In Northern Ireland in a typical week, two people die as a result of home accidents. In addition to these deaths, there are approximately 17,000 admissions to hospital each year as a result of unintentional injuries in general.
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Promoting Wellbeing Division aim to provide information and resources to their staff and general public on home accidents and how to prevent them. The work is guided by the Home Accident Prevention Strategy (2015) and the aim is to minimise injuries and deaths caused by home accidents.
Home accidents can easily be prevented by being aware of the dangers and hazards that are present in the home environment and putting in place interventions to minimise the risks.
This strategy is concerned with the whole population of Northern Ireland but has a particular focus on: babies and children under five and over 65’s.
Campaigns
- Alcohol Awareness Week
Alcohol Awareness Week takes place in November and the theme in 2021 is alcohol and relationships.
This week, we’re highlighting the excellent alcohol-related resources available on Covid Wellbeing NI. There are fact sheets to read and self-help toolkits to help better understand and assess one’s alcohol use. All of this is detailed below. You are more than welcome to share this content with co-workers, peers, clients, family and friends.
- Falls Festival 2022
The EU Falls Festival took place on 4th and 5th April 2022 and brings together leading academics, researchers, health care practitioners, clinicians, industry representatives and key stakeholders from across the globe to celebrate best practice research and innovation in the multidisciplinary study and implementation of falls prevention in older people.
The overall theme of the 2022 conference was “Falls prevention: Getting things done in practice”. They reflected on how we get effective falls prevention strategies implemented into the daily routine. During the conference, the following keynote themes were be presented: “Technology and falls”, “Cognitive decline and falls” and “Medication related fall risk”. In addition, eminent speakers on topics such as “Sarcopenia and falling” gave plenary lectures. The EU Falls Festival also encourages participation and advancement of young researchers through for example reduced entrance rates and prizes for best oral and poster presentations.
The EU Falls Festival took place on 4th and 5th April 2022 and brings together leading academics, researchers, health care practitioners, clinicians, industry representatives and key stakeholders from across the globe to celebrate best practice research and innovation in the multidisciplinary study and implementation of falls prevention in older people.
The overall theme of the 2022 conference was “Falls prevention: Getting things done in practice”. They reflected on how we get effective falls prevention strategies implemented into the daily routine. During the conference, the following keynote themes were be presented: “Technology and falls”, “Cognitive decline and falls” and “Medication related fall risk”. In addition, eminent speakers on topics such as “Sarcopenia and falling” gave plenary lectures. The EU Falls Festival also encourages participation and advancement of young researchers through for example reduced entrance rates and prizes for best oral and poster presentations.
- You can view the European Falls Festival video presentation using this link: https://eufallsfest2022.eu/index.php/preview-video-presentations/=
- Carbon Monoxide Awareness
November is Northern Ireland’s Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month. Click to read more.
- Fact Sheets – Symptoms
- Fact Sheets – Staying Safe
- Fact Sheets – Out of Home
- Fact Sheets – Most at Risk
- Landlord guidance
- Staying Safe at Home During the Pandemic
Staying Safe When Staying at Home – COVID-19
Avoid Injury During COVID-19 flyer
‘Lockdown summer safety for children’
‘Staying Safe When You’re Staying At Home: Fire, Burns and Scalds Safety’
Risks associated with the use of alcohol based hand sanitisers
Further information
We provide training for staff and community workers. Or download our Home Accident Prevention calendar for information on upcoming safety campaigns which you can profile with your community.
Contacts
Emma Daly, Community Health Improvement Officer
028 3756 3952
emma.daly@southerntrust.hscni.net