Child's Safety And Injury Prevention Strategies

 Child safety and injury prevention strategies are very necessary to keep our children away from dangers, and ensure their well-being and overall health. Find below some critical ways of preventing the children from danger:

1. Safety approach: 

Parents and caregivers should watch the movements of the children every time, everywhere, to ensure that they are safe. Both at homes and schools, it is advisable to install safety gates at the stairs, rooms, and other areas with hazards. The children should be closely monitored when they go near water (whether natural water such as rivers and streams or artificial water such as swimming pools), playgrounds, and in the kitchens. There have been cases across the world where children were drowned in the sweeping pools, only to discover their swollen dead bodies floating on the surface of the swimming pools. Outlet covers should be used to prevent electrical shocks from exposed electrical wires. Many children have died through electrocution. Hazardous substances and pharmaceutical drugs should be hidden in secure cabinets and locked-up drawers to prevent children's access to hazardous substances. During trips, children should be protected by providing them with appropriate seat belts.

2. Injury prevention: 

Children should be prevented from falling down from upstairs and other elevated buildings. Children have been falling from storey buildings and other elevated houses in recent years. I personally know three cases of children who fell down from upstairs. Two happened in Lagos, Nigeria, whilst the other incident took place in USA. All were Nigerian parents. In the first case, I personally warned the children and their mother. The woman said that her children had been playing exactly the same way that I saw them in the past and that nothing happened to them. She and children treated my advice with gross disdain and impunity. She was annoyed with me. Her flat which was in the first floor was near my friend's flat also in the first floor but in another building. They faced each other. Each time I visited my friend, I felt extremely uncomfortable to see the way the children were playing in that upstair. After talking to them for three days (on three occasions) to desist from that rough play, I stopped. Infact, I had the premonition that one of those boys will surely fall down one day from the first floor. On that fateful day, according to my friend, one of those boys fell down and landed on that concrete floor. He died instantly! After a long time, I went to my friend's house. Surprisingly to me, I did not see any child in the balcony. I did not also hear any noise there. I didn't ask any question too. Instinctively, I knew that that silence was not ordinary. When that woman came out and saw me, she went back straight into the house immediately. Finally, my friend told me that what I had been warning those children to desist from had finally happened. An eleven years old boy died without any symptom of ailment because of disobedience. Concerning the other children who fell down from upstairs, they did not die. But, they were permanently deformed. They can't walk till today because their thigh bones (femurs) were completely broken. What I am advising parents is that they should ensure that windows, balconies, and stairs are secure. It is senseless that one is living in an upstair where children are vulnerable to injuries and death. Children should be kept away from kitchens, stove tops, cooking gas burners and cylinders, and other electrical appliances. Cooking gas in particular has killed many families in recent years. Some children too have been carelessly exposed to naked electrical wires and electrocuted.  Children should be taught road safety rules such as holding hands when walking and wearing helmets when cycling.

3. Health and well-being:

Parents should make sure that their children receive recommended vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases .They should also provide a balanced diet to the children, and promote healthy eating habits. Physical exercises should be practised by the children regularly. Parents and caregivers should also support children's mental health by promoting emotional well-being, resilience, and self-esteem. The children should engage in regular sleep patterns to enable them develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

4. Emergency preparedness: 

There should be first aid kits (containing bandages, cotton wools, scissors, paid relieving tablets etc) at homes and schools, cars, and public places.Children should be taught what to do during fire outbreaks to avoid being burnt by fire. They should evacuate fire scenes immediately noticing the fire and gather at designated points. If possible, they can use fire extinguishers conspicuously installed at homes and schools to quench the fire, if they are up to the age of doing so. Parents should install smoke detectors, have well-designed fire escape plans, and also conduct fire drills. They should develop plans for natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other acts of God. Emergency phone numbers should be provided to all children in case of food poisoning and other emergency services. Teach all children what to do in emergency because emergency situations may occur in the absence of parents. 

5. Safety at schools: 

Teachers and staff have duties to conduct regular safety audits: identify potential hazards in the school environment such as sharp corners or edges, slippery floors, uncovered pits and other risk-prone areas in the school compounds. Playground activities should be supervised by teachers during recess periods and physical education classes. They should also educate the children on basic safety rules: walking (not running) in hallways and not staying within designated play areas. Teachers should teach the children to wear helmets when biking or scootering to schools. Teachers should also establish a plan for responding to injuries, including the first aid kits and prompt communication with parents of injured children. 

International agencies have reportedly emphasized the necessity of ensuring child safety and protection both a t homes and schools. According to UNICEF, every child has the right to live free from violence, exploitation, and abuse. This includes protection from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, as well as prevention of harm from hazardous environments. The Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) also stresses that schools have a duty of care to protect children and prevent them from harm. AISA has provided resources and training for schools to develop child protection policies and programmes. Additionally, the Global Child Protection Area has highlighted the need for coordinated efforts and capacity-building to protect children from harm, particularly in humanitarian settings. This includes preventing violence against children, protecting children from exploitation, and abuse, and promoting safe and inclusive learning environments. Other international agencies such as the International Bureau for Children's Rights (IBCR) and the Child Right International Networks (CRIN), also work to promote child protection and safeguarding in various settings. In overall, international agencies have reiterated the importance of creating safe and protective environments for children at homes, schools, and communities. 

The European Commission has promulgated polices for ensuring child safety and protection from harm. According to the European Commission guidelines, organizations working for children's welfare must first  have a child protection policy in place, which outlines the measures to prevent harm, abuse, and exploitation of children. The Commission also aims to create a safe and accountable online environment for children under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This act regulates online intermediaries and platforms, ensuring they prevent illegal and harmful activities online, protect fundamental rights, and create a fair and open online platform environment. The Commission has emphasized the need to protect children from online harm, including cyber bullying and child sexual exploitation. It recommends that organizations national and EU laws and child protection regulations to ensure children's safety online. The Commission's efforts also include promoting child participation and hearing their voices on safety issues. It recognizes children have the right to be heard and participate in decisions that affect their lives. Hence, the European Union prioritizes child safety and well-being, both online and offline, and works to create a protective environment for children's happy and safe lives devoid of danger and death. 

Therefore, ensuring safety and overall well-being of children requires the joint efforts of parents and school authority across the world. Every hand should be on deck to protect our children from injuries, harm, and death.

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