Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-18
WHAT THE SAFETY
COUNCIL Is DOING
Much Has Been Accomplished in
Delaware in the Past
Few Years.

While il is generally known that accl-
dents have been increasing at on alarming
rate in all large cities, few persons realize
that their prevention is practical posi-
bility. Now, the Statistics Committee OF
the Delaware Safety Council has made
public for the first time figures which
reveal tho record of an amazing accom-
plishment by an organization which has
been quietly working in the community
for only two years and of which, any clti-
zens are in total ignorance.
These remarkable figures, which are
entirely reliable, show tnat the number
of accidental deaths in the State which
have been increasing since 1919 reached
the number of 224 in 1916 and 249 IN 1918.
At this time the work of accident preven-
tion being done by the Delaware Safety
Council, the State Accident Board,
railroads, insurance companies, the police
Department and others began TO have
effect, and as consequence, III 1919, the
number of deaths fell TO 160 and then
TO 100 for the first eight months of 1920.
The Delaware Safety Council estimates
on this basis that there will be lao deaths
as against total in l920-exactly 100 less
than in 1918. Had the previous alarming
rate of increase m accidental deaths been
maintained, there would have been 81
fatalities in 1920. In other. words, 225
people are now walking about VINO have tn
thank the Safety First" movement for
the continuance of their lives.
Records in Wilmington are even more
remarkable. There were l26 accidental
deaths in 1916 in this city, l52 in 1917 and
1853 in 1918. These totals were far more than
the losses Of this city in the great war, for
only 303 Delaware soldiers perishcd IN
the great cause. In 1919, the number ot
accidental deaths was reduced 60 los, In
the first eight months Of 1920 only 81
deaths were recorded, and the Delaware
Safety Council estimates tnat there viii be
approximately 20 in all by the end Of the
wear. This is a reduction of IS per cent
in 1919 and 30 per cent in 1920, and It
represents probably saving of l70
lives in two years in this city Of 10000
population.
at. LOUIS AND WILMINGTON.
Probably the best accident prevention
work IN any c.tv in the country previous
ly has been done in ST. Louis, Mo. Tie
accidental death rate in that city in 1917
was 2l7 per 100000 of population, BY
1919 they had reduced this TO l57, a
reduction Of 2S per cent in three Years.
ST Louis il a city uf about T93, ,oo0 pOpu-
lation. Wilmington, n city o4 10000
population, is ahead even of this record,
Tor according 90 the figures Of 1918, when
the accidental death rate was $50, there
has been a reduction Of 81 per cent III
two wears The officers OF the Delaware
Safety Council feel that Wilmington
may have tho rignt to claim thst Il IL the
safest city Of 100, 900 population OF over
Although il is impossible 70 measure
actual results with yard stick, the Della
ware Safety Council feels that the intensi-
fying of the work of accident prevention
in this city, the public education that has
been going on through the newspapers
and through the work Of the various
council committees, has had decided
effect in helping 70 lower tins death rate,
and that with the further cooperation q
all, even more splendid Results can be
obtained
The death rate bv accidents in the
total registration area Of the nited States
IN IqI2-i9l6 wss S0.S pvT 100. 600 popu-
latiou. Assuming the population of Della
aware in 1918 WAS 2l9.001 the rate FOR
tne State was ia. more than 30 per cent
higher than IL should nave been Ii j.
estimated that Il WI. be lowered in 1920 "a
only 67 Altnougn remarkable reduce ,ons
according 70 the figures gathered rural Del
aware has not shown equivalent deductions
There were Sc deaths in the rural sections
in 1918. 50 in 1919 and 73 estimated in
1920 The Delaware Safety Council
points out that many conditions have
prevented thorough exploitation OF its
work outside Of Wilmington. although
it's plans contemplate this if adequate
public support can be secured
DEATHS FROM BURNS.
The study of the figures for accidental
deaths in the state as revealed bv ststis-
tics gathered by the Delaware Safety
council. brirgs out many serious results
For example. in the five-year period. there
were 1870 deaths from burns and scalds
in this State, Of which two-thirds were
in this city This is one Of the most fright
full forms Of death and is apt to occur to
women and children in the home There has
been no very noticeable reduction in this
kind Of accident either IN Wilmir gton
or rural Delaware since 1915 In the same
period there were 90 deaths from aSphyxi-
alton, generally caused by Illuminating
gas. There were four times q. many deaths