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@ronnybabes wrote:

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RB:

I grew up in an era where everyone smoked (Mum didn't) Dad did, as a result there were virtually no smoke free houses.

Cinemas Bars, and Restaurants were  places that smokers and non smokers  mingled. There were no concerns about passive smoking, in them days it would've been as laughable as paying for bottled water. 

As for Mother's drinking and smoking while pregnant, they just didn't know of the harm, but what they did know is not to drink a lot. Ladies did not go pubbing like today's counterparts. It seems that today the more you know, the less Common sense you have. Common sense prevailed in them days, so just as many babies survived then as in todays world if you factor out the diseases that we then had no cure, or antidote for.

 

RB:

Leaded paints were not the problem, you have to ingest an awful lot of lead, over  a very long period, to become ill, and the paint was swamped with sheets and blankets anyhow. Babies were well wrapped and swathed.

As for childproof lids, well they had something better in those days, it was called common sense. Medicine and harmful substances were kept out of reach, and the problem was solved.

Just as many babies, sadly, are made ill, or suffer a fatality from medicines being left lying around these days, as in the daysTommy refers to. 

 

RB:

Well, I for one don't know how many unnecessary deaths were caused by riding lose in the back of a van, or lorry, I cannot recall any. As for the loose child in the back; Seat belts just were not around then, progress comes slowly,  seatbelts became a necessity because of the increased speed performance of cars, and the increase of the number of cars on our roads. Compare the type, speed, and the performance of the car then, to the souped up cars and their performance now, and then factor in how few cars there were on the road compared to today.

It also has to be said that in some cases, wearing a seatbelt contributed to deaths, and had they not been wearing one, they would have, in all probability survived. 

However, I absolutely agree that wearing a seatbelt on the whole, today, is the best option. 

 

RB:

There was absolute shame, and the Parents of these  juveniles had to live with it.

So.... In my dreams too then.  In the main, it simply was the case as Tommy stated. end of.

 

RB:

I'd say it depends on a lot more then social class. Accidental deaths may have halved, (you say that, and I haven't managed to get any data to support or deny it) but look at the lifestyle of the under 16's now to the lifestyle 50 odd years ago. Today's kids get driven to, and from everywhere, todays kids spend all their time on game stations, mobile apps, computers, and television. Competitive Sport has been watered down to show no shame in losing. British Bulldog was the norm in the then school playgrounds, even conker games are banned. We now have a nation of softies, one thing is certain in all statistics. That yesterdays teens (Tommy's that is) were leaner fitter, and healthier then today's overweight

e-numbered hyper counterparts. The only injury the majority of todays teens have to put up with is "sore thumb" syndrome. 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1jEMmYwOzI