Winter deaths and serious injuries due to accidents are not inevitable, says Tom Mullarkey, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

With a huge focus on excess winter deaths and on ensuring that hospitals can cope with increased demand, residents are being urged to consider the steps they can take to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and out of A&E.

In 2012, 38 people were killed, 544 were seriously injured and 4,584 were slightly injured in reported accidents on Great Britain's roads when there was snow or ice on the road surface, according to the department for transport.

In 2012/13, there were 7,031 admissions to hospitals in England as a result of people falling over on snow or ice and in 2012, 10 people died in England and Wales and two in Scotland as a result of falling over on snow or ice.

For more information on staying safe this winter, incuding on the roads, at home, at work and at leisure, visits the RoSPA’s Winter Safety hub at: www.rospa.com/wintersafety/