RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
November 6, 2003
SUCCESS STORIES TO SAVE LIVES
Success stories that have helped to combat the UK’s biggest accident problem will be shared at RoSPA’s national home safety congress next week.
The conference, Reducing Home Accidents – What Works?, will be held at the Imperial Hotel, Torquay, on Monday and Tuesday (November 10 and 11). It is sponsored by Lloyds Pharmacy.
Ten people die as a result of a home accident every day and another 8,000 seek hospital treatment. The very young, the very old and the socially disadvantaged are most at risk.
Sarah Colles, Home Safety Adviser for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “A great deal of time and money has been invested in tackling this problem in recent years and delegates will hear about measures that have been shown to work.
“A number of local projects, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Modernisation Money, will be highlighted to show what can be achieved.
“There will be information about how using thermostatically controlled taps can reduce scalding accidents and details of a RoSPA campaign to design new houses safely in a bid to prevent accidents.
“Simple practical interventions such as grab rails in bathrooms and fitting window locks and stairgates can make a big difference.”
RoSPA hopes that by sharing ideas, home safety practitioners and other professionals in the field will help to prevent injuries in the future. Delegates will also discuss ways of measuring success, examine partnership working and explore funding opportunities.
Workshops will include details of how exercise can help to keep the elderly fit so that they are less likely to have falls. There will be a demonstration by a Tai Chi instructor.
Sarah Colles said: “RoSPA’s home safety congress is the only event of its type in the UK as it deals with all age groups and all types of home. Speakers will have an audience that will be eager to learn from their success. Sharing good ideas today can save lives tomorrow.”
