Tag: RoSPA

Avoid deer in the headlights on winter nights

Forestry and Land Scotland joins with Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to give tips on night time driving

At this time of year and as more people will be driving in the dark, Forestry and Land Scotland is urging drivers to be extra alert to wild deer on the roads.

Wild deer numbers in Scotland have reached record levels at 1 million – double the amount recorded in 1990 – and the consequent danger of deer-related road traffic accidents is predicted to rise. Forestry and Land Scotland previously released the figure of almost 2,000 reported deer-related accidents a year, though figures are believed to be nearer 8,000-14,000.

Collisions with large animals such as deer can be catastrophic, but there are some simple guidelines that can increase chances of avoiding a shocking accident. FLS has joined with RoSPA to offer guidance for night time driving when there could be deer on the road:

Dr Karen McDonnell, Head of RoSPA Scotland said: “When driving on country roads you have to try to anticipate the unexpected.

“Single track lanes, blind corners, and even the possibility of animals crossing can make driving challenging even for the most experienced drivers. To minimise your chances of a collision with a large animal, such as a deer, follow some straightforward steps.”

RoSPA’s tips:

Watch your speed on rural roads
Be aware of warning road signs
Be vigilant in areas where you have seen deer during daylight
If you see a deer, slow down to pass it and keep an eye out for more
Be ready to brake if a deer appears on the road
Use indicators to warn other drivers if you are passing deer or slowing down

Ian Fergusson, Head of Wildlife Management for FLS said: ”As Scotland’s deer numbers rise and expand their range, it’s really important that those driving on rural roads at night are extra vigilant.

“We are aware that deer accidents are more likely to happen on rural roads adjacent to forests and other wild habitats but they are becoming more common on major roads around towns and cities.

“As we enter the Christmas season, we’ve pulled together advice for motorists. Hitting a large animal is distressing at best and apart from damage to vehicles and potential injury to drivers and passengers, no-one wants to leave a wild animal hurt and in enduring pain.”

To help protect Scotland’s national forests and land from the negative impacts of deer, Forestry and Land Scotland employs a number of techniques, including deer culling and fencing, where appropriate, to keep numbers down to a sustainable level.

This helps to keep herds healthy, mitigates against habitat loss and helps reduce deer/vehicle collisions.

Most recorded road accidents involving deer occur in the Highland, Aberdeenshire, Central Belt, and Fife regions, but areas in west central Scotland, including North and South Lanarkshire have also seen significant increasesForestry and Land Scotland Deer Accidents.jpg in the last decade.

Go to a public firework display if possible, say RoSPA

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is advising that the safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a professionally-organised public display as fewer people are injured here than at private gatherings.

Ashley Martin, RoSPA’s public health adviser, said: “We see hundreds of firework-related injuries every year, and they literally change lives, with people receiving scarring that requires lifelong treatment.”

 “If there are organised displays available in your area we’d encourage members of the public to attend, as these will be put on by those trained in the use of fireworks, and will ensure that you and your family are safer.

However, as we head towards Bonfire Night and Diwali, we face the possibility that many public firework displays may not go ahead, whether it’s down to COVID-19, reduced stocks, or a change in safety labelling.

Ashley continued “If you are attending a private event, or putting on your own display, we’d urge you to adhere to the Firework Code, and make sure you are buying any fireworks only from reputable retailers. Please be aware that rules around the use of fireworks can vary depending on which part of the UK you live in.

“Check that the firework box carries a CE or UKCA mark, make sure you’re only buying category 2 and category 3 fireworks, and before using please check the distance requirements on the instructions.”

Thinking of holding a fireworks party?

Follow the Firework Code:

  • Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable, and check the time that you can legally set off fireworks
  • Only buy fireworks which carry the CE or UKCA mark, keep them in a closed box and use them one at a time
  • Read and follow the instructions on each firework, using a torch if necessary
  • Light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back
  • Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
  • Never return to a firework once it has been lit
  • Don’t put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
  • Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
  • Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire
  • Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.

For more information head here:  www.rospa.com/fireworks

RoSPA and RSA Group launch new campaign to tackle falls

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and RSA Insurance Group have launched the ground-breaking Fall Fighter initiative with the aim of tackling the UK’s biggest forgotten killer – falls in the home.

