The home is thought to be one of the most common places for accidents to happen. Data from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) finds that approximately 6,000 people die a year due to an accident in the home. Over two million children under the age of 15 also visit A&E every year following an accident in the home.
On average, around 47,000 people visit major hospital A&E departments in England a day, adding up to around 16 million visits a year, according to the NHS Key Statistics Report: England 2024. A&E attendance has increased with visits for the most recent quarter (report published July 2024) being 14 per cent higher than rates 10 years ago. Visits to A&E are thought to cost the NHS around £45.63 billion a year.
Although some injuries will require urgent medical attention, particularly if they are severe, many minor injuries such as cuts, grazes, burns, scalds, bites and stings can be quickly treated with some basic first aid knowledge and products, which may help the skin to heal more rapidly, reduce scarring and prevent infection.