Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 1: In the tragic demise, five-and-half year-old Shannel D'Souza, who was alone when she fell down from her eighth floor apartment complex in Shakthinagar here, has left warning bells ringing for families which are too callous about the safety of their children, little noticing that even things which they consider to be of minor consequence like a bucket of water, LPG cylinder or a knife can pose grave danger to children.
There have been instances in which spoons and marbles have got stuck in the throats of children and caused their deaths. There have also been instances where small children on the way of reversing cars have been crushed under the car wheels.
Particularly those who live in apartment complexes have to be doubly careful about the children in the family and their friends who might be playing together, and might overlook risks in an enthusiasm to play. Some elder should keep an eye on children when they venture nearer to unsafe windows, doors, or balconies. Balconies should always be made safe by providing grills to a proper height and sliding glass doors. If the verandas are open, a grown family member needs to supervise the children closely. Windows without grills in any part of the house at a low height pose grave dangers.
Slippery bathrooms or bucketful of water kept unattended have proven to be grave mistakes many a time. Small children should never be left unattended or allowed to use lifts or escalators when they are alone. When going out of the apartment, care should be taken that if there are children inside the house, responsible elders who are able to take care of them should be present.
Children should be repeatedly warned of the dangers of peeping through windows or grills, and they should be stopped from going near dangerous objects like electrical equipment and things that can fall on them if shaken.
While all the precautions which need to be taken cannot be listed exhaustively, people have to closely watch a house that would be their prospective home before going in, to find out whether it is safe for their children in the first place. Naughtier the children, there is added need for the parents to be doubly careful.
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