Undermining Safety: Children at High Risk.

The issue of the safety of the children cannot be over flogged as we continue to see one type of failure or the other often leading to loss of life. We all woke up recently to the news of the schoolboy that drowned in a swimming pool in Lagos state while taking swimming lessons organised by his school. Negligence by the accompanying staff (chaperone) has been alleged but while we await the outcome of the investigation, the question on my mind is what went wrong and how many more lives do we need to lose before we take the issue of children’s safety seriously?

I had goose bumps recalling a similar incident that I recently witnessed at a recreational park. A boy fell off a trampoline, and couldn't stand or walk and when the park officials were called, they couldn't provide any first aid to handle such an emergency and he had to be rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

I was livid knowing that the park charges N1,000 per child as an entry fee and the same amount as an additional fee to use any play item of choice and yet they couldn't provide any type of first aid for the boy. This may not be a surprise to many as it is a normal thing in some of such places in Nigeria but does this make it right?

This further proves that many people still undermine the importance of safety, especially for children, and therefore the urgent need for an end.

MY SUGGESTION TO:

Parents and Guardians

1. Don't be too excited about your children going on a field trip or excursion that you pay but forget to do a thorough check on the location, safety measures and people they'll be meeting.

2. Be sure to do a periodic check on the chaperone throughout the trip and not leave them till the children return irrespective of the duration. Imagine if the parents of the boy that drowned were calling to check on him every 20 minutes or less, perhaps he would be alive today.

3. Never allow your child with any life-threatening health condition to embark on any trip without seeking the opinion of the doctor.

4. The details of the child's medical condition, drugs and care should be communicated to the chaperone before the trip.

Schools and other children’s Facilities:

1. Ensure that you get both written and verbal (optional) consent from the parents or guardians of the children in your care before you embark on any trip with them.

2. Ensure that their medical history or condition is stated in case of any emergency such as an asthma attack or sickle cell crisis.

3. All documents must have legal backing. Engage a legal practitioner when drafting your document and get all the necessary legal advice needed before sending such documents out.

4. Do a background check on the facility and ensure that they have basic first aid kits and solid ground arrangements for any emergency.

5. Personnel should be properly briefed on the demands of such trips or activities and also trained to handle an emergency.

6. Set rules and include punishment for breaking those rules. This will put a check on the supervising staff.

The image above is scary and should NEVER be allowed.

Government and other Approving bodies

1. At the point of approving certain facilities that host children, it is imperative to also include safety measures as part of the approval process.

2. There should be regular monitoring of the facilities and make necessary reviews when the need arises to avoid any breach.

Remember

Children are vulnerable and need adults to take proper care of them because it is their right. do all you can to keep the children healthy and safe always.

African Proverb

“The mother hen does not break its eggs.”