RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

February 19, 2004
THOUSANDS FLOORED BY CHANGES IN FASHION

Changing fashions and the latest crazes lead to more accidents, a new report detailing how people in the UK hurt themselves at home and at leisure reveals today.

In a bid to solve the problem, RoSPA believes manufacturers planning new products need to design with safety in mind and to provide better safety information.

Latest estimates show 2,701,000 people in the UK went to hospital because of accidents at home in 2002, and 2,876,000 sought treatment after being hurt while out and about. Encouragingly the trend overall is down, including a near 25 per cent reduction in suspected child poisonings in five years to 24,800 cases. But some types of accident have risen.

The surge in sales of wooden flooring has kept hospital casualty departments busy. Statistics revealed 12,300 people falling on wood floors in 2002. Five years earlier the figure was only 2,900. Many of these accidents involved slipping when walking about at home barefoot or wearing socks. Falls on carpets also increased from 55,000 to 70,000.

Sarah Colles, RoSPA Home Safety Adviser, said: “Falls anywhere can be serious and the type of surface and footwear can have an effect on safety.”

The scooter craze had its downside. In 1998, about 2,200 people, mainly children were hurt, usually on ordinary toy scooters. But in 2002 there were 19,700 people injured as the mania for new sleeker scooters reached its height.

Changing cooking habits have led to fresh accident problems. Figures for 2002 show 2,700 people being hurt cooking with microwave ovens, five years before there were only 1,800. About half of these accidents involve burns from hot liquids. In the same period, the number of people injured using conventional cooker hobs reduced from 5,800 to 5,000.

Sarah Colles said: “The data assists safety professionals in determining where problems lie. It helps us to identify how many children are scalded in baths or have been poisoned at home. We have been able to recommend measures such as thermostatically-controlled taps and lockable cupboards to stop tragedies.”

The figures are from the final report of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System, covering the years 2000-2002. New statistics are no longer being collected, but RoSPA will run an enquiry service using the DTI’s accident surveillance system database from 1978 to 2002 for a further five years. Copies of the 2000-2002 Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System report and the 1997, 1998 and 1999 reports can be ordered from http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/safety.htm#hass