RoSPA is calling on politicians and health professionals in Northern Ireland to tackle the scourge of accidents as new figures show that accidental deaths have been rising and that they are now at the top of the list of preventable causes of early death.
The figures published by the safety charity today reveal that in Northern Ireland, accidents vie with intentional self-harm as the leading cause of preventable premature death until the age of 60. Accidents account for 23 per cent of preventable years of life lost in this age group in Northern Ireland, which, coincidentally, is the same percentage as for the population of England and Wales.
Accidents cost the lives of an average of 500 people every year in Northern Ireland and tackling this issue needs to be a priority for everyone. This will be the message to delegates today at the launch of Northern Ireland’s Big Book of Accident Prevention at the Stormont Estate, which will hear from experts from the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland (PHA), which funded the document, to help bring the issue of accident prevention to the heart of the government.
The document sets out how investing in prevention can help to save lives, reduce injuries and lessen the burden on families, local communities, accident and emergency departments, the wider health and social care services and the economy as a whole.
The foreword by Dr Eddie Rooney, chief executive officer at the PHA, describes the scale of accidents as “a huge burden” on society as a whole and “a public health issue which can be prevented”.
Aside from the human cost, accidents cost Northern Ireland society an estimated £4.3billion every year, with home and leisure accidents accounting for £2.7billion of this cost.
While road deaths have fallen over the last decade, fatal home and leisure accidents have risen and are set to increase by a further third over the next 15 years.
Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to accidents in the home.
Errol Taylor, deputy chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said:
“Acting on accident prevention is both inexpensive and effective, not only in saving lives that would otherwise be lost prematurely - but in helping to relieve the huge pressure on the NHS, particularly on A&E departments. In the Big Book of Accident Prevention, we showcase some of the excellent accident prevention work that is being done in Northern Ireland and argue that more should be done.
There has never been a better time to increase the investment in accident prevention and it should be made a higher priority in Northern Ireland.”
RoSPA aims to circulate the book widely among health and community professionals to raise awareness of the causes and to reduce the prevalence of accidental deaths.
Dr Eddie Rooney, chief executive officer at the PHA, said:
“Accidents continue to be a principal cause of premature, preventable deaths in Northern Ireland, with the most vulnerable in our society being at the greatest risk. As well as the impact on the individual, accidents place a huge burden on families, local health and other public services and the wider community.
However, we know that accidents are a public health issue which can be prevented. Identifying and removing the cause, or reducing the exposure to the cause, can prevent accidents happening. I am committed to continuing to work in partnership with RoSPA and other stakeholders to ensure that people in Northern Ireland have the best chance of living, working and thriving in a safe environment.”
Ita McErlean, home safety manager at RoSPA Northern Ireland, said:
“Each year, far too many families in Northern Ireland are left enduring the heartache of losing a loved one in an accident.
In 2011, 458 people lost their lives in accidents including nine children under the age of 15. What’s more we now know that accidents are right at the top of preventable causes of early death and this is something that needs to change.
Helping people to make their own safety decisions by looking after themselves and others is what accident prevention is about and our new document is essential reading for anyone whose responsibility is to ensure that public health is delivered effectively.”
Accident prevention initiatives set out in the book are: home safety check schemes; young drivers’ initiatives; a carbon monoxide campaign and a farm safety programme.
The Big Book Of Accident Prevention Northern Ireland edition is available to download from the E-Library Database.
It follows the publication of The Big Book of Accident Prevention, which was sent to every member of every health and wellbeing board in England, and is also available to donwload from the E-Library Database.
Use the keyword 'AccidentsNI' or 'AccidentsEN' respectively for the version you wish to download.
Source: RoSPA / Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
