4387.3 - Safety in the Home, Queensland, Oct 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/04/2002   
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BACKGROUND

This publication summarises the results of a survey on safety in the home. The survey was conducted on selected households throughout Queensland during October 2001 as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey.

The aim of the survey was to provide data to assist the Queensland Government, in particular Queensland Health, to run targeted awareness campaigns and enable the development of other intervention/prevention strategies and projects.

Information was collected on selected household safety features and potential hazards in the home. Specific attention was given to households where young children or older persons were present. Various safety features such as the presence of smoke detectors and hot water thermostats, prevention strategies such as first aid training, risk factors including pool ownership and playground equipment were investigated. Other demographic data collected includes type of dwelling and home ownership.


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

  • Of the estimated 1,409,900 households in Queensland, (643,400 or 45.6%) were located in the Brisbane Major Statistical Region (MSR) and (766,500 or 54.4%) were located in the Balance of Queensland MSR. In general, results were similar across both regions.
  • Of all households, just over one quarter (26.2% or 369,200) of households had anti-slip surfaces or strips, including rubber mats, used or fitted in the bath or shower.
  • The majority of households (70.2% or 990,200) had internal or external steps or stairs. Of those households, almost one quarter (24.5% or 243,100) had guards or gates at the top and/or bottom of the steps/stairs.
  • Nearly seven out of ten households (69.1% or 973,700) had smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed. This represents a significant increase from October 1996 when smoke alarms or smoke detectors were installed in only 38.7% (473,600) of households. In October 2001, of the households with smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed, only 12.9% (125,900) tested them 'more than once a month' with 19.4% (189,200) reporting they never tested their smoke alarms or smoke detectors.
  • One fifth of all households (20.6% or 290,800) had a swimming pool or outdoor spa. Swimming pools were in (277,800 or 95.5%) of those households while (13,000 or 4.5%) had outdoor spas.
  • There were 271,300 households (19.2%) with playground equipment. The most popular type of playground equipment amongst these households were swings (188,400 or 69.5%) followed by trampolines (132,400 or 48.8%).
  • Nearly half of all households (48.6% or 685,800) had an adjustable hot water thermostat. Just over one quarter (27.0% or 381,100) of households reported they did not know whether the hot water system had an adjustable thermostat.
  • Just under one third of households (466,000 or 33.1%) had at least one resident who had undertaken first aid training in the last three years, which included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).


1 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, Potential safety hazards and features affecting young children(a)
Brisbane
Major Statistical Region
Balance of Queensland
Major Statistical Region
Total Queensland
Young
children
No young children
Total
Young
children
No young
children
Total
Young
children
No young
children
Total

NUMBER ('000)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower
50.7
117.3
168.1
59.2
141.9
201.1
110.0
259.2
369.2
Internal or external steps or stairs
115.5
350.8
466.4
140.5
383.3
523.8
256.0
734.1
990.2
with guards or gates
46.6
66.6
113.2
50.9
79.0
129.8
97.5
145.6
243.1
Smoke alarm or smoke detector
129.0
337.9
466.8
138.2
368.7
506.9
267.2
706.6
973.7
Frequency of testing
More than once a month
21.0
43.7
64.7
18.2
43.0
61.2
39.2
86.7
125.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly
28.1
71.1
99.2
39.0
72.9
111.9
67.0
144.0
211.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly
12.6
44.5
57.2
14.9
44.4
59.3
27.5
88.9
116.5
6 monthly to less than yearly
14.8
30.1
44.9
13.2
52.5
65.7
28.0
82.6
110.6
Once a year or less
9.7
27.4
37.1
13.2
34.4
47.6
22.9
61.9
84.7
Never, self testing/electric alarm
14.2
38.2
52.4
14.2
37.4
51.6
28.4
75.5
104.0
Never
23.0
71.1
94.2
21.4
73.7
95.1
44.4
144.8
189.2
Don't know
*5.5
11.7
17.2
*4.2
10.4
14.5
9.7
22.1
31.7
Total
129.0
337.9
466.8
138.2
368.7
506.9
267.2
706.6
973.7
Swimming pool or outdoor spa
41.7
93.5
135.2
45.4
110.2
155.6
87.1
203.7
290.8
Playground equipment
66.1
41.2
107.3
88.3
75.6
163.9
154.4
116.9
271.3
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes
87.6
245.8
333.4
103.4
249.0
352.4
191.1
494.8
685.8
No
36.9
110.2
147.1
50.3
145.6
195.9
87.2
255.8
342.9
Don't know
36.3
126.6
162.9
45.9
172.3
218.2
82.2
298.8
381.1
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years
60.5
144.5
205.0
76.5
184.5
261.0
137.0
329.0
466.0
3 years or more
47.2
127.9
175.1
62.8
152.8
215.6
110.0
280.8
390.8
Total
107.7
272.5
380.1
139.3
337.3
476.7
247.0
609.8
856.8
Total Households
160.8
482.5
643.4
199.7
566.8
766.5
360.5
1,049.4
1,409.9

