Safety first please

THE revelation that a three-year-old child has died in Lautoka after a steel gate fell on him should be cause for concern. Chief Operations Officer (COO) Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (A/ACP) Livai Driu said the incident happened on December 22 but was only reported to police on Christmas eve, on December 24.

The child, he said, died at Lautoka Hospital from injuries sustained after he was trapped under a rolling steel gate.

“The victim, while waiting for his mother, was climbing the steel gate when it fell on him,” he said.

“He was rushed to the Lautoka Hospital where he was admitted until the time of his unfortunate death on Christmas Eve.”

The death was unfortunate, he said, and could have been avoided.

In a separate incident, a 13-year-old student was admitted at the Sigatoka Hospital on Monday after she slipped and fell about six metres from a waterfall.

Police said the victim was trying to take a picture on top of the Qwali waterfall when the incident happened.

She is admitted in hospital in a stable condition. We reiterate what A/ACP Driu stressed, that supervision of children must be prioritised at all times.

These incidents must trigger a sense of appreciation of the dangers around us.

As parents and guardians we are expected to be aware of our young children’s activities.

We are in the festive season right now when fun activities are happening around us.

This is a time when families will travel around the country to visit relatives, friends, or engage in traditional and cultural activities as well.

This is when families will also make their way down to the many beaches that are around us, or enjoy the many rivers and favourite picnic spots.

And this is when we sometimes will let down our guards.

So on this festive occasion, we are reminded about our duties as parents and guardians. We are reminded about the value of life, and appreciation of safety. Let’s be vigilant. Let’s adhere to safety measures when out on the road, and when we are around water.

Let’s enjoy the festive season to the brim, and let’s do that safety.

As we count down the days to another new year, we should be thankful for life. We should be appreciative of the fact that we have all lived up to this festive season.

We remember the little child in Lautoka, and wish his family finds peace in this very emotional moment in their lives.

Let’s stay well and stay safe!

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