Safety Begins at Home

ACC's Safety NZ Week 2010 commences on Monday, 30th August.  This year there is a strong focus on two key safety issues in the home - falls and alcohol. 

Read on for some interesting facts on home safety and ACC's top tips to avoid falls and alcohol-related injuries at home.

• In New Zealand, more injuries happen at home than at work, on the road or while playing sport.
• More than a third of all injuries occur in the home.
• One in seven New Zealanders will be injured in the home this year - that's one person every 56 seconds.
• The majority of home injuries occur in the garden.
• Around 460 people are injured each week using a hand or power tool at home.  That's more than 65 people per day, or nearly 3 people an hour.
• Inside the house, the kitchen is by far the most dangerous room in the house.

Falls

• Slips, trips and falls make up over half of all home injuries.
• More than 5,000 people injure themselves falling off ladders each year.
• More than 31,000 injuries occur on stairs or steps each year.
• Almost 90,000 people are injured each year falling on paths, steps and decks.
• Children under five years have more falls requiring a trip to the doctor than any other age group.

Alcohol

• The more you drink, the greater your risk of injury.
• ACC estimates that nearly a quarter of all injuries involve alcohol.
• About half of all fatal house fires involve alcohol.
  

Top Tips

1. Wet bathroom floors are slippery, so use a non-slip mat in bathrooms.
2. Ladders can tip easily, so when you're on one, don't over-reach sideways.
3. Polished floors can be like ice rinks, so wear slippers or non-slip shose around the house.
4. Stairs you can't see can be dangerous.  Flick on the light switch.
5. Chairs are for sitting on, not standing on.  If you need to reach up high, use a stepladder.
6. Cords can become tripwires, so plug in electrical appliances close to the socket, and avoid trailing cords over walkways.
7. Glass doors and windows are hard to see, so put stickers on the glass to make it more visible.
8. Nothing ruins a party like an injured mate, so provide non-alcoholic drinks for guests.
9. Don't let your guests get smashed and injure themselves - plan activities so drinking isn't the focus of the party.