Falls are the single biggest cause of accidental injuries in the home and the largest cause of death among over-65s in the UK. Every year more than a third of people over the age of 65 (and half of those over 80) have a fall that requires hospital treatment, costing the NHS and wider healthcare system more than £2.3billion every year.

As well as having a huge impact on society at large, falls can also have a devastating effect on individual lives; from physical injuries, long-term health effects and disabilities to trauma and poor mental health, loss of mobility, loneliness, social isolation and loss of independence.

Despite this, making simple and low-cost changes can prevent falls from happening. The new Fall Fighter movement is designed to educate and empower people of all ages, transforming each of them into a “Fall Fighter” who can then help family, friends and others in their communities.

RoSPA and RSA will be providing short free awareness sessions and resources to give every Fall Fighter information and advice on how to reduce falls.

This could include, for instance, discussing what medication your friend, relative or loved one is currently prescribed and whether it needs to be reviewed, finding out whether they need an eye test, doing a home safety check and looking at what cheap and straightforward changes around the house could improve safety.

The resources will also contain guidance on what to do if someone has a fall – both in the short and longer-term, plus a digital toolkit to help each Fall Fighter inspire others.

RoSPA’s Relationships Director, Becky Hickman, said: “It takes just 20 minutes to become a Fall Fighter, but by doing so you have the power to change, and even save the lives of loved ones, friends and family.

“This simple but hugely effective project is free and open to all and we would encourage individuals or organisations to get involved.”

“This Fall Fighter community will now build, and in doing so, inspire others to prevent thousands of falls every year. By joining together, we can be a powerful and positive force for good.”

RSA’s Head of Social Impact and ESG, Laura Spiers, said: “Our partnership with RoSPA forms part of a wider programme to support our customers and communities, by increasing awareness to help them manage the risks they face every day.

“Preventing falls amongst loved ones in the home is an issue that’s often overlooked, but taking simple actions can minimise the devastating impact they have on people and their families. By harnessing RSA’s relationships, and encouraging people from every community to get involved in the Fall Fighter campaign and help those around them, I’m very hopeful that we can make a real difference across the country.”

The Fall Fighter website is available at: www.rospa.com/fall-fighter

Cold Water Shock: Float to Live

Cold water shock affects your ability to breathe or swim, and leads to drowning. It can affect even the strongest swimmers.

All waters around the UK are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer.

More info: https://rebrand.ly/qpzfccl@RLSSUK@rnli@rospa

The term ‘cold water shock’ refers to a range of natural reactions that our bodies take to protect us when we enter cold water (although these reactions can sometimes work against us). And with cold water being anything from approximately the temperature of a swimming pool and below, we are not just talking about icy cold water here.

So what are the effects of Cold Water Shock?

There are three stages that your body goes through during cold water shock, starting with one that you will be familiar with a mild version of from getting into the swimming pool…a gasp for breath, this is then followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation).

At the same time as your breathing goes out of control, your blood pressure shoots up as your body tries to keep your blood warm by moving it towards the middle of your body (this is why you go pale when you’re cold).

Once your breathing is back under control, this is your window to get out of the water before the further effects of cold water shock kick in.

As your muscles cool, your strength, endurance and muscle control reduces to the point when you can’t swim any longer so can’t rescue yourself. The point at which you can’t swim any more is called ‘swim failure’, and if you haven’t got out of the water or managed to get hold of a buoyancy aid (like a lifejacket) by this time, you will drown.

What about hypothermia?

There is a lot of talk of people dying from hypothermia after falling into cold water, but the truth is that unless they have a way of surviving past the point of swim failure (like wearing a lifejacket), you will drown before you become hypothermic.

Even in really cold water, it takes at least 30 minutes for you to become hypothermic. Crucially, hypothermia remains a risk even when you get out of the water unless you get out of the cold and warm up efficiently and quickly.

Is cold water shock really responsible for lots of drownings?

