The Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset is campaigning for the installation of sprinkler systems in all new domestic and commercial premises. Read this and more

BUZZARDS: The East Devon Green Party said it is pleased to see the Government ‘make yet another U-turn’ this month after it announced it was scrapping plans to capture buzzards and destroy their nests. The party said buzzards have been protected for more than 30 years after their numbers were dramatically reduced in the interests of game-keeping, and co-ordinator Sharon Pavey said she is pleased they will not be destroyed.

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FALL AWARENESS: More than a third of people aged 60 and over in the South West have had a fall, according to rearch by charity Age UK. The statistics were announced to link with ‘Falls Awareness Week 2012’, which urges older people to take part in a range of local activities, including exercise sessions and advice roadshows to learn how to look after bone health. For more information visit www.ageuk.org.uk/falls or call Age UK on 0800 169 6565.

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WHOOPING COUGH: The Health Protection Agency has reported a sharp rise in the cases of whooping cough across the South West.

Figures show almost 500 cases for the first five months of 2012, amore than double the total for the region in the whole of 2012. The agency says the report outlines the need for vaccination against the disease, also known as pertussis, which can be life threatening to young children.

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SPRINKLERS: The Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset is campaigning for the installation of sprinkler systems in all new domestic and commercial premises.

A statement said ‘smoke alarms can save lives but if sprinklers were used as well, the number of fire deaths in the UK would be reduced dramatically’. For further information on sprinklers visit www.dsfire.gov.uk.