Housing and health: Accidents at home.

Every year there are about 5500 fatal accidents in British homes (some two fifths of all fatal accidents). A further 2 2 million people have non-fatal accidents at home needing hospital treatment, and another 900 000 are dealt with by general practitioners. The cost of domestic accidents to the health service in England and Wales is about £300 000 a year.' Statistical information about non-fatal domestic accidents has been collected since 1976 by the Department of Trade and Industry, based on attendance records at the accident departments of 20 hospitals. Information about fatal accidents is held in the home accident deaths database, and the Home Office publishes annual statistics about accidents involving fire.