It is difficult to identify if cold water shock was the cause of a drowning or not, but this is what we know:

  1. All waters around the UK are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer.
  2. Over 60% of drownings are of people who have ended up in the water by accident, so they’re normally very close to the edge, but something stops them from being able to get out safely.
  3. A sudden rise in blood pressure can be fatal for people with a pre-existing heart condition. Each year a number of people who are suspected of drowning, turn out to have had a heart attack.
  4. Studies show that people’s ability to swim in cold water is much less than their ability in a warm swimming pool.
  5. Survivors of drowning have described how the effects of cold water shock made it difficult for them to survive.

What should you do if you fall into the water?

First, keep your mouth away from the water until you have your breathing back under control, you can do this by rolling onto your back and floating or paddling to stay at the surface.

Then, don’t waste any time and swim towards an exit before your muscles start to cool, or swim towards something that will help you to stay afloat whilst you are calling for help.

Finally, once you are out of the water re-warm yourself as soon as you can to avoid hypothermia.

Drowning Prevention Week is the national campaign run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to cut down the number of drownings that occur each year. Please support RLSS UK by donating to help save lives

Prof Mike Tipton, Cold Water Shock

Professor Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth provides an excellent insight into the effects of cold water, why it can be dangerous and what can be done to keep yourself safe.

Warning: this video will save lives. 

Care & Repair home assessment service will improve safety for Edinburgh residents

Care & Repair Edinburgh, part of the Age Scotland family, is launching a home assessment service to help older people and those living with disabilities live as safely and comfortably as possible in their own homes.

The new service includes a free room-by-room home assessment by the charity’s Independent Living Adviser (above), who will create a report of recommendations for improvements in safety, accessibility and comfort.

Typical recommendations may include replacing faulty electrical items, fixing door thresholds, removing frayed rugs or other trip hazards, draught-proofing wooden windows and doors, and improving accessibility through the installation of handrails, ramps and key safes. 

Following the home assessment, a full report will be available to allow clients to review any recommendations and discuss with family members. Care & Repair Edinburgh may also be able to carry out some of the work client wishes to progress, either free of charge where eligible or at a subsidised rate for larger repairs and installations.

Allison Strachan, Head of Care & Repair Edinburgh, said: “Although lockdown measures are easing gradually, people are still spending large amounts of time at home and therefore it is very important that the home environment is as safe, comfortable and accessible as possible.

“This new service will allow older people and those living with disabilities in Edinburgh to continue to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as they want and are able.

“Arranging a free home assessment can offer much-needed peace of mind and we would encourage eligible Edinburgh residents to get in touch to find out how Care & Repair Edinburgh can assist them.”

The free home assessment service has been researched in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and is possible thanks to generous funding from Bank of Scotland Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation and Greenshoots Fund.

Bookings will be taken from Monday 14 June onwards, with the first appointments for home assessments available from Monday 19th July.

To arrange your free assessment, please contact Care & Repair Edinburgh on 0131 3371111 or visit www.crew.scot for more information.

Respect the Water!

Water Safety Scotland urges people to take precautions as incident data shows an increase in water-related fatalities

Water Safety Scotland (WSS) is urging people across Scotland to ‘Respect the Water’ when visiting and enjoying its waterways and coastlines.

This call comes at a time when the latest figures from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), revealed that there were 99 water-related fatalities in Scotland’s waters, with 39 due to accidental drownings in 2020.*

79% of accidental fatalities happened at inland waters. This is a significant change from previous years, which have seen most accidental fatalities happen at the coast.

With drownings across the world currently in the spotlight after the United Nations (UN) recent General Assembly, there are growing concerns emerging with the announcement of these new figures.

As Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2021 is in full swing, WSS is keen to support people getting out and enjoying Scotland’s waterways with safety at the forefront of any activities.

In line with the NWSF ‘Respect the Water’ campaign, WSS is asking members of the public to follow Scotland’s Water Safety Code wherever they are in Scotland, and have, as a result, created a new webpage to support the ‘Respect The Water’ campaign.

WSS highlights the following key pieces of advice in its Water Safety Code:

  • Stop and think – spot the dangers
  • Stay together, stay close
  • Know what to do in an emergency

Michael Avril, Chair of Water Safety Scotland said: “Every fatality in Scotland massively impacts the persons friends and family and we at Water Safety Scotland will continue to do everything within our powers to prevent future tragedies.

“2020 was an exceptionally difficult year in so many ways and the increased number of drowning fatalities may have been caused by a number of factors.  Water Safety Scotland will continue to work in partnership to carry out prevention activity and to better understand the causes of these tragedies.