PROPORTION (%)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower
31.5
24.3
26.1
29.7
25.0
26.2
30.5
24.7
26.2
Internal or external steps or stairs
71.8
72.7
72.5
70.4
67.6
68.3
71.0
70.0
70.2
with guards or gates
29.0
13.8
17.6
25.5
13.9
16.9
27.0
13.9
17.2
Smoke alarm or smoke detector
80.2
70.0
72.6
69.2
65.0
66.1
74.1
67.3
69.1
Frequency of testing
More than once a month
13.1
9.1
10.1
9.1
7.6
8.0
10.9
8.3
8.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly
17.5
14.7
15.4
19.5
12.9
14.6
18.6
13.7
15.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly
7.9
9.2
8.9
7.4
7.8
7.7
7.6
8.5
8.3
6 monthly to less than yearly
9.2
6.2
7.0
6.6
9.3
8.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
Once a year or less
6.0
5.7
5.8
6.6
6.1
6.2
6.3
5.9
6.0
Never, self testing/electric alarm
8.8
7.9
8.1
7.1
6.6
6.7
7.9
7.2
7.4
Never
14.3
14.7
14.6
10.7
13.0
12.4
12.3
13.8
13.4
Don't know
*3.4
2.4
2.7
*2.1
1.8
1.9
2.7
2.1
2.3
Total
80.2
70.0
72.6
69.2
65.0
66.1
74.1
67.3
69.1
Swimming pool or outdoor spa
25.9
19.4
21.0
22.7
19.4
20.3
24.2
19.4
20.6
Playground equipment
41.1
8.5
16.7
44.2
13.3
21.4
42.8
11.1
19.2
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes
54.5
50.9
51.8
51.8
43.9
46.0
53.0
47.2
48.6
No
22.9
22.8
22.9
25.2
25.7
25.6
24.2
24.4
24.3
Don't know
22.6
26.2
25.3
23.0
30.4
28.5
22.8
28.5
27.0
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years
37.6
29.9
31.9
38.3
32.6
34.1
38.0
31.4
33.1
3 years or more
29.4
26.5
27.2
31.4
27.0
28.1
30.5
26.8
27.7
Total
66.9
56.5
59.1
69.8
59.5
62.2
68.5
58.1
60.8
Total Households
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.
(a) Young children are aged 4 years or less and are usual residents of the household or visitors who visit once a week or more often.




2 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, Potential safety hazards and features affecting older persons(a)
Brisbane
Major Statistical Region
Balance of Queensland
Major Statistical Region
Total Queensland
Older
persons
No older persons
Total
Older
persons
No older
persons
Total
Older
persons
No older
persons
Total

