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HOME SAFETY
The number who died as a result of accident other than motor vehicle accident was
identical with that for the previous year—14 in 1962 and 14 in 1961. Eight of the accidental
deaths were the result of accident in the home, four happened in hospital, and two on the
railway.
Six elderly persons died from the consequences of falls, two from accidents at home and
four from accidents in hospital. Two persons died from swallowing poison, three from gas
poisoning, one was drowned in the bath during an epileptic fit. There were seven suicides:
two swallowed drugs, one was found hanged, and four died from gas poisoning; the ages of
these varied from 42 to 64.
Health Education on Home Safety in its various aspects continued through the year,
new ideas being obtained at a Conference held by the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents in October. The need for dwelling-houses and homes for the elderly to be built
or adapted for safety is continually being stressed by the staff of the Public Health Department,
and there have been notable improvements in this respect locally.
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