RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

November 6, 2000
SHARING IDEAS ON HOME SAFETY WILL SAVE LIVES

The RoSPA National Home Safety Congress today pinpointed the huge value of sharing ideas and good practice in reducing the annual UK toll of 2.8 million home accident injury victims.

The wide range of professionals who work in home safety, coupled with regional variations in local government structures to tackle the issue, mean that multi-agency initiatives are fast becoming the blueprint for success. This approach goes hand-in-hand with the sharing of different ideas and information.

Opening the congress, Consumer Affairs Minister, Dr Kim Howells, said: "Sharing good practice is crucial if we are to make progress on reducing home accidents. A good idea which works well in one area should only be considered a real success if that result is repeated all around the country. Over the past year we have been working to distribute materials such as our resource packs for safety professionals, promoting messages on carbon monoxide, falls and, most recently, fireworks. We have also teamed up with business for many of our campaigns to add ideas and support for an all-embracing partnership approach.

"Our new National Home Safety Network - which went on-line today - will build on this by providing a channel for home safety groups to keep in touch and share valuable information.

"We hope the network will further encourage multi-agency working and energise even more local activity on home safety. It will expand and improve over time, and I urge home safety activists everywhere to sign up and add their own knowledge and experience. By working together we can raise awareness, change people’s behaviour and save lives."

Sarah Colles, RoSPA Home Safety Adviser, said: "The Society welcomes the launch of the network, and looks forward to seeing improvements nationwide."

RoSPA’s annual two-day congress, entitled "Sharing Good Practice", is being held at the Moat House Hotel, Stratford upon Avon, and is sponsored by William Levene, manufacturers of the Culinare SafetyCan.

Other ideas to be shared include: the use of identity cards for teenagers to help regulate the sale of fireworks, alcohol and cigarettes; the use of carbon monoxide detectors; and IDEAS - Innovative Designs for Energy Efficiency Accident Prevention and Security in the home.

The new network can be found at: www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork