RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
January 6, 2004
TAPS MOVE IN LINE WITH RoSPA PLANS FOR SAFER HOMES
Government proposals announced today to reduce scaldings by controlling bath water temperature, support RoSPA’s 10-point safety plan for new homes.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is to consult on bringing water temperature safety within the scope of building regulations, because each year more than 430 under-fives are seriously injured in scalding accidents in hot baths.
If introduced, the measure would be a victory for RoSPA’s campaign for thermostatically controlled bath taps in new homes and converted bathrooms. The idea is part of the Society’s 10-point plan to make new homes significantly safer for only about £900.
Sarah Colles, RoSPA Home Safety Adviser, said: “Scalds can result in terrible injuries. We firmly welcome the Government’s proposals. Thermostatically controlled bath taps could end needless pain and suffering faced by hundreds of children each year.
“The suggestion is that new rules on bath taps could come in by 2006, but we hope developers will include them in new properties and conversions from now on. They need to think more about safety at the planning stage.”
Other improvements ROSPA wants in new properties are: built-in lockable cupboards for medicines and chemicals; fixing points for stair gates and fire-guards; window restrictors on windows above ground level; easily accessible window controls; safer staircases; grab rails by the bath and WC; hand-rails on both sides of stairs; and provision of safety advice for home and garden.
RoSPA believes architects and developers could eradicate accident “blackspots” around the home by designing properties with safety in mind and this would have a colossal payback in terms of accident prevention.
Home accidents cost the National Health Service £7billion a year, but RoSPA believes this could be drastically reduced if designers paid more attention to safety when planning new projects or refurbishing properties.
Each year about 4,000 people are killed by home accidents and 2.8 million injured.
