The Korea Consumer Agency noted on the 25th that home safety accidents are increasing every year and that special attention is needed.
According to the Consumer Agency, the number of incidents reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System last year reached 85,639, the highest in the past five years. This marks a 22.3% increase compared to 2020 (70,022).
The majority of incidents occurred in dwellings, accounting for 43,910 cases (51.3%), followed by roads and sidewalks with 10,137 cases (11.8%), accommodation and restaurants with 4,250 cases (5.0%), and leisure, cultural, and recreational facilities with 1,438 cases (1.7%).
By age group, those aged 60 and over had the highest number of cases at 18,382 (21.5%). This was followed by those under 10 years of age with 13,350 cases (15.6%), individuals in their 50s with 8,122 cases (9.5%), and individuals in their 40s with 7,993 cases (9.3%).
In particular, for infants aged 0 to 5 and seniors aged 65 and over, the proportion of home accidents within their respective age groups was relatively high, at 75.0% and 68.4%, respectively.
By cause, falls were the most common for infants, accounting for 41.5%. Among these, falls from beds constituted half of the total. Incidents of falling from changing tables were also frequent.
For seniors, slips and falls accounted for 69.0% of incidents. In particular, there has been a rising trend in accidents occurring from slipping on bathroom floors or tripping over door frames.
The Consumer Agency explained, "Infants and seniors, who spend much time indoors, are particularly vulnerable to home safety accidents, thus prevention is crucial." They emphasized the need for preventive safety measures, such as regularly checking hazards in the home.