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14
The Home Safety Act, 1961 empowers a local authority to promote
home safety by publishing information and giving advice and to make
grants to any non-profit-making body whose activities aim at promoting
home safety. These powers will strengthen the influence of the Health
Advisory Council which is concerned with the question of safety in the
home and the prevention of accidents in the home.
The Council took part in the National Fire Prevention Week from
October 30th to November 4th which was sponsored jointly by the Fire
Prevention Association and by the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents.
"Few anniversaries can be accompanied by such a trail of injury and
suffering throughout the length and breadth of the country." This is
taken from an article by a surgeon of the Burns Unit of a hospital on
injuries from fireworks. The subject was discussed at the Health Advisory
Council and resulted in the Public Health Committee expressing to the
Royal' Society for the Prevention of Accidents their concern about the
danger and nuisance caused by the irresponsible letting-off of fireworks
particularly in the streets before and on the 5th November; and enquiring
whether an approach had been made or was contemplated to the Home
Secretary with a view to the prohibition of the sale of fireworks until a few
days before November 5th, and also whether the amount of explosive in
the manufacture of the present day fireworks was not excessive.
The risks from oil burners used in the home led to the passing of the
Oil Burners (Standards) Act which came into operation on January 1st,
1961. This gave powers to the Secretary of State to make regulations
for the prohibition of sale of those not conforming and to arrangements
being made for the inspection and testing of the burners. The Public
Health inspectors keep under observation shops at which heating appliences
are sold. There were no infringements of the Heating Appliances
Fireguards Act in regard to new appliances offered for sale. Two second
hand dealers had to be warned for exhibiting for sale two gas fires and one
electric radiator not properly guarded as required by the 1953 Regulations.
Deaths from Suicide.
About twenty persons living in this district commit suicide each year.
This last year the number was only eighteen, twelve men and six women.
Coal gas poisoning was as usual the most common method used, being
chosen by five men and one woman. Most unusually the railway came
next being chosen by two men and two women. Poisoning which usually
occupies second place came next, being the method chosen by three women.
The other deaths were caused one each by drowning, hanging, cut throat,
cut wrists and car exhaust.
Two of these deaths took place in each of the months of May, June
and November. There was one in each of the other months except May