12 Fascinating Facts about Accidents in the Home

HiViz Jack here! Do you like my outfit? I call this my best Health & Safety look, complete with Personal Protective Equipment and of course my signature HiViz Vest. This is pretty typical gear to find in the workplace but surprisingly it isn't a work environment where we are most at risk of an accident. According to The Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents, more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else. As it's the school holidays and many parents and children are currently spending more time in the home, this month's blog focuses on some fascinating facts about home accidents and  RoSPA's tips on how to prevent them. So, what are the facts?

• Every year there are approximately 5000 deaths as the result of a home accident.
• More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units.
• Over 76,000 children under the age of 14 are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age.
• Falls are the most common accidents, which can cause serious injury at any time of life. The risk increases with age
• More women than men over the age of 65 die as the result of an accident in the home
• Every year over 62 children under 14 die as a result of an accident in the home
• Around 25,000 under-fives attend A&E departments each year after being accidentally poisoned
• An average of 13 children a day under the age of 4 suffer a severe injury from a burn or a scald. A hot drink can still scald a small child up to 15 minutes after it is made
• More accidents happen in the lounge/living room than anywhere else in the home.
• Every year more than 4,200 children are involved in falls on the stairs and 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured falling from windows
• Boys have more accidents than girls
• The cost to society of UK home accident injuries has been estimated at ￡45.63billion (￡45,630million) annually.

It makes for shocking reading but there's no need to panic. There are many ways that we protect ourselves from accidents in our homes. I've chosen 5 main areas we need to watch out for and below are RoSPA's tips to help keep us safe:

Fire Safety

•  Keep all fires and heaters well guarded, especially open fires. For fitted or portable heaters with a built in guard, give extra protection by adding a surrounding guard particularly if you have young children or older people in the home. For children, use a nursery guard with side clips that fit into fixed wall brackets
• Keep portable heaters and candles away from furniture and curtains. Position safely where they cannot be knocked over
• Don't dry or air clothes over or near the fire, or the cooker
• Do not smoke in bed
• Many fires start in the kitchen, especially fat fires. Never leave a pan unattended when deep fat frying and watch for overheating. For safer frying use oven chips or a thermostatically controlled deep fat fryer
• If there are children around, keep matches and lighters well out of reach
• Fit approved smoke detectors on each floor. Choose a smoke alarm that is mains operated or one with a long life (ten year) battery
• Plan your escape route. Remember Get out, stay out and call the fire brigade out!

Electrical Safety

• Have your wiring installation checked at least once every five years by an approved contractor, or straightaway if you are buying an older property
• Do not use appliances with worn or damaged flexes. Don't wire flexes together
• Keep portable mains-operated appliances out of the bathroom
• Have electric blankets serviced and checked regularly
• If an appliance appears faulty stop using it and have it checked at once
• Consider having a RCD (residual current device) for whole house protection. These are especially valuable when power tools are used
• Look for the mark when you buy electrical equipment
• Never overload an electric socket.

Heating and Cooking

• All fuel-burning appliances use up fresh air as they burn, and give off waste gases including the deadly carbon monoxide (CO). Never block air vents or airbricks and service appliances annually
• Be aware of symptoms of CO poisoning such as drowsiness and flu like symptoms
• If you use a chimney or flue, or bring one back into use, have it swept at least once a year, or more frequently if you burn wood
• Never block any outside grilles or rest anything against it
• If a gas flame, which normally burns blue, burns orange this may be a built up of carbon monoxide. Have your appliance checked immediately
• Check the pilot regularly on gas cookers and water heaters to make sure it has not gone out
• When buying gas appliances look for the British Standards safety mark or British Seal of Approval and beware of second hand bargains and cowboy installers
• If you suspect a gas leak, open the windows, turn off the supply and call your gas supplier. Don't operate switches as a spark could ignite the gas
• Always keep a special watch on young children and elderly people when fires and heaters are in use.

The kitchen is where some of the most serious home accidents occur.

• Plan your storage areas carefully so that heavy items are not kept on high shelves, and items in daily use are within easy reach
• Take extra care with hot water, tea, coffee or soup. If there are young children around, they could get scalded
• Keep knives sharp and in good condition and out of reach of children
• Keep panhandles turned inward so that children cannot reach them and pull them over
• Use a cordless kettle or one with a coiled lead so that children cannot pull on them.

Safety with Medicines and Cleaners

• Consider having a proper lockable cabinet fitted in the kitchen for medicines and chemicals where it is more likely to be supervised
• Keep medicines in their original containers, clearly labelled
• Do not take other people's medicine, or let them take yours
• Return leftover medicines to the pharmacist for destruction - don't hoard them
• Keep medicines, chemical and cleaning products such as bleach, turps and caustic soda where children cannot see or reach them
• Chemicals used in the garden, garage or workshop need to be used and stored with great care. Store them in a safe place where children can't see or reach them
• Keep cosmetics, perfumes and essential oils away from children.

DIY and Garden Safety

• Be realistic and don't tackle a job unless you really have the ability. A competent, qualified person should always carry out gas and electrical renewal or repair work
• Keep any tools clean and in good repair, and give each one a quick check over before you use it
• Always plan ahead - accidents happen more easily if you are unprepared and rush
• Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes when mowing the lawn and keep your feet and hands well away from the mower blades
• Stop and disconnect all electrical appliances and tools before working on them
• Ensure that all tools, paint and chemicals are kept safely out of the reach of children
• Take extra care with sharp cutting tools
• Follow makers' instructions very carefully when using adhesives, especially the instant type
• Use an RCD - residual current device - if your home is not already wired as standard
• Keep children and pets away when carrying out DIY
• Keep barbecues well away from trees, buildings and fences. Never pour petrol on a barbecue
• Some plants and berries are poisonous or can cause an allergic reaction
• Keep all products in their original containers.

A lot of the tips may sound like common sense but people rarely go around the home doing Risk Assessments on each room or consider the hazards at home on a regular basis. It's ironic the importance we put on Health & Safety in the workplace yet that is not the place that statistically we are most likely to be injured. Perhaps by following these tips we can effect these statistics and reduce the number of accidents in our homes.

Til next month.....

Jack