Bring back public information films!

[Glitterbiscuits]

I think we seriously need a return of basic common sense guidance in the UK — more help, less confusion, and less reliance on unreliable social media posts.

It feels like proper public information films have basically disappeared. The most recent one I can even remember is the CPR campaign with Vinnie Jones, teaching chest compressions to the tune of Staying Alive.

Maybe the big soap operas could even cover some of these issues, because people genuinely don’t know things they should know. For example, I’ve met several people who have no idea we should be taking vitamin D supplements over winter in the UK.
I’ve sat in concerts with people still wearing their hats!
I honestly think this reluctance to be seen as a “nanny state” isn’t helping anyone.
We could easily have public information films covering things like:
Washing your hands! It’s incredible to think people needed to be told this during COVID.
Avoiding online scams
Bank security and spotting fake texts
Basic food hygiene
Everyday courtesy (letting people off the train before you push on, not blocking doorways, etc.)
Keep Britain Tidy-style campaigns

Not preachy. Just practical. A bit of guidance would make daily life better for everyone.

I would like see one about cycling on pavements and teaching children how to scoot safely so they do not terrorise pedestrians. Also one about the perils of too much UPF.

I think that those films probably saved lives and prevented severe injuries but that is something that cannot be costed, even though it's clear that many of us still remember them. Everything has been so monetised now that probably no one would pay for Public Info films - no money in it for them. Instead we have the stupid Domino adverts.

Checking car tyre treads would be a useful and easy thing to publicise.

I showed that last week to my Tweens/teens after several eye rolling incidents when I pulled over to make them put their seat belts on.

They now wear them without complaint.

Horrific? Yes. Effective? Yes.

Yes for sure. Also teaching people to pass wide and slow when they encounter a horse rider riding down a road.

Yep. Sometimes I do miss simpler times!

I'd like one about mini roundabouts, which would point out they are not T junctions.

Also teaching riders how to behave on roads.

I was once behind three riders, who were in parallel so taking over half the road.

It looked like a an adult and two children. The one on the outside looked to be about 10 and kept gesturing for me to take over.

I fully admit a 10 year old probably has more knowledge of horses than me, but I am perfectly happy to stay behind you and not risk hitting a car coming the other way that I can't see due to the hill in front of us.

Also motorbikes, personally I think that everyone (exemption for disabled people) should have to spend a couple of hours doing the start of the CBT.

People should know how to make life easier (less dangerous) for bikers.

Agreed on everything you said about what should be taught in schools. However, i really don’t think wearing hats indoors is bad manners anymore. I’ve literally never heard this and I’m in my early 40s. It might have been bad manners a few decades ago but I don’t think so anymore

Brilliant ! Or black cloaked figures in ponds waiting to drag unsuspecting children in ....

I’m still scared silly of farms thanks to Apaches

Which is not helpful given that as an adult I live in the rice fields around the Bosco Ticino in Italy. All my neighbours are farmers.

I can’t get past their gates without he collywibbles kicking in.

I miss the Green Cross Code Road Hedgehog advert. Is the Green Cross Code still a thing?

I think the only Public Service films I’ve seen recently is the CPR Staying Alive and Pantosaurus - and even then I’m sure this one wasn’t on tv, I had to find it myself via YouTube.

Re hats indoors - OP specifically said hats at concerts, so I think she is referring to stupid inconsiderate people who wear a hat that blocks the view of the person/people behind.(speaking from experience of having to ask someone to remove their novelty hat at the theatre!)

As a PP said, where would you show them?

Once upon a time, a significant proportion of the target audience would be sitting down to watch Newsround and Blue Peter. I’m not sure my teenage kids have ever watched a live TV programme, except sport.

I think it still can be seen as disrespectful in men.
i have even seen men wearing baseball caps or beanies at church funerals—obviously nobody has told them not to do this. Bishops are a different case. And women, too, as traditionally encouraged to wear head coverings.

Oh yes, there are some churches where it's seen as outrageous either for a man to be wearing a hat or for a woman not to be wearing a hat.

I always thought that was meant as a sick joke by using hedgehogs. Especially as you always used to see squashed ones on the road frequently.

A gentleman does not wear a hat indoors.

The one with kids playing on farms was "Apache".

There is no need for stuff like that these days, as people are too scared to let kids play out, let alone roam 10 miles away to the nearest farm.

Probably something along the lines of "games consoles rot your brain" with kids turning into zombies after 12 hours of constant Call of Duty would be more relevant to modern times.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats well thank you <she said sarcastically> for posting the railway video I foolishly watched yesterday (as DH is older than me and always fondly reminisces about being terrified by safety films in the 70s!) I actually had a nightmare last night anout children playing competitions on motorways!

Agree with posters we need updated PSAs (that don’t give middle aged women nightmares) especially if there is going to be a screen ban, perhaps DC will be back playing near water and railways and pylons etc. ofc I feel it is a parental duty to sit down and talk/warn DC but sadly some don’t so PSAs would be good.

I think there is an overlap with PSAs and teaching etiquette to DC - indoor hats and butter knifes(knives?) fall under the latter. MyDC are fully instructed yet still use the butter knife for Nutella which also leaves Nutella on the handle i frequently fantasise about doing an AIBU on that and imagine having my arse handed to me.

More seriously as an epileptic Iwish first aid was taught as a matter of course in schools. (and probably some poor traumatised bystanders to seizures do wish too) certainly first aid would be good to offfer it to parents to be, at least. Mine are grown up but we did some wanky course about swaddling and slings, when actually what to do when your child falls off the (sorry, am slow today and can’t remember the name) high thing they climb on all over in a playground(?) would have been more useful.

im sorry I can’t see who didn’t want CPR but you can actually get wristbands with DNR on. I expect bystanders wouldn’t look for them but IME paramedics sometimes check for medic alert bracelets.

I was immediately anti this, until I thought about tailgating. I'm so fed up of tailgaters!!

I agree actually-those films were brilliantly scary and certain put me off going near stagnant water, pylons or railway lines!

The issue is getting teenagers to watch them-they’d probably scroll through it online, don’t watch soaps and never watch live telly eg BBC!

I think there’s a need.

How taking ketamine as a recreational drug can make you incontinent

setting off Chinese lanterns can cause massive fires and kill wildlife

My dad worked for the COI in Public Information films. He was quite eccentric.

Well, I learned that coughs and sneezes spread diseases. 😂😂😂