COVID-19 Fall Out: Burning of Tyres - Actions and Consequences

Written by Ife Adeniji – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ifeoluwa-adeniji-90230046/

Reviewed by Dapo Omolade – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dapo-omolade-3757856/

Introduction

One of the consequences of #StayAtHome is the unbelievable increase in threat and attack on people and property. This has also led to the need for Self Help by various communities. You see community men stay awake to protect the lives of families and property in the community.  In the midst of this, it is strategic to have the place lighted up and as it is peculiar to our nation is the unassured availability of electricity from national grid. Burning of tire has then the final resort. These tyres are burnt all night for visibility and awareness.

I will share some documented effects of burning of tyres to the place, people and property. Added also will some recommended control measures.

1. The study carried out in Nigeria as published by Research gate on the assessment of environmental impact of open burning of tyre by L. A. Jimonda et al has significantly established that gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, and SO2) are present at varying concentrations in all categories of tyres when burnt.

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319137745_Assessment_of_environmental_impact_of_open_burning_of_scrap_tyres_on_ambient_air_quality#pf8)

2. Open tire fire emissions include “criteria” pollutants, such as particulates, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx) etc. They also include “non-criteria” hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), Both criteria and non-criteria pollutants can cause significant short- and long-term health effects.  Depending on the length and degree of exposure, these health effects could include irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, respiratory effects, central nervous system depression, and cancer.

(https://www.ecomena.org/tire-burning-kilns/)

3. Especially troubling is the exposure that children living within these communities are inadvertently being subjected to. Children, foetuses, nursing babies, elderly, asthmatics, and immune suppressed individuals are all much more vulnerable to the pollutants released burning tires. Even a nursing woman can transfer the pollutions she inhales to a baby through the fat in her breast milk.  During breast-feeding, infants are exposed to higher concentrations of organic pollutants than at any subsequent time in their lives. Burning tires only adds to that toxic burden. (https://www.ecomena.org/tire-burning-kilns/).

4. Black carbon was also found as a major pollutant from open burning of scarp tyres (Bond et al. 2004). Most of these pollutants, especially dioxins, are carried over long distances from emission sources, and they persist in the atmosphere for decades without breaking down into less harmless compounds and accumulate in solid, water and food sources (Lee et al, 2003, 2005)

5. Various health challenges such as nervous system disorder, dermal and eye irritations, respiratory complications among others have been linked to the length and the degree of exposure to the emissions from open burning of tyres (Anf and Emad 2014). 

Control measure to this risk of harm include:

1. Eliminate the hazard- Do not burn tyres.

2. Substitution- If you must burn for visibility, do not burn tyres because of the health and environmental effect.

3. Isolation- While this is only reducing the risk, you can take the tyre far from people’s exposure especially from home where resident will be asleep.

What should you do to mitigate the effect of the burnt tyre?

1. Dust off the surfaces around the house because the particles from the smoke would have settled all night.

2. Avoid direct air during the burning of tyre

3. Use window blinds and curtain if the window has to be wide open.

x

FGN to Issue Safety Certificate to Workplaces

https://twitter.com/Dapoomolade/status/687983192138199041

The Federal Government will soon begin to issue certificate of safety to factories and workplaces, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr  Chris Ngige, has said.

The minister stated this on Monday while paying on-the-spot visit to the Inter Corp Limited gas plant owned by Chicason Group in Nnewi, Anambra State.

The minister said petrol stations and gas plants would also require a certificate of safety from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment alongside the licence by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

“The DPR issuing licences for the building of petrol stations and gas plants is not enough. The department should also be issuing a safety certificate from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“From now on, no DPR licence will be valid unless there is a certification from the ministry’s OSH department. The ministry is also planning monthly inspection of factories to ensure compliance. We can do that because we have offices in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja,” he said.

The minister said the OSH department needed to be strengthened for it to ensure occupational safety in the workplace, assuring that the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and OSH would embark on aggressive factory inspection from the second quarter of the year.

“From the second quarter of 2016, the ministry would embark on aggressive factory regulation activities aimed at ensuring that factories are up to date on their responsibilities in terms of safety of workers. Both the NSITF and occupational safety and health department will enforce the laws guiding safety in the workplace,” he said.

