HM Government Publications

Note. The Home Safety Network is winding down and will close in the Spring of 2006. Some its resources will continue to be available on the DTI web site. The main reasons the HSN is closing are: DTI is now focussing on policy areas and law making, Other organisations such as RoSPA and Help the Aged do much the same thing (i.e. raise awareness of safety issues) Other Departments and agencies are active in some of these areas. Companies like Viewcare are now available to give help in these areas.

HM Government Information on Falls

Each year there are about 2.7 million accidents in the home which necessitate a visit to hospital. Of these accidents almost 4,000 are fatal. By far the biggest cause of these accidents are falls, which account for 40% of the non-fatal injuries and 46% of all deaths. Most deaths from falls involve the older age groups with nearly 80% of the victims aged over 65 and only 5% under the age of 40. Every five hours an older person is killed by an accidental fall in the home – this is the equivalent to 1,500 people dying every year. Over 300,000 pensioners are so seriously injured by a fall in their home that they require hospital treatment.

In 1999 the DTI embarked on a three year campaign involving publicity, research into falls and production and distribution of a variety of resource materials to support those active in the field of falls prevention. The campaign's slogan was 'Avoiding slips, trips and broken hips'. Although the campaign has ended some of the information can still be download here.

Detailed figures are shown in this report but it is clear that nearly 80% of the victims are aged over 65 and only 5% are under the age of 40.

The risks of falling amongst older people are well documented. Injuries arising from falling result in significant costs to health and social care services, and a loss of independence for the older person.  The incidence of falls amongst older people has long been a cause for international concern. This report reviews the evidence for international intervention studies to reduce falls in older people in Australia, the USA, Scandinavia and other European countries. Recent UK examples are also included.

This report examines the incidences of hip fractures in the UK. The report discusses the type of fractures that occur and why hip fractures are particularly common in older people. Demographics such as the ethnic composition of the population, diet, fitness and smoking are also weighed up in order to explore which sections of society are more at risk. Based on the amount of time that people are required to spend in hospital, the report estimates the costs of falls to these parties, using existing literature and findings. By detailing the process involved from fracture to complete rehabilitation, the report presents detailed cost analysis on fractures of the hip.

Accidental falls in the home - Regional distribution of cases involving people over 65 in the UK Regional statistics of accidental fall cases involving people aged over 65 in the UK. The data provides an overview of accidents and deaths from falls by age and sex; falls mechanism and deaths/estimates of serious/minor accidents for 1995-97 by UK region.

Falls on stairs in the home involving older people Statistics associated with stairs usage: deaths and non-fatal falls arising from stairs usage in the UK, 1996-98.

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