Publication
Indicators for health education in Scotland; summary of findings from the 1996 Health Education Population Survey (HEPS)
Accidents / safety
Accidental injury is the main cause of death for children and young people, and the accident mortality rate in Scotland is twice that in England (SO, 1992). However, the only national targets specified relate to road accidents, although accidents in the home account for more fatalities, particularly among children and the elderly. The strategic direction for HEBS activities is outlined in Accident Prevention and Safety Promotion: A Strategic Statement (HEBS, 1997) and focuses on home and community safety. The emphasis in this survey is thus primarily on home safety and accident prevention measures in the home, an area where there is as yet relatively little information and much scope for improvement.
Knowledge indicator: The proportion of people aged 16-74 who correctly identify the main cause of serious injuries in the home for
|
For children under five, 56% thought the main cause of injury was burns and scalds, while 29% thought it was falls. Only 3% identified poisonings as the main cause of serious injury in the home for children under five. However, 76% of respondents correctly identified falls as the main cause of serious injury in the home for older people.
Motivation indicator: The proportion of people aged 16-74 who intend to improve safety in the home in the next six months. |
Twenty nine percent of respondents intended to take action to improve home safety. Figure 10 shows the types of measures and the proportions of respondents intending to take each one.
Figure 10: Home safety measures respondents intend to take in next six months
| Intended measures |
% |
| Carbon monoxide detectors |
11 |
| Burglar alarms |
7 |
| Window locks |
4 |
| Locked cupboards for hazardous chemicals |
3 |
| Socket covers |
3 |
| Stair gates |
3 |
| Safety kettles |
3 |
| Fire guards |
2 |
| Safety glass in windows |
1 |
| Water kept under hand-hot temperature |
1 |
The main motivation reported for taking, or intending to take, these safetymeasures was that it was a good idea (31%), while professional advice orpersonal experience were given as a reason by 16% and 15% respectively. Mediareports were mentioned by only 14%.
Skills indicator: The proportion of people aged 16-74 who want to knowmore about
|
Twenty six percent of respondents wanted more information about first aid,while 19% and 13% respectively wanted to know more about teaching safety tochildren and preventing accidents in the home.
Behaviour indicator: The proportion of people aged 16-74 who have
|
The large majority of respondents (81%) had a working smoke detector intheir home, while 25% had taken first aid training in the past five years. Only19% had a fire extinguisher or fire blanket in their home.
Behaviour indicator: The proportion of people aged 16-74 who reporttaking other measures to improve home safety. |
Most respondents (75%) reported taking other actions to improve home safety.The proportions taking each measure are shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11: Home safety measures currently taken by respondents
| Measures taken |
% |
| Window locks |
47 |
| Safety kettles |
27 |
| Burglar alarms |
17 |
| Safety glass in windows |
15 |
| Socket covers |
15 |
| Locked cupboards for hazardous chemicals |
13 |
| Fire guards |
12 |
| Water kept under hand-hot temperature |
10 |
| Carbon monoxide detectors |
8 |
| Stair gates |
6 |