Make Home Accident Prevention Everybody’s Business! Ita McErlean, Manager RoSPA NI

Attendances at A&E (2000) A&E Attendances 2000

71,736 people attended A&E 9,042 people were admitted, total of 54,704 nights in hospital 77 people died The Accident Problem in NI

Who is most at Risk? Under 5’sUnder 5’s Older people (65+)Older people (65+) TravellersTravellers Lower socio economic groupsLower socio economic groups MalesMales Single parent familiesSingle parent families

Children in Northern Ireland On average 1 child in 12 will be treated for a home accident, each year On average 1 child in 12 will be treated for a home accident, each year ½ of those treated will be under 4 ½ of those treated will be under 4 Boys are more likely to have an accident than girls Boys are more likely to have an accident than girls Children are more likely to revisit A&E following another accident Children are more likely to revisit A&E following another accident

Over 65s in Northern Ireland 15% of population 40% of all emergency admissions 66% of all hospital patients (for other health reasons)

Government Approach Investing for Health Strategy 2002 Home Accident Prevention Strategy

LOCAL APPROACH Home Accident Prevention NI & Local Groups (22 across NI) Investing for Health Partnerships across the 4 Board Areas. Home Safety Officers

Last six months Secured funding for next 3 years with DHSSPS Recruited new Home Safety team Web based database project Training provided to a range of health practitioners Support to HAP NI (Home Accident Prevention NI ) Identifying and establishing new partnerships

Meet Connie and Alex

GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL Newry Local practitioners trained to deliver key messages about home accident prevention to primary school children using puppets.

Reaction to the puppets

Adults can have fun too!

By this evening In Northern Ireland: Almostpeople will have attended A&E Almost 200 people will have attended A&E 5 older people will have been admitted to hospital because of a fall. 2 of these will never return home. A final thought…………..