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SMOKING AND HEALTH
The Report on "Smoking and Health" by the Royal College of
Physicians issued early in 1962 established a definite link between
cigarette smoking and the incidence of lung cancer and bronchitis.
This was made the subject of a Ministry of Health Circular which
urged immediate action by local authorities in bringing the facts
to the attention of the public.
In conjunction with the national endeavour to give maximum
publicity to the hazards of smoking and the adult's responsibility
in discouraging the young from forming the habit, leaflets and
posters were distributed to local general practitioners' surgeries
and factory canteens, and made available in Council offices and
libraries.
In addition, through the courtesy of the Road Safety Committee,
posters were exhibited on nearly 40 sites throughout the Borough as
they were issued by the Ministry of Health. Posters were also
displayed on the Department's transport.
The incidence of lung cancer is a matter of grave concern
and the Council are willing to co-operate in all campaigns aimed at
securing a reduction of the smoking habit and the risk incurred by it,
and by making "not smoking" fashionable.
ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
(a) Formation of Home Safety Committee
The Home Safety Act, 1961 empowers those local authorities
which are not local health authorities to carry out Home Safety
education. These powers had already been invested in this Council
since 1957 by Section 82 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act of that year, and have formed a substantial part of the Health
Education activities from that time.
However, the Council decided that in order to give increased
emphasis and publicity to its efforts in combating this problem a
Home Safety Committee should be established.
The Committee was appointed on the 4th July, 1962 comprising
five Members of the Borough Council and representatives of interested
organisations. The Committee was appointed with the following
Terms of Reference:
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