Home is where danger lies, warns new report, as over half of all accidental deaths happen at home

Accidental poisonings are increasing and 76% of fatalities happen at home 

Poisonings are the second biggest cause of accidental death, and in 2019 over three quarters (76%) of these took place at home. Accidental poisonings have increased by 96% since 2013, and in 2022 they caused over 5,600 deaths and over 20,500 hospital admissions. 

While most accidental poisonings come from alcohol and drug use in the home, threats also come in other forms. In England and Wales 42 people die every year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as more than 220 hospitalised and 4,000 attending A&E. Children are particularly vulnerable to accidental poisonings, with over 1,900 hospital admissions in England alone among under 5s in 2022/23. 

Risk of accidental house fire still too high 

Both the numbers of fires, numbers of fatalities and numbers of injuries from fires have all fallen over the long-term, but numbers have plateaued over the last decade. In Great Britain in 2022/23 there were over 32,600 house fires, which resulted in over 300 deaths and almost 7,500 casualties. Nine in ten (90%) house fires in England and Scotland are accidental – they could have been prevented. In England, more than nine in 10 (91%) house fire-related deaths were accidental. When looking at accidental deaths involving heat and hot substances, almost eight in ten (78%) of these occurred following accidents at home. 

Accidents cost the UK almost £12 billion annually in medical care and cost to businesses 

The rate of all accidental deaths in the UK has increased by 42% in the last decade and accidents now take over 20,000 lives each year. In England alone, accident-related hospital admissions for serious injuries have risen by 48% between 2002/3 and 2022/23.

As well as personal pain and injury, accidents put a huge strain on the NHS, costing at least £6 billion annually in NHS medical care – not including ambulance callouts, surgery or long-term treatment. Accident-related injuries are also a drain on the economy and prevent people from working. The combined cost to UK businesses is £5.9 billion, due to lost output and indirect management costs. 

In England alone last year, over 4.4 million bed days were used up to treat patients with accident-related injuries, costing the NHS an estimated £4.6 billion. Across the UK accidents led to around 5.2 million bed days, costing the NHS an estimated £5.4 billion last year. In addition, accidents resulted in around 7 million Accident & Emergency (A&E) visits across the UK last year, costing a further £613 million, bringing the total cost of accidents to the NHS to at least £6 billion annually.

RoSPA is calling for Government to create a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS – which includes 29 policy recommendations to improve home safety**. Read RoSPA’s full report, ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’.

Jules Robinson, Falls Engagement Lead at RoSPA, said: “It should be a place of safety and comfort but our new data reveals being at home is one of the most dangerous places to be. Over half of all accidental deaths happen at home – and with overall numbers of accidents increasing, this is only set to get worse. 

“Too many people are needlessly losing their lives and experiencing serious injuries because of accidents at home – particularly after slips, trips and falls. The safety design, fabric and maintenance of UK homes must be improved, and people need to be kept better aware of the possible dangers lurking in their home. Even those who have never been involved in an accident are still suffering, as increasing numbers of accidents are choking the UK economy and engulfing the NHS – taking up bed space, money, time and resources that could be directed to other serious illnesses. As part of calling for a National Accident Prevention Strategy the Government must implement our 29 measures to tackle accidents at home.”