fitted, if inflammable materials were NOT used in
children's night attire, and if children could be protected from
electric fires, kettles, irons and teapots. Falls would be fewer if
house holders were on their guard against trailing flex, frayed or
torn carpets and poor lighting on staircases and landings.
When accidents happen, our first instinct is to blame the
immediate instrument; the unprotected wire, the rickety ladder, the
offending saucepan. That is in keeping with primitive instinct.
Carelessness begins at home; it is for the parent to make quite
sure that his house and all its equipment is properly kept and used.
This involves a proper regard for individual items of equipment,
and the proper carefulness on the part of the user. School can help
towards both, and there should be many opportunities here for
specific instruction on such danger points in the home. In their
home economics courses girls should learn to cook safely, to look
after electrical equipment, to keep the house clean and in good
repair and keep poisons, disinfectants and drugs in a safe and
proper place. Boys too, should be given equivalent safety training
in any domestic work, that they might do at school, in woodwork,
metalwork, electricity or other practical studies. But the underlying
aim of all such instructions in technique goes beyond the
immediate exercise; it should be to encourage the pupil to appreciate
when care needs to be exercised, and to be capable of taking
the necessary precautions.
Home Accident Statistics
From January to December 1968, a total of 6,440 home