NUMBER ('000)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower
77.4
90.7
168.1
97.1
104.0
201.1
174.5
194.7
369.2
Internal or external steps or stairs
164.0
302.3
466.4
203.0
320.8
523.8
367.0
623.1
990.2
with guards or gates
42.2
71.1
113.2
47.9
82.0
129.8
90.0
153.1
243.1
Smoke alarm or smoke detector
172.2
294.6
466.8
210.9
295.9
506.9
383.2
590.5
973.7
Frequency of testing
More than once a month
24.8
39.9
64.7
28.1
33.1
61.2
52.9
73.1
125.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly
35.1
64.1
99.2
49.1
62.8
111.9
84.1
126.9
211.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly
24.4
32.8
57.2
25.2
34.1
59.3
49.6
66.9
116.5
6 monthly to less than yearly
18.4
26.5
44.9
25.8
39.9
65.7
44.2
66.4
110.6
Once a year or less
13.7
23.4
37.1
20.8
26.9
47.6
34.5
50.3
84.7
Never, self testing/electric alarm
16.2
36.2
52.4
20.1
31.5
51.6
36.3
67.7
104.0
Never
30.2
64.0
94.2
36.2
58.9
95.1
66.4
122.9
189.2
Don't know
9.5
*7.7
17.2
*5.7
8.8
14.5
15.2
16.5
31.7
Total
172.2
294.6
466.8
210.9
295.9
506.9
383.2
590.5
973.7
Handrails fitted in bathroom or toilet
63.4
n.a.
63.4
74.7
n.a.
74.7
138.1
n.a.
138.1
Floor rugs or mats
157.0
n.a.
157.0
208.1
n.a.
208.1
365.1
n.a.
365.1
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes
117.4
216.0
333.4
140.5
211.9
352.4
257.9
427.9
685.8
No
50.6
96.5
147.1
78.5
117.4
195.9
129.0
213.9
342.9
Don't know
55.8
107.1
162.9
78.8
139.4
218.2
134.6
246.4
381.1
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years
43.8
161.2
205.0
63.6
197.4
261.0
107.4
358.6
466.0
3 years or more
54.4
120.7
175.1
77.8
137.8
215.6
132.3
258.5
390.8
Total
98.2
281.9
380.1
141.4
335.2
476.7
239.7
617.1
856.8
Total Households
223.8
419.5
643.4
297.8
468.7
766.5
521.6
888.3
1,409.9

PROPORTION (%)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower
34.6
21.6
26.1
32.6
22.2
26.2
33.5
21.9
26.2
Internal or external steps or stairs
73.3
72.1
72.5
68.2
68.4
68.3
70.4
70.1
70.2
with guards or gates
18.8
16.9
17.6
16.1
17.5
16.9
17.3
17.2
17.2
Smoke alarm or smoke detector
77.0
70.2
72.6
70.8
63.1
66.1
73.5
66.5
69.1
Frequency of testing
More than once a month
11.1
9.5
10.1
9.4
7.1
8.0
10.1
8.2
8.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly
15.7
15.3
15.4
16.5
13.4
14.6
16.1
14.3
15.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly
10.9
7.8
8.9
8.5
7.3
7.7
9.5
7.5
8.3
6 monthly to less than yearly
8.2
6.3
7.0
8.7
8.5
8.6
8.5
7.5
7.8
Once a year or less
6.1
5.6
5.8
7.0
5.7
6.2
6.6
5.7
6.0
Never, self testing/electric alarm
7.2
8.6
8.1
6.8
6.7
6.7
7.0
7.6
7.4
Never
13.5
15.3
14.6
12.2
12.6
12.4
12.7
13.8
13.4
Don't know
4.2
*1.8
2.7
*1.9
1.9
1.9
2.9
1.9
2.3
Total
77.0
70.2
72.6
70.8
63.1
66.1
73.5
66.5
69.1
Handrails fitted in bathroom or toilet
28.3
n.a.
9.9
25.1
n.a.
9.7
26.5
n.a.
9.8
Floor rugs or mats
70.1
n.a.
24.4
69.9
n.a.
27.2
70.0
n.a.
25.9
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes
52.5
51.5
51.8
47.2
45.2
46.0
49.5
48.2
48.6
No
22.6
23.0
22.9
26.3
25.1
25.6
24.7
24.1
24.3
Don't know
24.9
25.5
25.3
26.5
29.7
28.5
25.8
27.7
27.0
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years
19.6
38.4
31.9
21.4
42.1
34.1
20.6
40.4
33.1
3 years or more
24.3
28.8
27.2
26.1
29.4
28.1
25.4
29.1
27.7
Total
43.9
67.2
59.1
47.5
71.5
62.2
45.9
69.5
60.8
Total Households
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.
(a) Older persons are aged 60 years or more and are usual residents of the household or visitors who visit once a week or more often.