Always keep an eye on your children

In what can be termed a freak accident, a 10-year-old drowned in a jacuzzi after her hair got stuck in the filter of the tub. By the time her father noticed her long absence and reached her, it was too late to save the child. The girl’s dad had granted her permission to use the hot tub, according to reports. What is hard to comprehend however is why the parent felt it was safe for her to use the jacuzzi on her own? This tragedy again brings child safety into focus and it’s time we start a conversation into the dangers that lurk in the safety of our homes. Should children be using a jacuzzi or hot tub unsupervised? What is the safe depth for kids as old as 10 years? The water was one-metre deep in this case, but the apparent dangers were ignored by adults. Why blame kids when parents have been entrusted with the primary responsibility of keeping them away from harm.

In several other cases where children have died in home accidents, there should have been adult supervision. Which raises more questions. Did the adults read safety instructions after they purchased the tub? Was a safety audit done by the building management? Police blamed a faulty filter which went unnoticed by maintenance personnel and older members of the household who may have used the tub regularly. These pertinent queries need to be answered as the family deals with the tragedy. Child caregivers should be trained on how to keep kids safe and on the correct use of electrical and cooking appliances. Parents have a right to discipline children to ensure they stay out of trouble, and they must. Stop mollycoddling them and giving in to their demands. Parenting is about instinct and people hone it as they deal with kids. It is not perfect, and what works for one child may not work with the other. Parents learn as they grow in their relationship with their children and come to realise what the hidden dangers and warning signs are. It is okay to be cautious, even paranoid than rue and grieve over the loss of a child from a preventable accident. Society demands better parenting that does not compromise on safety. It’s time adults grow up.