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Council to mount a television campaign. In conjunction with this campaign,
this Authority made wide use of the anti-smoking health education
material by displays on public notice boards, libraries and clinics. The
example set by health authorities and other public bodies can be particularly
important. Education of the consequences of smoking in pregnant
women is directed at patients attending the local ante-natal clinics, the
reason being that there is evidence that babies of mothers who smoke
during pregnancy are twice as likely to be aborted, to be stillborn or to
die soon after birth as are the babies of non-smoking mothers and that
babies of smokers are two or three times as likely to be born prematurely
and on average to have lower birth weights.
Smoking is an anti-social habit. A change must therefore be brought
about in public attitudes to smoking and any advice or publicity directed
to the public should be presented in such a manner as to indicate that it
is normal not to smoke.
Members of professions who can influence the public must set an
example. I speak here particularly of medical practitioners and teachers.
The medical profession can influence both individual cases and the general
public whereas the teaching profession is uniquely placed to influence the
young not to smoke. If by any chance members of these professions do
find they have to smoke they should do so only in private.
To sum up, any public body should do all in its power to foster an
awareness of the hazard of smoking and to set an example to the public.
May I in conclusion say here, that now that the Committees of the Local
Authority are held in public, the members of those Committees have a
golden opportunity of setting a good example by refraining from smoking
at these public sessions. Every little bit helps !
Deaths from Accidents
Motor vehicle and other accidents caused the deaths of 35 residents
during 1971. The equivalent figure for the previous year was 51. In the
latter category the percentage of incidents involving the elderly age group
was reduced. All members of staff involved in the domiciliary services
take every opportunity of advising on house safety measures during the
course of their routine visits to houses.
Deaths from Suicide
Nineteen people committed suicide during 1971, an increase of eight
compared with the figure for 1970.
Deaths from Infectious Diseases
During 1971, there was one death from pulmonary tuberculosis and
three deaths from enteritis. In the latter case, all were elderly residents.
Once again, there was a nil return in the case of whooping cough, measles
and acute poliomyelitis.