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What we know
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| What we know | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accidental injury can occur as a result of road traffic accidents, falls, poisoning, drowning and fires. They can occur in the home, on the roads, in the workplace and in a variety of outdoor locations. In our community accidents are an influential cause of mortality and morbidity including long-term disability. Some groups of the population, for example, children, the elderly or those in particular occupational groups, are at much greater risk of accidents than others. Accidents account for approximately 9% of years of life lost under the age of 75 and they are an important cause of preventable death in the rest of the population, especially children and young people. Young men are also a high risk group for accidental injury due to road traffic accidents. |
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| What information do we have about the Eastern Board area? | |||||||||||||||||||
| In the Eastern Board area in 2005, accidents represented approximately 5% of the total deaths. One in four accidental deaths is due to motor vehicle accidents and accidental deaths account for 4% of all deaths in children aged 1-14 years. In 2005, the road traffic accident mortality rate for males in the Eastern Board area was 14.4 per 100,000 deaths, compared to a figure of 1.6 for females. The greatest proportion of hospital admissions for motor vehicle accidents 2004/05 occurred in the 16-24 age bracket, accounting for 25% of the total in the Eastern Board area. The Eastern Board also accounts for 27% of the total hospital admissions from motor vehicle accidents in Northern Ireland. This is a reduction of 4% from 2003/04. Eastern Board hospital admissions for accidental falls accounts for approximately 40% of the total figures for Northern Ireland in this category. It is notable that most accidental falls in the Eastern Board area occur in the older generation with those aged 75+ accounting for 47% of hospitals admissions for accidental falls. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Northern Ireland have carried out some home accident studies with
Accident and Emergency departments in Northern Ireland. They have
concluded that in Northern Ireland every year, over 70 people die
in home accidents and almost 70,000 visit their local Accident and
Emergency departments seeking help. Home accidents account for 41%
of all accidental injuries treated at Northern Ireland Accident
and Emergency departments. It is estimated that out of every 7 people
attending Accident and Emergency because of a home accident, 1 person
is actually admitted to hospital overnight (RoSPA, 2000/01). A full
copy of this report can be found at www.rospa.com. |
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| What is the result of this on our health locally? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accidents are important not only because they cause injury and death but because they affect all age groups and are often avoidable. Accidents occurring in the home and on the road account for a large proportion of hospital admissions and deaths following accidents. In 2004, 52 people from the Eastern Board area died following motor vehicle traffic accidents. Men are more frequently involved in fatal accidents on the road and accounted for 71% of those killed on the road in 2004. Age is a significant influence in determining the risk of accidents. Firstly, it influences the degree and nature of exposure to hazards. Secondly, it is related to competence and attitude to activities. An important aetiological factor in accidents is alcohol, in particular road traffic accidents. Alcohol is present in about a quarter of fatal accidents involving car users and pedestrians. Smoking is an additional factor in fires that start in the home. Children and the elderly are at greater risk as pedestrians and more susceptable to falls compared to the rest of the population. Young children are still developing physically, mentally and socially and may be unaware of dangers, and their attention easily wanders. Thirdly, age may influence the ability of a person to withstand injuries sustained in an accident. Accidents are a important cause of death in children aged 1-14 years. Of the 76 deaths in this age group in the Eastern Board area in 2004, 5 were due to accidents
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| Policies | |||||||||||||||||||
| The Executive, in its Programme for Government under the theme “Working for a Healthier People” gave a commitment to promoting public safety by reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by accident at home, at work and on the road. Investing for Health outlined a proposed
approach to improve the health of all the people here and to reduce
health inequalities. One of its goals is to reduce accidental injuries
and deaths in the home, workplace and from collisions on the road.
The NI Home Accident Prevention Strategy and Action Plan was published in January 2005 by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS). The aim of the strategy is to reduce injury and loss of life resulting from home accidents. The action plan outlines a number of roles for key agencies throughout the province.
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| What is happening in the Eastern Board area? | |||||||||||||||||||
References RoSPA/DHSSPS (2000/01); Full report of the RoSPA / DHSSPS Accident & Emergency Data Survey for 2000/1; Available from www.rospa.com |
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For further information on this topic please contact us at publichealth@ehssb.n-i.nhs.uk Eastern Health and Social Services Board Champion
House, 12-22 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BS Telephone: (028)
9032 1313 Fax: (028) 9055 3681 Text Phone:(028) 9032 4980 Website:
www.ehssb.org
E-mail: pr@ehssb.n-i.nhs.uk |
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