RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : Home Safety

Families planning a shopping spree instead of going on holiday this Easter should beware - DIY stores, garden centres and supermarkets can be dangerous, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Provisional figures in a new report show two customers were killed and about 3,000 injured in retail premises in Great Britain in 1999/2000 - an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year, and the highest figure in recent times. RoSPA believes many more accidents may go unreported. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents joins forces with the Government and Nottingham City Council today in an attempt to reduce the number of deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in the East Midlands. The East Midlands has one of the worst records for this "silent killer" in the UK, and Department of Trade and Industry research has shown that people in the region are not aware of the problem. Full Story»

Rocking around the Christmas tree could be one of the quickest ways to land in hospital as the party season gets into full swing, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. Of about 80,000 accidents expected in the home over the Christmas and New Year break - around 1,000 are likely to be caused by Christmas trees. Full Story»

Knives are number one in the Top Ten of Dangerous Tools, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents stressed today in support of the Government’s campaign to cut Easter DIY casualties. Accidents with knives used in do-it-yourself lead to more than 22,000 people in the UK needing hospital treatment each year. Full Story»

Hundreds of over-ambitious and over-tired DIY enthusiasts will spend Easter in hospital instead of enjoying their handiwork, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today as it welcomed a new safety alert from the Department of Trade and Industry. RoSPA says among the reasons DIY injuries double over the holiday weekend are people tackling jobs that are beyond their capabilities and for which they have inadequate tools and safety gear. Full Story»

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. Full Story»

The wet weather that has been sweeping the country could lead to bonfire tragedies in the next few days, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. RoSPA fears that people may be tempted to use petrol, paraffin or meths to start fires in damp conditions. Full Story»

People living in Northern Ireland are three times more likely to be killed from carbon monoxide poisoning than anywhere else in the United Kingdom, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. To raise public awareness, a roadshow organised by RoSPA and coordinated locally by environmental health departments, will be making stops throughout Northern Ireland next month in a bid to cut deaths and poisoning incidents. Full Story»

A national registration scheme for bonfire and firework displays was called for by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today. RoSPA believes the plan would help persuade more people to go to organised displays and would lead to a reduction in firework injuries. A scheme would allow organisers to have plans checked by experts and reassure the public that they were attending a safe event. Full Story»

Plans for a national network promoting home safety are to be announced at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents annual home safety congress in November. The conference, "Sharing Good Practice", sponsored by William Levene, manufacturers of the Culinare SafetyCan, will be held at the Moat House Hotel, Stratford upon Avon, on November 6 and 7. Full Story»