551 accidents during Christmas

26 December 2010 10:50 am

Ignorance, domestic accidents and reckless driving were the leading causes of most of the 551 accidents reported in the past two days, Dr.Pushpa Ramyani Soyza, senior nurse of the National Hospital told Daily Mirror.

A total number of 551 cases were reported to the Accident Service during the Christmas period from December 24 to December 25. It is a fifty percent decrease comparing with last year which stood up at 904.

A total number of 156 road traffic accidents were reported while accidents related to driving following consumption of alcohol still prevails in the country at large,” she said adding that there should be public awareness and laws should be tightened to control the increase of such accidents.

 “Most of the cases reported on the Christmas Eve were road accidents although a 40 percent increase of injuries reported inside the house. The second highest incidents were 89 home accidents with women being victims of such injuries and 60 cases of violence.

Unfortunately an increase in traffic accidents was seen. Reckless driving, exhaustion and alcohol use are the main causes for this increase,” she said.
“Most of them were in the course of carrying out renovations at home, slipping and falls in shopping complexes. Last minute shopping and shopping in a rush lead to such accidents,” she said.

“In previous years there were fewer injuries among women but they have increased with home injuries increasing,” she said.
One hundred and five other incidents include firecracker injuries, sports-related injuries and self-inflicted injuries. Assaults were relatively low when comparing with last year. (Supun Dias)