COLCHESTER could be one of the most accident prone areas in the country, a study has revealed.

Research looked into the areas of the UK where people consult Google before seeking the advice of a medical professional.

Out of the places assessed, Colchester ranked as one of the areas where the most people are turning to ‘Dr Google’ to remedy their problems.

The study undertaken by first aid course provider Skills Training Group showed the town had 83.7 monthly searches per 10,000 people based on data from a group of 100 search terms.

It suggests the town is one of the most accident prone, while remaining reluctant to consult professional help.

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To narrow down what the UK is searching to treat, the research collated 100 of the top search terms across the UK which included the phrase ‘how to treat’.

The most searched phrase was ‘how to treat a burn’, with ‘how to treat a sunburn’ the second most popular search.

Remedies for wasp stings, blisters and mouth ulcers completed the top five search terms as unlucky residents of Colchester sought after fixing their issues.

Commenting on the research, Mark McShane, director of Skills Training Group said: “We wanted to conduct this research to see how popular it was for people to search for solutions to their ailments than to just go and get them assessed by a professional.

“We share a lot with Google, our phones and computers and it seems turning to Dr Google is popular with the UK with a real range of searches throughout the 100 terms.

“From a first aid point-of-view we would always recommend seeking professional medical assistance if it’s needed rather than trying to deal with or solve a problem yourself.

“Sometimes those that seem simple to deal with can actually snowball and become much more of a concern, so it’s best to get them seen to if possible.”

The full UK ranking and research can be found here.