The Managing Director of NSITF, Abubakar Munir, said every company that has workers on its payroll is expected to register such workers on the ECS.

“All firms and companies operating in Nigeria are expected to register its workers on the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS). Those who are registering now will have to pay in arrears starting from July 2011 when the scheme started except new companies that started operation after that date,” he added.

In a related event, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi has called on Resident Doctors to support the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.

The minister spoke when he received an award of ‘Ambassador of Conscience and Notary Personality’ from the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT chapter, in his office.

Ocholi reiterated the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to the promotion of decent employment and enhancement of welfare of the Nigerian workers.

Earlier, the President, Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, FCT chapter, Dr. Isaac Olubanjo Akere, urged him to use his legal background to discharge his responsibility as minister.

Culled from The Nation Newspaper

I AM HSE POSITIVE

Let's promote a positive safety culture in the workplace and the society at large...It's a joint responsibility. We can do it!

Current & Useful Info on Safety Development

Current & Useful Info on Safety Development... Visit http://jamiubadmos.com/presentations/

Safety Requires Effort!

While it may be true that safety is common sense and every one desires to be in a state of safety, happenings around us and researches have shown that there is a great deal of hard work to enjoy and experience safety. It therefore requires concerted efforts and energy to achieve safety goals and objectives at home, road and the general workplaces.

This required effort is the missing link that makes safety elusive to humans and the society. While we all desire and crave for a safe workplace and society, how many have counted the cost of achieving this? If it costs you something to achieve your goals and objectives in life, safety as a goal can only be achieved when the right commitment is provided. This cuts across all aspects of corporate and individual structures.

Safety as natural as it may sound, requires planned and strategic efforts! Structures and systems must be put in place to include all indices that will help in achieving the goals of safety. These indices include money, personnel, facilities, resources, knowledge and skills, willingness, etc. Most corporate entities understand this and consciously develop and implement systems to ensure that their operations are controlled and managed to reduce the effects on persons, environment, assets and productions.  However, individuals have not come to appreciate this, and so leave their safety and that of their families to some other factors, known and unknown including government and society.

It is an known cliche that safety is everyone responsibility. We all say it, sing it, mouth it, etc; but it does not appear we understand the meaning of the statement. Simply put, you are responsible for your safety and the of others around you. So, be responsible, and work out your own safety (and that of others) with committed effort and hard work. The anticipated gains are more than worth it.

So. let's go for it...plan and actualise your safety goals...with concerted and determined efforts. It pays!

Security/Safety Tips For The Christmas Holidays
                                     (By Mrs Dominga Odebunmi, culled from Safety Advocates Platform)

While the Christmas season is a time for giving, for thieves and burglars, it is a unique season for taking your hard-earned money, gifts and possessions. They may ultimately rob you of all the joy and sense of goodness that the holidays are all about. We must also be security conscious as there are people out there with a completely different agenda from ours. For this reason, we can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware.

Here are some security tips that can be of great value during this yuletide season.

Vehicles
• Park your cars in a well-lighted area.
• Avoid driving alone especially at night.
• Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Also ensure to set your alarm and other anti-theft devices.
• Don’t park your car too far from your destination and always take note of where your car is parked.
• Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.
• Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.
• If there are suspicious people in the area, ask the mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location. Do not approach your car alone.
Using Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
• Avoid using an ATM in isolated locations.
• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located in a well-lighted location with people around.
• Do not use your date of birth as your ATM PIN.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.
• Withdraw only the amount of cash that you need.
• Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.
• Avoid using the ATM after dark unless it is well lit and well secured.
• Watch out for people loitering around the ATM.
• Cancel your transaction, walk away and use a different ATM if you notice suspicious behaviour.
• Have your card out and ready to use before you get to the machine.
• Don’t linger at the ATM to count your cash; leave quickly once transaction has been completed.
• Don’t disclose your card details to anyone. You can hotlist your stolen GTBank ATM card via Internet banking, GTConnect or send HOTLIST to 08076665555.
Children
• If possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.
• Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping.
• Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.
• Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and they should never be left alone in the car.
• Teach children to immediately inform you if a stranger is bothering them.

Shopping
It is advisable to shop during the day, but if you must shop at night, ensure to go with a friend or family member. 
• Avoid wearing expensive items when shopping. 
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible. 
• Even when in a rush and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings. 
• Avoid carrying cash as much as possible. Pay for purchases with your debit card. 
• Keep available cash in your front pocket. 
• Notify your bank immediately if your debit card is lost or stolen. 
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. 

