EHLASS: Community information system on home and leisure accidents
The Commission adopted on 8 February 1994 a proposal to institute a Community-wide information system on accidents which occur in the home or during leisure activities. The proposed European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System (EHLASS) will run for the period 1994-1997. Domestic accidents are an increasing cause for concern, as they are more frequent than road accidents and the majority of victims are children and older people. The EHLASS programme will implement a Europe-wide database which will contain information on the nature and frequency of accidents in the home. This information will be collected from hospital emergency services. Analyses of this data will allow the Commission and the Member States to address the causes of accidents more accurately. It will aid in the production of public information campaigns and in negotiation with manufacturers, as well as in the establishment of standards or technical regulations. EHLASS will build on the system established by Council Decision 93/683/EEC of 29.10.93 and on the results of an earlier demonstration project carried out between 1985 and 1991. The Member States will ensure the implementation of the new programme with substantial EU financial support in the initial phase. This will be reduced progressively during the programme's operation (from 80% EU financing in 1994 to 50% in 1997).