Introduction
Introduction
The home is thought to be one of the most common places for accidents to happen. Data from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) finds that approximately 6,000 people die a year due to an accident in the home. Over two million children under the age of 15 also visit A&E every year following an accident in the home.
On average, around 47,000 people visit major hospital A&E departments in England a day, adding up to around 16 million visits a year, according to the NHS Key Statistics Report: England 2024. A&E attendance has increased with visits for the most recent quarter (report published July 2024) being 14 per cent higher than rates 10 years ago. Visits to A&E are thought to cost the NHS around £45.63 billion a year.
Although some injuries will require urgent medical attention, particularly if they are severe, many minor injuries such as cuts, grazes, burns, scalds, bites and stings can be quickly treated with some basic first aid knowledge and products, which may help the skin to heal more rapidly, reduce scarring and prevent infection.
Fast facts
According to research from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA):
- The home is the most common location for an accident to happen, approximately 6,000 deaths occur every year in the UK
- Children under five years old and those over the age of 65, particularly those over 75, are most likely to have an accident at home
- Falls are the most common accidents, risk increases with age
- More women than men over the age of 65 die because of an accident in the home
- More boys are more likely to have accidents than girls
- More accidents happen in the living room than anywhere else in the home
- The cost to society of UK home accidents has been estimated at £45.63 billion annually.