Home 
• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes. 
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied. 
• Increase your home security by installing solid core doors, heavy duty locks and other security devices. 

Identity Theft 
• Avoid promotional scams; fraudsters use them to get your personal information. 
• Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work and at home as well as documents containing sensitive personal information. 
• Carry only the identification information and the number of bank cards that you actually need. 
• Don’t use the same password for every transactions.........

2nd Lagos Safety Walk - 07/02/2015

Join Us for this walk and stay safe and healthy...see flyers for details. Please come with your families, friends and colleagues...'UBUNTU...I am because We are'

See you there!!!

Safety First OR Safety Always?

This is a question that requires some good thinking because traditionally, safety has been considered the most important aspect of any job, activity or business. As a matter of fact, there are many companies today who use the cliché 'Safety 1st...Safety 2nd...Safety 3rd! Believe me, as a safety consultant, I am very quick to accept this; of course, you don't expect less! I grew up in my career reading, hearing and discussing this. So many posters, flyers, banners, etc with the bold inscription "Safety First"


I clearly remembered a situation where a production manager remarked, "If Safety is 1st, 2nd and 3rd, then why are we here"? You safety people should just take charge and produce all for us...Of course, we all laughed, but the production man has a point, which the safety team waved aside!


However, looking at reality that beckons on businesses and projects in recent times, I am having a rethink...perhaps you may call this modern safety, but can safety be 1st, 2nd and 3rd? What will be the last? Production? Quality? Just my thoughts though, hence this post.


What do you think should be the cliché ,'? Safety First or Safety Always or Safety First, Last & Always?


Let's get a go at this and make your comments known. We may just be birthing another reality in our modern day management of safety...we have the opportunity to change the way safety is communicated to others...otherwise, confrontations and repulsions won't stop.


I await your comments....enjoy!

Vote Safely

We are in the season of elections in Nigeria and the long awaited 2015 is now here...with anxieties and fears of unknown! There are several reasons to be weary at this time, especially because of what has characterised election years in the history of Nigeria.

Under this discussion, I am focusing strictly on the safety of lives and properties of the voters and the general citizens of Nigeria.

Voting is a fundamental and civic right and we have all been encouraged by various agencies to exercise this right and make our votes count. However, while doing this, we should also be very careful to avoid risks that may come with this exercise. While we are hoping and trusting that the security agencies will ensure that voters are protected from harassment, abuse and violence; it is also a personal safety sense to assess the risks of your polling booth and the surrounding and put in place adequate control measures to reduce the risk and/or mitigate the effects of the risks.

We owe ourselves duties to stay alive and enjoy the opportunities of the new year, 2015. Remember, life is precious and irrespective of the conditions you may think exist around you now, once there is life, there is HOPE!

So Vote Safe, Live Safe and Work Safe!!!

Safety in Nigeria - A Need for Legislative Framework

The year 2014 has been a challenging year for Nigeria as a country, with several issues especially security and economies. However, we rejoice in the unity of the country as well as the hope of a better 2015.

The desire of many of us for 2015 goes far beyond the current issues including the election taking place in the first quarter of 2015. For us as safety practitioners and professionals, we are looking forward to 2015 and trusting it will be a year of improved government attention to the issues of safety  and general security of her citizens.

The welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens at large is not just a fundamental right, but also an indicator of our development as a nation. The Nigeria government vision of being one of the world's greatest economy in the nearest future has amongst the indicators, the welfare and safety of the citizens. The UN and ILO has made this categorically clear!

It is therefore wisdom and responsibility for the government to consider establishing a robust safety legislative structure to ensure that the workers are protected from the risks of work. The bill to achieve this has been in the house of assembly for sometimes now and there is no better time and season than now to pass this bill and enforce its implementation.

We can no longer conitinue to assume that development will occur in Nigeria while we maim and kill our productive citizens all in the name of work....the right to work and live is fundamental and government must protect this. A good number of our people have been sacrificed under the pretence of work, but in 2015, it is our hope that this will no longer  be the case.

Nigerians deserve good living standards coupled with safety of lives and property...let's make this happen as a government.

