Media Release
1 October 2012

Power to the people

We can’t say how many metres of power cord snake across the floors of the average Kiwi home. But what we can say is that it only takes one foot to have a nasty accident.

It’s day 2 of ACC’s Home Safety Action Week 2012 today, which is ‘Tidy Cord Tuesday’.

Power cords are the second of five common hazards in the home that we’re spotlighting this week, along with simple things you can do to reduce the risk of injury and keep you and your family safe.

John Beaglehole, ACC’s General Manager, Insurance and Prevention Services, says power cords were the cause of 350 fall-related ACC claims last year.

John suggests taking the following steps to reduce the risk of this snakey hazard:
• Get cords out of harm’s way, with cord clips, quick-release power cords or multi-boxes
• Secure loose cords or wires to the wall.

Over 1,100 businesses, schools, community groups and government agencies are helping ACC spread the safety message this week.

Falls are the biggest cause of injuries at home, leading to over 280,000 ACC claims last year. It's not just young children and older people who fall, either – around 40% of home falls last year happened to people aged 25-64 years.

Find out more about Home Safety Action Week 2012 at www.homesafety.co.nz or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/NZhomesafety.

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