Accidents

Although there is a lot of competition for the number 10 position, accidents are the 10th biggest killer of UK men. This does not include deaths from transport related accidents, which adds a further 2,000 deaths to the 3,700 total.

Four out of every ten accidental deaths are caused by falls. Slipping on wet, icy or snowy surfaces or generally tripping over can result in death, especially in older men. American research shows that men are nearly 50% more likely to die from a fall than women.

Drug related deaths account for another 12% of accidental deaths in men, with choking and suffocating causing another 7%.

Accidents caused by knives, guns and power tools cause less than 10 deaths each year. Curiously, foreign objects entering natural orifices killed 4 people in 2007.

Other causes of accidental death include:

• Fire
• Drowning
• Accidental poisoning
• Being struck by a falling object
• Electrocution
• Exposure to extreme pressure

Preventing and dealing with accidents

Research shows that over 5 million people are involved in accidents every year in the UK. Most of these occur in the home. If you are in an accident, or are witness to one, then of course the first thing to do is to remove yourself from any immediate danger.

Then call the emergency services on 999 to get professional help before attempting to help others or deal with the situation further.

Get basic first aid training for yourself and all members of your family.

Read the NHS guide to first aid here.

Ensure that fire alarms are fitted and working. Check them regularly.

Avoid walking in slippery or icy conditions, especially if you are older. Try to exercise regularly, and make sure that you have your eyesight checked regularly. Ensure that your home is free of obstacles that may trip you up.

Top tip - Don't put foreign objects in natural orifices!

This article was published on Fri 12 February 2010