Home accidents on the rise, with 10 documented fatalities reported

[Photo; Yuki Lei]

While no home accident-related deaths were recorded over the past three years, the Health Bureau (SSM) says home accidents have been on the rise, signaling growing safety concerns despite the low fatality rate.

Given that the bureau records nearly 4,000 home accident reports annually – a figure indicating an upward trend – with an average of over 10 cases per day requiring emergency room treatment for home accident injuries, the bureau held a press conference yesterday to address these concerns.

According to figures presented, a comparison of data from 2023 and the previous year shows that, with the exception of the 20 to 24 age group, all other age categories – including those under 1 year, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 14 years, 15 to 19 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65 years and older – experienced proportional increases in home accidents.

In 2023, children under 1 year accounted for 54 cases, those aged 1 to 4 had 353, and ages 5 to 14 recorded 298 incidents.

Among older residents, there were 76 cases for ages 15 to 19, 97 for ages 20 to 24, 317 for ages 25 to 34, 334 for ages 35 to 44, 639 for ages 45 to 64, and 1,071 for those 65 and older.

The total number of home accidents that year was 4,066.

By 2025, the numbers shifted: children under 1 year had 74 cases, ages 1 to 4 had 413, and ages 5 to 14 had 449.

Older groups included 84 cases for ages 15 to 19, 68 for ages 20 to 24, 348 for ages 25 to 34, 426 for ages 35 to 44, 761 for ages 45 to 64, and 1,735 for seniors 65 and older.

The total for the three-year period has totaled 4,066 cases.

Wong Ka Ian, an official from the bureau’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted a rising trend in home accidents, especially among seniors.

She said that in recent years, about 14 out of every 1,000 seniors in Macau experience a home accident each year, equivalent to an incidence rate of 14.1 per 1,000.She added that the incidence rate among children aged 1 to 4 is even higher, reaching 18.1 per 1,000 population, “significantly exceeding that of other age groups.”

Data on types of home accidents over the past three years reveal notable trends, with falls accounting for approximately half of all common household accident causes, followed by injuries from being struck or cut by objects, leading to numerous severe injuries or life-threatening incidents each year.

Reports indicate that cases of falls surged from 1,277 in 2023 to 2,199 last year, while injuries from being struck by objects reached 594 and cuts rose to 644 cases. “Many of these incidents required intensive care or surgical intervention,” cautioned the SSM official, noting that there have been 38 severe cases reported over the past three years.

According to the bureau, animal bites fluctuated, decreasing from 265 cases in 2023 to 206, before rising again to 323 in 2025. Burns showed a slight decline from 146 in 2023, only to increase to 201 in 2025.

Notably, poisoning cases rose from seven in 2023 to 16 by 2025, while choking incidents remained rare, with one case in 2023 and five in 2025. Lastly, reports of other accidents increased significantly from 908 in 2023 to 1,097, but then fell to 376 in 2025.

Nearly 40% of daily accidents in Macau in recent years occur within the home, a space often perceived as the safest environment. Authorities are urging the public to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents by improving their home environments and habits.

“In line with our core principle of ‘Prevention First, Proper Medical Care,’ we recommend several key safety tips,” Wong advised.

These include placing non-slip mats in areas prone to water accumulation, such as bathrooms and kitchens; installing sturdy grab bars near toilets and showers; and adding motion-activated night lights along pathways from bedrooms to bathrooms.

Additionally, the official emphasized the importance of keeping corridors and staircases clear and encouraging seniors to adopt the “slow rise” principle upon waking – first moving their limbs, then slowly sitting up with a brief pause before standing to prevent accidents caused by orthostatic hypotension.

“Also, frequently used items should be placed at waist height to minimize the need for reaching while keeping them out of children’s reach,” she added.

Meanwhile, the bureau announced at the press conference its plan to launch a health community pop-up event on Saturday, aimed at delivering home accident prevention information to the community.