MORE THAN 40% REDUCTION IN NEBOSH HSW COURSE

Hybrid consulting Limited is giving more than 40% reduction in the course fees for one of our highly sort international safety management course from NEBOSH, UK called 'NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification (Level 2).' This course will teach you the principles and practice of Health & Safety in its simplest form that will ensure adequate understanding. It is a good starting point in Safety for all...

This reduction in fees is to commemorate the opening of our new office and training facility in Lagos and to encourage our numerous customers to continue to develop themselves in the areas of safety and environmental management.

This 3 days course (9am - 5pm daily) which originally costs 125,000 Naira is NOW only 75, 000 Naira (including training, materials, lunch, exams and certificates) and payable in instalment if desired. Results and certificates will be available within 8 weeks after the course.

Please note that this PROMO is ONLY available for our scheduled course for November 27- 29, 2014. Any interested person should indicate by replying to this post or contact me by sms 08035627282, 08033019807 or send mail to training@hybrid-hse.com

50% Reduction in Int'l Safety & Environmental Certification Courses

Are You a Safety Professional? Are you involved in any form of risk assessment and management for your organisation in the areas of occupational Health, Safety and Environment? Do you desire an international CERTIFICATION & ACCREDITATION to validate your knowledge and experiences in risk assessment? if your answer is YES to any of these questions, then the opportunity is here....

Hybrid consulting Limited is giving 50% reduction in the course fees for one of our highly sort international safety management course from Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, UK called 'CIEH Level 3 Award in Risk Assessment'. This course will teach you the principles and practice of risk assessment in the simplest form that will ensure adequate understanding. It is a MUST course for all safety professionals and practitioners.

This reduction in fees is to commemorate the opening of our new office and training facility in Lagos and to encourage our numerous customers to continue to develop themselves in the areas of safety and environmental management.

This 3 days course (9am - 5pm daily) which originally costs 150,000 Naira is NOW only 75, 000 (including training, materials, lunch, exams and certificates) and payable in instalment if desired. Results and certificates will be available within 8 weeks after the course.

Please note that this PROMO is ONLY available for our scheduled course for November 26-28, 2014. Any interested person should indicate by replying to this post or contact me by sms 08035627282, 08033019807 or send mail to training@hybrid-hse.com

IOSH Managing Safely course @ 75% Discount

Hybrid Consulting Ltd offers 75% UNBELIEVABLE 1-Day Discount on "IOSH MANAGING SAFELY" course from Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) UK. This is a 4-Days course with examination and certification from the UK, applicable for international Health & Safety Professionals & aspiring ones.
Discount only VALID under the following terms & conditions:
1. Original course Fees is NGN175,000; NOW available for NGN50,000 only
2. ONLY 5 places available on First Come, First Serve Basis
3. Interested persons should send SMS to 08055513861 or email to training@hybrid-hse.com OR register online at http://hybrid-hse.com/trainings/page/2/?add-to-cart=294 using the coupon code "IOSH PROMO" latest by 7.00pm on Tuesday August 19th, 2014
4. Discount ONLY available for the course taking place on August 20th - 23rd, 2014 at our training centre in Lagos, Nigeria

This is a chance of a life time...Don't Miss This!

Safety in Perspective

'Emotion' is not a control measure in safety management... So, your actions and activities at work must be rational and definite! Be Safe! You cannot assume or feel that systems are safe until you confirm it. So if in doubt, ask question. It is safer to be sure of the realities...just one mistake can be too costly, no matter how insignificant it may seem on the surface. 

Safety is a conscious effort...a decision to stay out of harm's way and cannot be left to your feelings or unstable emotions. Remember, if it is not safe, don't do it! The choice for safety is yours! Make the right choice all the time consciously.

I Have A Dream....

I have a dream...

That one day occupational health and safety standards and enforcement structures will be a reality in Nigeria...not just goodwill gestures, but as mandatory requirements for businesses and leisures!

That Nigeria will be a safe place where we can all go about our daily activities and routines without any fear of injuries and loss because of lack of duty of care of all of us. 

Yes, this is close, very close indeed and we will all see this! We all await this revolution...soon!

Dapson

EXCUSES

The truth is that every day you wake up, there are a thousand and one reasons not to get out of bed, a thousand and one reasons not to go to work, a thousand and one reasons not to keep that appointment…and the list goes on and on.

