Accidents are responsible for 10,000 deaths a year across England. They are a leading cause of death in younger age groups. The levels of pain, hardship and misery for those that are injured or bereaved are immeasurable.
Somerset has a lower rate of accidental deaths in the under 15 year age group and a higher rate for those aged 15–24 years compared to national statistics. In 1999, 110 Somerset residents died as a result of an accident and 1852 were seriously injured and required hospital treatment with a stay of more than 3 days.
Accident prevention is any activity that studies the causes of accidents, makes predictions about their frequency and implements preventative and remedial measures.
The Somerset Accident Prevention Forum is a multi-agency group that work together to co-ordinate and generate accident prevention initiatives across the whole of Somerset.
The overall aim of the Forum is: "To help people in Somerset lead safer lives".
The objectives of the Forum are to:
- Prevent injuries and death caused by accidents
- Co-ordinate accident prevention activities in Somerset
- Support agencies and individuals who have a responsibility for preventing accidents
- Engage and empower local people and their communities to contribute to accident prevention
- Monitor and evaluate accident prevention activities
Accident Prevention information
