ABSTRACT
Three main areas will be considered in this chapter. These are the prevention of accidents and injuries during childhood; the prevention of accidents, most especially falls, for older people; and some elements of health and safety at the workplace. These areas have been chosen to reflect the breadth of research carried out under the umbrella of accidental injury. Accidents are a major cause of death in the UK. They are the most common cause of death in people under the age of 30. Accidents accounted for 10,193 deaths in England and Wales in 1991, of which more than 7,000 were men. For men, the major causes were motor vehicle accidents (49 per cent); 25 per cent of accidents occurred in the home. For women, the proportions were different, with 49 per cent of accidents occurring at home and 31 per cent being motor vehicle accidents (DoH, 1992a:102). Accidents at work constitute about 4 per cent of all accidental deaths. The sections of the population most vulnerable to accidents are children, old people and those with disabilities. The Health of the Nation has specified targets concerning accidental injuries. These are:
• To reduce the death rate for accidents among children aged under 15 by at least 33 per cent by 2005
• To reduce the death rate for accidents among young people aged 15-24 by at least 25 per cent by 2005
• To reduce the death rate for accidents among people aged 65 and over by at least 33 per cent by 2005.