For every potential success, there are a thousand and one excuses.

The choice is yours; you can either choose not to make excuses and take your giant strides or conveniently dwell on the excuses and face the consequences.George Washington stated that 99% of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses; the reason is not far-fetched as they give several reasons for leaving undone what they should have done to attain success.

Funny enough, excuses are excuses whether legitimate or not. At this point, I think it is expedient that I define what the word EXCUSE means. The free dictionary defines it as 1. an explanation offered to justify or obtain forgiveness… 2. a reason for not fulfilling an obligation.

The story is told of three dogs of different sizes running down the street, along the way the smallest one tripped and fell but it immediately jumped back to its feet and caught up with the other two and even left one behind.

Now let’s analyze the situation properly- how easy and convenient it would have been for the little dog to wallow in self-pity under the excuse of “I tripped and fell” but no, it dusted itself up and even outran one of the other dogs that seemed to be leading earlier.

Does this sound like you? Remember, the universe does not leave any room for vacuum, there’s nothing like stagnation, it is either you’re moving forward or backward.

There’s no time to waste, no room for excuses…

You have postponed that article for too long; You have found enough excuses for not writing that test for too long; that project has not seen the light of the day; you have blamed your parents, the government and even God so much; your degrees and those professional qualifications have been deferred for too long; and success and gainful employment have eluded you for so long…all because of EXCUSES!

Would you get certified today or still hide under another excuse? Don’t forget that those who wait for the right time to do anything never get anything done.

Hybrid Consulting Limited, an approved training Centre for CIEH (UK), IOSH (UK), BSC (UK) and PMI (USA) and in partnership with CCS Training UK for NEBOSH is offering opportunities for GRADUATES AND PROFESSIONALS of all  disciplines to acquire HSE  and project management knowledge and skills to enhance their employability in the industry. As part of our contribution to your dream of securing rewarding jobs, through these certifications we offer some of our courses at almost 50% discount to fresh graduates and NYSC members.

The opportunity you have been waiting for is here. Take hold of the future now!

See you at the Top!!!

Welcome Back...Safety all the Way!

Dear Very Esteemed Readers,
I will like to specially welcome you back to this blog which over the years has been a reliable medium for safety awareness, advocacy and empowerment. Indeed, there have been several developments and changes in the last few years of this blog, but one thing still remains same - the need for safety by all!

Everyone desires safety, and so we definitely can be out of touch! This emphasises our relevance from generation to generations. Safety is a way of life, hence, it is a behaviour and no matter how long it takes to build, it is a worthwhile venture.

This blog is therefore better repositioned to bring you the very best of information on safety matters in Nigeria and globally. You are therefore invited once more to a rich collection of information that won't only entertain you, but also educate, enhance and empower you! You are ready for the best times on the web...visit and visit again and of course, spread the news!

Safety isn't costly, It's priceless!

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT (HSE) SEMINAR

The theme of this seminar/workshop is "Building a successful occupational health, safety and environment (HSE) career." The HSE profession is gradually gaining acceptance and recognition in Nigeria and this field is a goldmine because the statistics and records show that the present number of HSE professionals in Nigeria is far below the minimum required to take up the available roles and opportunities. This is more important especially now that we are embracing new technology and ways of doing things in all aspects of our socio-economic and political development. This program will among all other things, create a platform for dissemination of up-to-date information on the required processes to achieving competence in the field. Leading industry HSE experts will anchor the program and it promises to be a great time of discoveries and capacity building for all participants.

VENUE: Centre for Management Development (CMD)

Auditorium 3, Management Village

Shangisha, Magodo

Lagos State

DATE: Saturday August 28th, 2010

TIME: 12.00 Noon - 5.00 PM

The Vision/Program Objective

The developments and advancements taking place in Nigeria in the last ten years give a bright ray of hope that this nation will soon take her rightful place in the committee of nations as a great icon. There are various positive changes taking place all around us in government, technology, education, health, sports, to mention but a few. Part of these changes also involves evolvement of new careers and employment opportunities for the citizens of the country. We have witnessed new career opportunities and benefits in the oil and gas, telecommunications, manufacturing, banking, education, sports and entertainment.

