RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

January 8, 2002
COMPUTERS ADD TO TRADITIONAL XMAS ACCIDENTS

High-tech gifts flooding into UK homes this Christmas will bring new accident problems to add to the traditional perils faced by families during the festive season.

RoSPA estimates up to 80,000 people will go to hospital after accidents over the Christmas break. Along with the usual trips over toys, candle fires and burns from turkey fat will be a growing number of accidents with computers and other state-of-the-art gadgets.

Computer-related accidents alone more than doubled in a five-year period, from around 800 in 1995 to more than 1,800 in 1999 – the latest figures available. With computers becoming increasingly popular since then, and many families having new ones this Christmas, the numbers are expected to soar again.

Records show people: hurting themselves unpacking their new machine; being hit by computers toppling off shelves and wardrobes: falling off ladders and downstairs while carrying a computer; walking into things while playing computer games; cutting themselves while carrying out maintenance work and tumbling on to computers when they slip or trip. Luckily, most result in only minor injuries.

David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: “Computers are heavy objects and care needs to be taken when moving them and locating them safely. This is particularly important at Christmas when people will be keen to open boxes quickly and start using their new machine or will be storing them out of children’s sight.

“But while taking care with new gadgets there will still be the traditional problems of slips on spillages in crowded kitchens, trips over toys, and candles left unattended or placed too near the curtains.

“People often get branches in their eyes while decorating Christmas trees or have falls when putting up the decorations.”

Other RoSPA tips for a safe and happy Christmas are: replace old fairy lights with new ones which will meet much higher safety standards; make sure stairs are well lit at all times and kept clear of obstacles, particularly if friends and relatives are staying; be tidy to reduce the likelihood of tripping over presents and packaging; and look out for burst balloons and small items which may drop off presents or decorations – they can easily choke a child.