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know something about it—is the foundation upon which health
education should be built.
It has been learned that one of the objects of health education
is to inform people, to give them facts so that they may
better understand the reasons behind health principles and
precepts.
The three aims of health education as defined by an Expert
Committee of the World Health Organisation are:—
(1) To ensure that the community regards health as an asset.
(2) To equip the individual with skills, knowledge and
attitudes to help solve his own health problems.
(3) To promote the development of the health services.
But, more important still, is the application of this knowledge:
no easy task, when ingrained habits and customs have sometimes
to be broken 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 and
young people so that good habits may be formed early. As has
been said there is an important place for indirect instruction.
The foundations are laid at home, wise parents take every
opportunity of improving their health knowledge, so do sensible
young people preparing for marriage.
Children who practice at home what they have learned at
school or youth centres may stimulate indifferent parents to follow
suit.
Home Safety
From January to December, 1970, a total of 8,820 home
accident cases were treated at the hospitals of Beckenham, Farnborough,
Orpington and Bromley.
Of these, 5,093 were adults and 3,727 children.
In the previous year, the overall totals from these hospitals
was 9,509 and of these 5,484 were adults and 4,025 children.
This shows a reduction of 689 casualties in 1970, as compared
with the previous year. Of these, 391 were adults and 298 children.
This reduction is most encouraging but once again all Home
Safety Committees and other Organisations engaged in Accident