However, in spite of all these new opportunities for gainful employment, there are still large percentages of Nigerians who are in the employment market even with good education. It is a known fact that some careers in the country have become over saturated and as a result have left a lot of people unemployed. It is also true that there are some others that have less than required number of personnel and as these needs continue to grow, influx of expatriates into the country to fill these positions will not end. The main reason for this among others could be the lack of competent Nigerians to fill these positions.

It is therefore important at this stage of our national growth and development to explore some of these career opportunities that have need for qualified and competent personnel. It is my desire, dream and vision that unemployment rates in Nigeria will be reduced as people embrace a career with so much benefits and potential, yet relatively unknown; not only for the individuals but for the country as a whole. I also see a Nigeria where there is value for life and reduction of incidents to the citizen in their homes, workplaces and the general society where they interact. This is the time to do and make things happen and create the Nigeria that we all desire. This is the background for this career development seminar with the theme ‘Building A Successful Career in Health, Safety & Environment (HSE).’

The purpose of this seminar is to provide in-depth information about the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) profession that would assist anyone considering a career in this challenging but rewarding field. Many countries of the world have started the HSE journey earlier than us, but we can begin NOW in Nigeria and prepare for the harvest that is already available. Leading industry professionals in the field of HSE will be attending this seminar to help chart a path and provide useful directions to all participants on how to become qualified and competent persons with required skills for the workplace in Nigeria

It is my believe that this seminar will provide a platform to contribute our quota to the emergence of the Nigeria of our dreams; where:
1. there will be gainful employment opportunities for Nigerians in the field of HSE
2. safety, good welfare and occupational health of Nigerians will become a priority
3. environmentally safe practices will be embraced

Thank You.

Dapo Omolade
Organiser

Home Child Safety 1: Swimming Pool Safety

How many times have you heard in the news bulletin that children and sometimes adult were found drown in the swimming pools at homes or recreational centres? The average of such occurrences should be relatively high individually...say 10 times in the last 5 years.

Swimming is a popular and fun summer activity for children to relax, play and cool off the heat. However, a swimming pool can turn deadly in an instant. Numerous child injuries are reported each year in conjunction with swimming pool accidents, resulting in broken bones, permanent brain damage, neck or spinal cord injuries and death. Statistics on swimming pool accidents show that young children are especially vulnerable to pool injuries.

Drowning is the primary result of swimming pool accidents. According to reports, 1,500 children drown each year in a pool accident in the United States. Toddlers and young male teenagers are most at risk for drowning in swimming pool accidents. Many parents may not realize the danger swimming pools represent, but according to MedScape.com statistics, drowning causes 30% of all deaths for children under the age of 4. Additionally, for all children under the age of 14, drowning is second only to car accidents as the leading cause of death.

In addition, the consumer product safety commission in the US has received reports of 200 children drowning in hot tubs, bathtubs and whirlpools. While you may expect that most children who die in drowning accidents are unsupervised, the exact opposite is true.

According to Safe Kids USA, 88% of children who die in swimming pool accidents were supervised at the time of the accident, either by a lifeguard, parent, sibling or family friend. Only 10% of child drowning victims were completely unsupervised. There are fewer statistics available for child injuries in swimming pool accidents, since many minor accidents go unreported. Hospital reports in the US (New York alone) estimates that 2,600 children are injured in near-drowning accidents each year, but that doesn't include the many other injuries suffered in diving accidents, slips and falls around pools, or pool drain accidents.

In our part of the world, you may be quick to say we do not have as many swimming pools as in the US and other western countries. As true as this may be, we have recorded several incidents of swimming pool incidents in homes, recreational facilities and in schools. Interestingly, this has often occurred in the above average homes and families. A good example was the news in 2009 of the death of the grandson of the prime minister of Zimbabwe as a result of drowning in the swimming pool in the residence of the PM. Of course, there are many others like that which are not reported.

