It is wet, be cautious out there

The rainy season is upon us, and while we welcome it with open hearts, we need to be cautious and put safety first. Flooding typically occurs after heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Already, there are trending videos of cars being swept away as a result of flooded roads. Do not be a Thomas! Do not underestimate the level of water on the roads or streams.

Some drivers are so daring that even when danger is imminent, they overlook it. Talk of being brave or foolish! On a serious note, there is no reason to lose lives and property. Whatever it is that you may be rushing to, consider your safety and those in your care first.

A portion of the road that has been flooded out is a danger area and should be avoided. Even if you see other drivers attempting to drive through, think safety first and turn around and drive in the other direction. There are some who might want to prove that their vehicles have the capacity to drive through such situations, but it is not worth it. There is no way of determining how deep a flooded area is or to anticipate whether your vehicle will be able to get through it safely.

Even if your vehicle is not immediately swept away, because of the high levels of water, it is likely to stall. If it does, get out right away. Do not attempt to move it, doing so wastes valuable time that will be required to get away from the danger zone. The car will not provide a safe haven. If it starts to float away in the water, chances are, it will be pushed to the side and there is a danger that it might flip over by the rushing water.

If you are caught outside during a flood, do not try to walk through the rushing waters. The current may be swifter than you realize and you can easily be knocked down and swept away in only a few centimeters of water. Instead, move toward higher ground as quickly and carefully as you can.

The most heart wrenching is when children are lost during floods. Every year, children drown in streams and rivers, right in their neighborhoods.

This calls for caution and care in ensuring that children are safe at all times. Do not allow them to play in floodwater areas. There might be hidden hazards such as missing manhole covers. It is also critical to keep children away from hazardous sites and flood water as it is likely to be dirty and carry bacteria and vulnerable to electric shock.

Remember, you can always replace a car, a house and other properties; however, life can never be recovered after the flood waters subside.