Factors influencing injury prevention in the home

Many injuries in homes occur because hazardous conditions are not recognised. Recognition of the hazard and how much risk is involved is important in helping individuals understand how to minimise accidents and injuries. Two factors entering into overall risk perception are the probabilities of occurrence of accidents and of serious injury. The relative importance of the perceptions of likelihood of occurrence and of seriousness of injury were examined in connection with the probability of engaging in certain activities likely to produce accidents. The results suggested that estimated likelihood of occurrence may have more influence in reducing inappropriate behaviour with the types of hazardous situations presented to the 115 college student respondents. Some responses suggested respondents were not fully cognisant of the nature of some hazards.