1086 consecutive injuries caused by glass

A prospective study of 1086 consecutive injuries caused by glass showed that the mean age of the patients was 15 years and there was a 7 : 3 male to female ratio. The home (35 per cent), public places (31.3 per cent) and places of work (21.1 per cent) were the main locations where these accidents occurred. Although most of the injuries were mild, 3 case histories illustrate that some of them were extremely serious. 4.6 per cent of patients requiring immediate admission to hospital. Extrapolation of the figures indicates that approximately 210,000 people attend hospital each year in England and Wales for treatment of an injury caused by glass. The annual cost to the National Health Service is about 7,500,000 pounds but the full financial implications of these injuries in terms of compensation and insurance payments must be much greater. Suggestions are made of ways to reduce the incidence of these injuries from road traffic accidents and accidents with plate glass and glass containers.