Anthony Browne MP is today (April 2) backing a new campaign launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) aimed at keeping people accident and injury free and out of hospital.
The campaign, Accident Free, Avoid A&E, asks people to “Prevent accidents, Protect your family, Help the NHS” by learning about and preventing the common causes of serious accidental injury.
The new campaign webpage, http://www.rospa.com/AccidentFree, features tried-and-tested advice, information and practical resources to help you keep yourselves and your loved ones accident free, however young or old they are and whatever they’re doing.
The campaign will last for as long as social distancing measures are in place.
Commenting, Anthony Browne MP said: “We all have our part to play during this outbreak, and not just in ensuring the slowing of the spread of the disease. We also need to make sure we stay out of Accident and Emergency.
With over 6,000 home accident deaths across the UK, and thousands more injuries happening in our homes every year, just being at home doesn’t mean we can be complacent about our heath and safety.
Accidents will always happen, but the best thing that anyone can do right now to help our amazing NHS fight and beat coronavirus (COVID-19) is to avoid A&E. Ensuring we don’t take unnecessary risks will alleviate pressure on our country’s frontline health workers, while ensuring we stay safe must be our top priority.
“At times like these, of all times, we need to make sure we stay safe, and stay out of A&E.”
Errol Taylor, RoSPA chief executive, said: “While our amazing frontline healthcare staff are fighting this virus, we need to make sure we’re all doing everything we can to ease pressure on them in all other areas, particularly in A&E. We know that more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else – but that’s where everyone is going to be spending the majority of their time for the foreseeable future.
“So with Accident Free, Avoid A&E, we are providing information, guidance and resources to help everyone, whatever their age and whatever their current circumstances, stay out of emergency departments. If you are working from home with young children, we have advice on how to keep them safe; if you are an older person who is self-isolating, or have an older relative you are worried about, then we have lots of resources to prevent accidental falls.
“The message is simple: Prevent accidents, protect your family, help the NHS.”