“We ask everyone to come together in Scotland to support the #RespectTheWater campaign and follow Scotland’s Water Safety code.”

With Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy in its fourth year, the four-year review of the strategy will be published next spring along with a planned RoSPA Water Safety Conference.

This year’s WAID statistics also includes a fatality figure from suspected suicides. The figure for Scotland in 2020 was 28, with the Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy average being 29.

Rachel Cackett, Executive Director for Samaritans Scotland and chair of the Water Safety Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Subgroup, said: “Suicide accounts for around 1 in 3 water-related fatalities in Scotland every year. Working to understand and reduce the risks of suicidal behaviour around Scotland’s waterways is important both for suicide prevention policy and for realising the overall aims of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy.

“Today’s figures are a reminder that it’s vital we continue to work with partners across national and local government, health, emergency and first response services, and the third and voluntary sector to develop knowledge and insight around suicidal behaviour around water-ways, and that we carry on working together to strengthen prevention and intervention.”

To view and download the WAID 2020 report visit: 

https://nationalwatersafety.org.uk/waid/annual-reports-and-data/

To view WSS’s annual trend report visit: 

https://www.watersafetyscotland.org.uk/media/1758/waid-2020-trend-report.pdf

Keeping Kids Safe: RoSPA launches campaign to reduce domestic accidents involving under-5s

A new safety campaign to help reduce the number of domestic accidents involving under-5s in Scotland has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

During lockdown many people are spending more time at home than ever before. However, more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else – every year in the UK, about 6,000 accidental deaths are caused by home accidents.

In Scotland, there are an average each year of 1,856 children under five years old injured so severely that they require hospital admission due to injuries in the home.

Evidence shows that falls, poisonings, burns and scalds – many of which happen in the home – are the most common injuries leading to A&E attendance and hospital admission for pre-school children.

Liz Lumsden, RoSPA’s community safety manager for Scotland, said: “Due to their inquisitive nature, children under the age of five are among the most likely to end up in A&E because of a home accident.

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many of us have spent more time at home than we may otherwise have done which can increase the likelihood of little ones having a mishap.”

To help prevent home accidents among young children in Scotland, RoSPA will be coordinating an awareness-raising campaigning which promotes key home safety messages this week. The campaign is supported by Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership, Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government.

The campaign will include short videos which demonstrate how to avoid common accidents that occur in the kitchen, bedroom, living room and other parts of the home.

Commenting on the campaign Community Safety Minister, Ash Denham MSP,  said: “I am pleased to see the launch of this campaign which looks to help prevent accidents in the home among young children.

“With children spending more time indoors at home, and the added factor of many parents having to juggle childcare with working from home, we know there is an increased risk of potential accidents.

“I would like to thank the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for their continued dedication to help keep our children and young people in Scotland safe during these unprecedented times.”

In addition to the campaign videos and graphics, you can find further home safety advice on the Keeping Kids Safe hub, at https://bit.ly/3iteczf

Half of Scots fear losing their independence when retiring from driving

Half of Scots fear the loss of their independence if they could no longer drive, a survey has revealed as RoSPA launches a new road safety campaign that aims to keep people behind the wheel safely for longer.

This figure rose to one in three of those aged 65 and over. However, this age group is disproportionately vulnerable to death and serious injury on Scotland’s roads, and is more likely to have to retire from driving for health reasons.

In 2018, more than two in five drivers who were killed on Scotland’s roads were 60+ (22)*, and more than a quarter of those seriously injured were in that bracket. In all, in the same year, 43 car drivers in this age group were involved in crashes in which someone died.

Life on the Road aims to enable drivers aged 65 and over to stay on the road safely for as long as possible, by encouraging take-up of further training in later life, and by providing key information around age-related health issues.

A new website, www.LifeOnTheRoad.org.uk, has been created to deliver a raft of information, while RoSPA is also running three assessment days in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow to offer the over-65s a chance to take free experienced driver training.

The campaign also encourages younger family members to speak to their parents and grandparents if they are concerned about their driving. The survey revealed two-thirds of Scots said they would talk to relatives if they had concerns, and encourage them to get professional advice.

