This may sound crazy, but it is 100% true. More than 150 people a day are stabbing themselves when trying to open a ready meal packet or trying to open a stiff food jar using a knife. This was noted by a survey done by ‘Your Magazine’ which gave the questionnaire to more than 20,000 over 50’s.
The problems caused by trying to unwrap food have been referred to as “wrap rage”.
The terrible tea pot cosy- believe it or not, thousands of people have been injured by attempting to pick up the tea pot by the cover rather than by the handle. This has lead to severe burns and scalding.
Even more amazingly the Home Accident Surveillance System last year got figures of 5,310 people being injured whilst putting on their socks, 11,788 people taken to hospital whilst putting on their tights or stockings.
Here are the other crazy statistics found and the items that caused the injuries:
- 1394 incidents with hair brushes
- 14,149 incidents with vegetables
- 8569 incidents with piles of ironing
- 287 incidents with toilet roll holders
- 226 incidents with brillo pads
According to the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) these accidents are caused because people feel more relaxed at home which is obviously understandable – which makes them unaware of potential dangers surrounding them – which is why these incidents are occurring so often.
Obviously we’re not trying to scare you and make you afraid whilst at home but we are saying take care to avoid the obvious mistakes. A prime example was featured on Cnet news where a woman was walking upstairs carrying her washing and took a pair of scissors up with her in the waist band of her skirt – sharp edges upwards. Forgetting they were there she bent down to pick up a sock she had dropped and stabbed herself in her stomach!
So, just think about the objects around you and how they could be a danger particularly to small children.
