RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 1998

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today issued a reminder for people to be aware of the potential dangers of carbon monoxide gas following the deaths of two teenagers in Scotland. The silent, invisible and deadly killer gas can be given off by any fossil fuel appliance (gas or solid), if there is not enough fresh air to promote efficient combustion. Full Story»

An old-fashioned Christmas could be the death of you, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. Attempts to recreate the cosy atmosphere of Victorian Christmas card scenes are fraught with danger and can lead to disaster. Cards on the mantelpiece, candles on trees, open fires, fancy wrapping on presents - and even a glass of sherry on the hearth for Santa - can all turn celebrations sour. Full Story»

Tufty, everybody's favourite squirrel, is to be immortalised in a limited edition of ceramic figures. Founders of Cotswold Collectables, Stuart Mitchell and Caroline Murray, were both members of the Tufty Club in the seventies and Stuart still has his club badge to prove it. Full Story»

Today’s report by Sir Donald Acheson, calling for a 10-year action plan to attack the issue of health inequality, has been welcomed by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. RoSPA’s advisers were asked to contribute to the report, written by Sir Donald, the Government’s former chief medical officer. His paper published today (thurs), is thought to be the biggest social policy paper since 1980. Full Story»

Five years after the M40 minibus disaster which killed 12 pupils and a teacher, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today that still not enough is being done to protect children on school transport. The victims from Hagley RC High School died in the collision with a lorry on the hard shoulder of the M40 on November 18, 1993. Full Story»

Two new children’s resources featuring activities and stories to teach safety awareness have been launched by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Safe Start and Small Beginnings, both sponsored by Domestos, are aimed at pre-school and infant children. Full Story»

School children in South Staffordshire are set to learn all about hazards in the home and how to prevent accidents, through a new computer software package from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Two-thirds of the schools in the area will be receiving the Find It, Fix It, computer program for their children, after South Staffordshire Council agreed to buy the package, which encourages children to assess risks in the home. Full Story»

Dee Arp of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is the winner of a new national occupational health and safety award. Dee, an occupational health and safety trainer/consultant for RoSPA, has been presented with the ACT Anabel Jay Award for achieving the best nationwide NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) Diploma Part I result. Full Story»

RoSPA today issued an urgent reminder about bonfire safety after a boy received 95 per cent burns in an explosion in Scotland. There were also reports of two children being injured when an aerosol exploded in a bonfire in Stornoway. Full Story»

Smart card driving licences could be a vital weapon in the fight to stop similar tragedies to the one for which a teenage motorist was sentenced in Birmingham today, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. RoSPA would welcome tighter controls on the types of cars novice drivers are allowed to drive. Full Story»