RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : Home Safety

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»

Bank Holiday gardeners beware! Tending lawns, hedges and flower beds can land you in hospital, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. More than 6,000 people injure themselves with mowers each year and about 4,800 have accidents with hedge trimmers. Full Story»

Professionals will pool ideas at a national conference organised by RoSPA in an effort to reduce home accidents which send nearly three million people to hospital each year. The conference, "Sharing Good Practice", will be staged by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and held at the Moat House Hotel, Stratford upon Avon, on November 6 and 7. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents issued a new plea to parents and shopkeepers today after a spate of firework incidents which have led to serious injuries and damage. David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: "With two weeks still to go to bonfire night, we are seriously concerned about the reports of misuse of fireworks throughout the UK. Full Story»

About 33,000 under fives go to hospital every year to be treated for poisoning or suspected poisoning, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. Medicines, cleaning products, alcohol, perfumes, mouthwashes and aftershave are all potential killers in the home, RoSPA said as Child Safety Week began. Full Story»

Bank holiday barbecues will be among a host of dangers likely to land 3,000 UK garden lovers in hospital this weekend, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. Every year around 400,000 people need medical treatment following accidents in the garden. Misuse of garden equipment and tools results in five deaths. Barbecues alone lead to up to 1,000 annual injuries, including serious burns. Full Story»

Up to 30,000 booklets will be distributed to support a campaign being launched next week to fight one of the biggest killers in Scotland. Accidents are the biggest cause of death in Scotland’s one to 39 years age group. Home accidents alone claim more than 500 lives in the country each year. Full Story»

A warning to take care when cooking that most favourite of British dishes - the humble chip - was made by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today in preparation for National Chip Week starting on Monday. Chip pan fires claim around 30 lives a year and injure 3,000 people. Latest figures show that the chip pan is currently the second biggest cause of accidental house fires in Britain. Full Story»

Turning up the heating and stopping draughts to keep out the cold winter air will be fatal for around 50 people this year due to carbon monoxide poisoning, according to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. RoSPA has teamed up with the Government to help raise the public awareness of the signs and dangers of carbon monoxide, through a new touring roadshow to be launched next week. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today issued a reminder for people to be aware of the potential dangers of carbon monoxide gas following the deaths of two teenagers in Scotland. The silent, invisible and deadly killer gas can be given off by any fossil fuel appliance (gas or solid), if there is not enough fresh air to promote efficient combustion. Full Story»