There are safety tips that are able to eliminate drowning at the pool or at the least, reduce the number of cases to the bearest minimum. Some of these tips are itemised below:

• Never allow your youngster to swim alone without any adult supervision. It is quite common to develop a cramp underwater, or for accidents like hitting your head while diving for example, to occur. It is paramount that there should be persons around to help in such situations.
• Do not allow children with no knowledge of swimming in or around the pool. For good pool safety make sure that all kids above the age of 4 attend a certified swimming class, or at least learn basic flotation techniques and life saving techniques in case of accidents.
• Children younger than 4 should always be accompanied by their parents in the pool.
  Enclose your pool with high fences, which can be locked. Do not leave the pool open and accessible since children can fall inside. Keep your pool safe, and keep your kids away from the poolside.
• Avoid leaving your kids alone even with small portable pools or water bodies like buckets, fountains, and barrels. There is always a danger of drowning occuring even in small bodies of water.
• In case of a backyard swimming pool, make sure that the cover of the pool is completely lifted over the pool. Do not partially open the pool. Also make sure that your child does not walk over the pool cover.
• Spas and Hot Tubs must also be avoided, especially in the case of younger children who are susceptible to overheating.
• Make sure that there is always a life saving floation device handy near the pool. Also, every parent should be conversant in basic first aid (cardio pulmonary resuscitation-CPR & artificial respiration –AR) techniques in case of any accident.
• The last, but not the least, to ensure swimming pool safety, be observant. Watch what your kids are up to, and supervise their activities. Do not leave them alone at any time around any body of water.

Remember that they are the little ones, very vague and unaware and are very eager to explore all opportunities to have fun.

Home Child Safety

There is nothing more precious than a child. In many cultures and traditions, the birth of a child is regarded as the most tangible evidence of a marriage that is blessed and successful. The home is expected to be a safe haven, the place of safety and security for parents, visitors and also the children. This of course will not happen automatically except there is a concerted effort to achieve this goal. Most parents believe their homes are safe for their children but the accidents statistics that are received on daily basis world over suggest that most homes aren't as safe as they should be.

Along with the joys of parenthood comes a great deal of worries, not least how to keep our children safe. Whilst most parents worry about our children’s safety away from the homes, we often forget about the very real hazards inside our own homes. It may be impossible to eliminate every single hazard imaginable, but it is possible to eliminate as many hazards as possible and to be prepared for all eventualities. Always remember that ‘prevention is better than the cure’ and one of the most important aspects of ensuring children are safe is to supervise them as much as possible. Never leave children unattended!

Accidents happen in the home, even to the parents and adult alike. However, this potential for accident increases with a child in the house, whether a newborn or an adolescent, accidents can happen all too easily and sometimes with terrible consequences. The causes and consequences of home injuries vary considerably by age and developmental level, reflecting differences in the child's ability to learn and understand about what is around them. Their ability to move around their environment also changes what should be considered safe. The majority of poisonings and other unintentional injuries in the homes could have been prevented by following a few simple steps to make the child's surrounding safe for them at each level of development.

You may be surprise at what your kids are capable of doing and at sudden development in their activities such as rolling over, crawling and trying to climb up using an open drawer as the ladder. These may lead to unexpected accidents such as tipping hot liquids over themselves, making a shelf and its content fall, cutting themselves, choking, swallowing small parts, poisoning, falling from height and wandering outdoors or on to the streets alone.

Homes must therefore be made absolutely safe for children especially because of their novice tendencies. The act of ensuring that a home is safe for children is known as childproofing. Childproofing our homes is something that we have to carry out in great detail, especially when children are very young. Although we might all think we are responsible parents who would not let our baby or toddler get into any harm at home, there are many hidden hazards lurking which could injure a young child or baby or could result in something even more serious than that. Therefore, it’s important that you take practical steps to understand the potential dangers that are present around the house and to take preventative measures to keep your children safe. Therefore, to keep your children safe and secure, childproofing is must for every household with young kids and curious toddlers.

This article will therefore explore various childproofing strategies that will help to identify many hazards that could exist in homes and how to minimize the risks to the children and the family as a whole. This would be considered under different sections and aspects of the homes where these hazards are present and most of the times not obvious except by serious assessment and evaluation. Some of the areas to be considered in this article subsequently are:

• Swimming Pool
• Bathroom/Toilet
• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Cribs/Cots
• Living rooms
• Curtains/Door & Window blinds
• Garden/Flower Pots
• Drugs/Medicines
• Chairs and Sofas
• Staircases
• Stores/Warehouse
• Electrical Equipment
• Tiles & Floors
• Outdoor environment

I will be giving some safety tips and suggestions within this scope in subsequent articles on Home Child Safety. Watch out for more details!