Cyclone season

SINCE Fiji is still in the cyclone season and the cyclone warnings are given from time to time, it is of vital importance that children are educated about the dangers posed by cyclones.

Parents and school teachers can play a vital role in educating children on the dangers posed during cyclones.

Some basic discussions in class or even at home on what is a tropical cyclone, how it is formed, when and where tropical cyclones are formed, its features, how meteorologists use satellites to track tropical cyclones, how the name of the cyclone is chosen, and what are the safety procedures that should be followed when the cyclone comes, would not only make an interesting class but could save lives.

In Fiji, there have been many incidents where a young life is lost during a cyclone, or its aftermath such as flooding. Despite the continuous warnings on the weather and heavy rains, children are seen playing in creeks and drains which eventually leads to some mishaps.

When a life is lost, families suffer, many mothers go into depression, only because of negligence and not paying attention to children during such disasters. Some simple monitoring and concerns can save lives of your loved ones.

Being educated and psychologically prepared when a cyclone is threatening can help children feel more confident, more in control, more aware of the dangers, better able to think clearly about what is needed to stay calm and keep safe.

In the event of school closure due to cyclone or flooding, the Coalition Government should enforce legislation that all buses transporting school children would pick them up and drop them home, regardless of whether they have a bus pass or not. This would be the moral duty of the bus operators to this country during such disasters.

Parents should ensure their children have reached home on time during such disasters and if not, they should ring up the school and notify the local police. Families should start preparing for cyclone related stocks at home including torch, batteries, candles, food items, first aid kit and other needful. Simple things will help in these disastrous times.

Please pay attention to weather warnings and prepare well in advance. This is Fiji and these things are not new but only a matter of paying heed to weather and our own people. Accidents happen because we allow them to happen.

KIRTI PATEL

Lautoka