Steve Whitehouse, RoSPA’s road safety manager in Scotland, said: “We know those who are over 65 are disproportionately susceptible to being killed or seriously injured on Scotland’s roads, and what’s worse, the number of casualties in this age group is reducing more slowly than for all other ages.

“Although people aged 65 or over do more to self-regulate their driving behaviours than anyone else – for example, by sticking to roads they know or reducing the amount of night-time driving they do – there are a range of age-related conditions that could lead to safety issues on the road. But, that needn’t mean losing your licence, and by keeping an eye on these conditions and taking further training, more people will be able to drive safely for longer.

“Driving, and the independence it brings, is so vital for so many people, and we want to keep everyone on the road, safely, for longer.”

The survey also revealed attitudes about who Scots feel are the best and worst drivers; 17 to 24-year-olds are rated as the worst, with 37 per cent rating them as “poor”. More than a quarter of people (29 per cent) label those aged 65+ as “poor” drivers.

Only 23 per cent rate those in the oldest age band as being “good” or “very good”, and surprisingly, only 4 per cent of those aged 65+ rank people of their own age as being “very good” drivers.

The survey, of 1,002 adults in Scotland, revealed that those aged 35-44 and 45-54 are thought to be the best drivers, with nearly 77 per cent of people rating them as “good” or “very good” in each case.Steve added: “We’d encourage everyone, of any age, to take further driver training, as it will refresh your skills, reassure you of your ability, and enable you to prove to your relatives – and everyone else – just how good a driver you are.

“You can do this by attending one of our assessment days, booking a RoSPA experienced driver assessment, or joining the RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders network.

“There’s a lot of great work being done in the young and inexperienced-driver arena to help them become safer motorists, so we want to help those aged 65 and over to add to their skill and knowledge base too, and support the self-regulation they already undertake.”

For more on the Life on the Road campaign, see www.LifeOnTheRoad.org.uk.

The assessment days are taking place in Aberdeen on Monday February 24, in Edinburgh on Tuesday February 25, and in Glasgow on Wednesday February 26.

For more information, or to book, call 0121 248 2099.

Thousands of children’s homes could have potentially-deadly blind cords, RoSPA research shows

Thousands of children’s homes across the UK may have potentially-deadly blind cords – even in kids’ bedrooms – new research from RoSPA shows.

Of homes which have blinds in the child’s bedroom, one in three (33 per cent) were fitted more than five years ago, before new safety standards were introduced in an effort to prevent death and serious injury from cord accidents. In living rooms and hallways this figure rises to 38 per cent, and to 41 per cent in kitchens.

RoSPA is aware of 33 child deaths due to blind cords since 2001.

Worryingly, nearly two-thirds of blinds in children’s bedrooms have looped cords or chains, which pose the most severe strangulation risk. Nearly one in three homes (29 per cent) have no safety devices fitted on their blinds.

Liz Lumsden, community safety manager for RoSPA Scotland, said: “They may look harmless, but to a young child looped cords can be deadly if they get them caught around their neck.

“The new standards introduced in 2014 only apply to the manufacture and fitting of blind cords, meaning those fitted before that date are unlikely to be safe by design, or to have been supplied with safety devices.

“We urge all parents and grandparents, and anyone else who has children in their home regularly, to remove looped cords from their homes – particularly from their children’s bedrooms – and have new blinds fitted. If this is not possible there are cheap or free safety devices which can be fitted, such as cleats, which enable the blinds to be tied up.”

RoSPA’s blind cord safety tips:

  • Install blinds that do not have a looped cord, particularly in a child’s bedroom
  • Cords on blinds (and also curtains) that are elsewhere in the home should be kept short and out of reach of children – tie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies, clips or ties that are available
  • Do not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window
  • Do not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on a cot or bed
  • Do not hang drawstring bags where a small child could get their head through the loop of the drawstring
  • RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as a short-term solution, because they could actually become more dangerous.

For more blind cord safety advice and resources, see www.rospa.com/blindcords

Safety events geared up to help older drivers stay on the road

Following on from the success of its 100 Year Old Driving School STV series, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is bringing a new event to Edinburgh aimed at keeping drivers over the age of 65 on the road safely for longer. Continue reading Safety events geared up to help older drivers stay on the road