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HEALTH EDUCATION
Throughout the year, continuous health education was carried on. Talks were
given to voluntary associations, political groups, social groups.
Topical subjects were highlighted by special postings of health education posters
combined with an issue of handbills on the same subjects at the same times—these
handbills were displayed on counters and notice boards of public offices, clinics, libraries,
etc. Special topics in 1960 included Measles (Recognition and Prevention) and Food
Hygiene—while in the summer months particularly much publicity was given to the
legal requirements of the Clean Air Act—in this connection the services of the North
Thames Gas Board and of the Solid Smokeless Fuels Exhibition were called in and both
bodies arranged for their display vans to spend some time in the Borough, so that the
people could see for themselves the types of appliances and fuels which would be available.
Very many people would pay a visit to these mobile showrooms and follow that up
immediately by calling at the Public Health Department to get further information on
grants and adaptations. 1,147 persons visited the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation
mobile showroom during a one week period in August.
Permission was given for letters sent from Council Departments to be franked from
time to time with a health education slogan saying—" Guard that SNEEZE "
" Guard all FOOD "
During the year an approach was made from the Indian Community Workers'
Association, who desired guidance on health matters. Various meetings have taken place
with the Association's Officers and on two occasions addresses on health were given
at special film shows for Indians. Codes of hygiene were drafted and translated into
various languages of India for the information of the people of India and Pakistan who
now live permanently in Southall. The Association's Officers were most eager to learn
and to spread information about any health topic—and said that a number of the films
already shown at these weekly performances have dealt with problems of hygiene.
Because of the risk of spread of tuberculosis amongst people from a country with a climate
so different to ours, it was desired that the need for testing for susceptibility to tuberculosis
should be made known and as will be seen in the section of this Report on tuberculosis—
there was a very good response to this campaign. In the same connection the dangers
of overcrowding were stressed, and are continually being stressed by the Public Health
Inspectors when they visit houses in multi.occupation.
DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS
The number who died as a result of accident other than motor vehicle accident appeared
to rise again, being 24 in 1960, as compared with 18 in 1959 and 14 in 1958. Five of the
accidental deaths were the result of accident in the home, and six happened in Hospital.
Eight elderly persons died from the consequences of falls, four at home, and four in
Hospital. Three persons were found drowned; two died from barbiturate poisoning;
three died from injuries at work; one following a fall from a window; one from coal
gas poisoning; and two from asphyxia due to inhalation of food and vomit.
This is a tragic figure, and combined with an increase in the deaths from road
accidents, shows a great deterioration—33 persons dead who might, if they themselves
or those in charge of them had taken a very little more care, reasonably be expected to
be alive now.
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