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47
accident cases were treated at Farnborough, Orpington and Beckenham
hospitals, of these, 3,703 were adults and 2,737 children.
This shows a reasonable decrease as compared with the same
hospitals for 1967, when the totals amounted to 6,856, of these
3,844 were adults and 3,012 children.
However, since the formation of the Bromley Home Safety
Committee in November 1967, home accident statistics have been
obtained from Bromley hospital, which shows that during the
period of 1968, a total of 2,434 persons were admitted for treatment
having suffered from accidents occurring in the home. Of
these 1,436 were adults, and 998 children.
Therefore, the overall record of home accidents within the
Borough, dealt with by the hospitals concerned show that 8,130
persons were treated. Of these 4,579 were adults and 3,551
children.
The three most prominent causes, with possible serious complications
according to the Hospital Authorities were given as
follows:—
1. FALLS. Being the chief danger to old people.
2. BURNS/SCALDS. Affect both the young and old people.
3. POISONING. Being the danger to adults, especially in
relation to gas, medicinal substances, through overdoses,
mistakes, etc., and also to the very young, who find drugs,
tablets, medicines, detergents, etc., loose in cupboards and
drawers.
Home Safety
Home accidents are increasing; the deaths and serious injuries
outnumber those on the roads, factories, railways, etc.
Four out of every five home accident deaths were in children
and old people. That accidents are of very real concern today may
also be judged from the fact that they kill three times as many
children as the infectious diseases. The accurate number of nonfatal
accidents is not known, but investigations throughout the
country reveal that these figures could be as high as 30 per 1,000
of the population.
These types of accidents could be responsible for much disfigurement
and disablement and very long periods in hospital.
Some individuals are said to be "accident prone", which in
the absence of some disability, is another way of saying that they
are careless, untidy, fatigued or too hurried in their actions. Not
only do they cause accidents to themselves, but also to those
around them, predominantly to children.
The Press, Radio and Television play their part in reaching
the public with help and advice on the causes and prevention of
accidents. Home Safety Committees, Health Visitors and Nurses,