Nearly 200% rise in five years raises alarm among safety experts

ACCIDENTAL poisoning deaths in Wales have surged dramatically, with new safety data showing a sharp increase in fatalities and a growing risk to older people living at home.

Figures released by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) show 252 people in Wales died from accidental poisoning in 2024, compared with 85 deaths in 2019 – an increase of almost 200 per cent in just five years.

Safety experts say older people are particularly vulnerable. Those aged 65 and over are more than five times more likely to die from an accidental poisoning – excluding narcotics – than the general population.

Even when alcohol-related incidents are excluded, people in this age group remain more than four times as likely to die from accidental poisoning.

Across the UK the trend is also rising sharply. Official figures show 5,770 people died from accidental poisonings in 2024, a 63 per cent increase over the past decade.

Hospitals in England recorded 17,252 admissions linked to non-narcotic poisoning last year, including nearly 5,000 cases involving older adults, who were 55 per cent more likely to require emergency hospital care.

RoSPA warns that people living with dementia face particular dangers inside their own homes because the condition can affect memory, recognition and perception. Everyday household products such as cleaning sprays, laundry detergents and medicines can easily be mistaken for food or drink.

Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, said: “Families caring for vulnerable relatives can experience genuinely frightening moments. Turning away for just a few seconds and realising someone has swallowed a cleaning product is sadly something some people have experienced.

“These incidents are not freak accidents. They are predictable and preventable events, and our new guidance is designed to help people take simple steps to make their homes safer.”

The charity has released new home-safety guidance aimed at helping families reduce risks, including practical advice on safely storing medicines and household chemicals.

Paul Edwards, Chief Nursing Officer at Dementia UK, said brightly coloured packaging on cleaning products can create confusion for people living with dementia.

“Laundry and cleaning products are often easily accessible in our homes, and many have brightly coloured packaging which can cause confusion for people with dementia, who may mistake them for edible items,” he said.

“One of the challenges of supporting someone with dementia is balancing an individual’s independence with their safety. It is impossible to eliminate risk completely, but these guidelines offer simple steps people can take to reduce the chance of these accidents happening.”

Simon Wheeler, Senior Knowledge Officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said staying safe at home is a key concern for families affected by dementia.

“As dementia progresses, people may find it harder to tell the difference between something that’s safe to eat and something that isn’t,” he said.

“Storing cleaning products safely and out of sight can help reduce the risk of accidents.”

RoSPA is urging households to take simple precautions, including locking away cleaning products, keeping medicines securely stored, and ensuring hazardous substances remain in their original packaging.

Safety experts warn that without greater awareness, accidental poisonings could continue to rise as the population ages and more people live independently at home.

WALES’ Red Dragon is heading into a potential flashpoint in the eastern Mediterranean.

The HMS Dragon has been deployed by the Royal Navy to waters around Cyprus to strengthen air defences following a drone strike on the British base at RAF Akrotiri.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the move as part of a wider effort to protect British personnel and assets in the region amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Advanced air defence role

HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers — regarded as among the most capable air defence warships in the world.

Equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and advanced radar, the vessel is designed to:

• Track and intercept hostile aircraft
• Destroy incoming missiles
• Counter drone threats
• Provide protective cover for allied forces

The deployment is understood to be focused on safeguarding UK interests, including RAF Akrotiri, one of Britain’s two Sovereign Base Areas on the island.

A Welsh symbol at sea

Although a UK warship, HMS Dragon carries a strong Welsh identity. Her crest bears the Red Dragon of Wales, and she has longstanding links with Welsh communities.

Commissioned in 2012, she has previously visited Cardiff and is often referred to as having a “Welsh heart” within the fleet.

With tensions escalating across the region, the presence of a Type 45 destroyer signals a serious defensive posture by the UK Government.

What happens next?

Defence analysts say such deployments are intended as both protection and deterrence — ensuring that British bases and personnel are shielded from further drone or missile attacks.

For Wales, the sight of the Red Dragon sailing toward a volatile theatre of operations will be a source of pride — and a reminder that Welsh symbols continue to play a role on the global stage.

Public urged to hang up and verify calls using a different phone

AN INCREASING number of reports have been received of criminals impersonating police officers in an attempt to trick victims into handing over cash or bank cards — either directly or via a courier.

The fraudsters use sophisticated and convincing tactics to gain trust. They may already have basic personal information, such as a victim’s name and address, which can often be easily obtained online, making the call appear legitimate.

Rebecca Williams, Fraud Safeguarding Officer, said: “These criminals are extremely convincing and may even suggest that the victim dials 999 to verify their identity. However, they remain on the line and do not disconnect the call, meaning when the victim attempts to ring the police, they are still speaking to the fraudster.

“We strongly advise anyone who receives a suspicious call to use a different phone — such as a mobile — to verify the caller’s identity, or to contact a trusted friend or family member before taking any action.

“If you have received a call like this, or have been persuaded to send money, please do not feel embarrassed or ashamed. These criminals use coercive and manipulative tactics to exploit trust and create panic.

“Dyfed-Powys Police are here to support you. We are continuing to assist victims who have lost tens of thousands of pounds through this scam.”

Police have issued a clear reminder that officers will never:

• Ask you to withdraw cash, send money or hand over your bank cards
• Send a courier to collect cash, bank cards or valuables from your home
• Contact you unexpectedly and request that you withdraw money as part of an investigation

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged to hang up immediately and report it to police or Action Fraud.