december2020
SAVE OUR
CHILDREN
IOL.CO .Z A
Three ways to keep your children safe during the festive season CHILD injuries spike during summer. Professor Sebastian van As, head of Trauma Unit, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, says motor vehicle accidents, drownings, burns and falls are the most common reasons children end up in hospital over the holidays, adding that 80% of trauma cases are linked to road accidents where children were not properly strapped in. Here are some useful tips to ensure the holidays are safe and fun for everyone. Make the home extra safe this holiday • Make sure hot electrical appliances, toxic substances and sharp objects are locked away or out of reach. The same applies to matches, paraffin and lighters. • Search the home for objects that may cause harm. Read the labels on items you’re not sure about. • Don’t let children near candles, fireplaces or the braai unless there is continuous supervision. • Keep cabinets locked, especially ones where you keep chemicals. • Be wary of little ones being near the bath or geyser. • Keep toxic indoor plants out of reach. • Make sure your pool cover is secure whenever the pool is unattended. • Reduce the risk of choking by cutting a small child’s food into pieces. Upskill your family in safety 101s • Always, always wear seatbelts. This should be nonnegotiable for the whole family. • Consider attending a first-aid course and if you have a child minder, consider taking them along. • Teach your child to swim from a young age. • Explain what objects are dangerous and why. Stay safe in public spaces • Make sure that a child wears a helmet and avoids traffic when skateboarding or biking. • Supervise small children on roads and teach older children about pedestrian safety (look right, look left, look right again!). • Don’t let children near any kind of water body without supervision.
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Keeping kids buckled up safely ONE of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when they are travelling in a vehicle. And the number one way to do this is by ensuring your child is safely buckled up. South Africa’s rules of the road require that all people travelling in a vehicle wear seat belts and that all children under three-years-old are strapped into a properly secured car seat. Seat belts and car seats are important because they have been proven to save lives. They reduce the seriousness of injuries and prevent the child from being ejected from the vehicle in an accident. They also prevent injury to other passengers – an unbuckled child could be hurled forward in a crash, injuring front-seated passengers. As a parent, it’s important that you: 1. Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you buy is designed to fit your child’s current size and age. 2. Ensure that the car seat is the right fit for your car. • Not all car seats fit in all cars. Test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your car. • Read your car’s manual, the label on the seat belt and the instructions on the car seat itself, to make sure you use the car seat correctly. 3. Take the next step to a booster seat when you answer “yes” to any of these questions: • Does your child exceed the car seat’s height or weight limits? • Are your child’s shoulders above the car seat’s top harness slots? • Are the top of your child’s ears above the top of the car seat? Booster seats are best used only when a child has outgrown a safety seat. Booster seats raise the seating position of the child so that the adult seat belt lies properly across the chest, crossing diagonally at the child’s shoulder rather than the neck, and low across the pelvis. Always ensure that you keep the booster seat on the back seat of the car.
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DONATE
Buckets of Hope
Help fill tummies and bring smiles to needy children this festive season by sponsoring Buckets of Hope. Christel House SA, a non-profit school in Ottery,enrolls students from some of the poorest communities on the Cape Flats. Every December, the school provides its most destitute students with a food bucket consisting of non-perishable goods and a few extra treats to help them through the December school holiday. 1 Bucket of Hope costs just R200 and we need 400 buckets before the school closes on 15 December. Donate using Snapscan, a direct bank transfer or online at www.sa.christelhouse.org/donate. Alternatively contact Bongi Sipunzi on 021 704 9406 / bsipunzi@sa.christelhouse.org Donations qualify for tax benefits & BEE points
Bank: First National Bank Branch: Cape Town Branch code: 250 655 Account #: 62690724573 Ref: Hope + Initials + Surname
Buckets of hope for Christel House students CHRISTEL House South Africa, a non-profit and no-fee school in Ottery, Cape Town, enrols students from some of the poorest communities in the Cape Flats. The school has launched a fundraising drive for food buckets, which cost R200 each and consist of non-perishable goods and a few extra treats, to help students and their families through the December school holiday. “With the extended six-week December holiday coming up and the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had this year, we are concerned for our most vulnerable families. We are asking the public to kindly help us raise R80 000 to allow us to distribute 400 Buckets of Hope to our neediest families before the holiday break on December 15,� said Francois Louw, director of fundraising and marketing. Donations qualify for tax benefits and BEE points.
To donate a Bucket of Hope, visitwww.sa.christelhouse.org/donate or contact Bongiwe Sipunzi on 021 704 9406. Alternatively, email bsipunzi@sa.christelhouse.org.
Keeping kids buckled up safely Continued from page 7 4. Choose the middle for most safety It may be hard to believe that there is one area of the back seat that is best for your children, but studies have proven that the middle seat is the safest place. If you have more than one car seat, the centre seat and the seat behind the passenger are the best places to install your car seats. 5. Choose the right direction (rear or forward-facing). • Kids who sit in rear-facing car seats have the best protection for the head, neck and spine. It’s especially important for rear-facing children to ride in a back seat, away from the airbag. • Infants (birth to one year): if your child is younger than one year and/or weighs less than 9kg, they should sit in a rear-facing seat with the harness straps at shoulder level. • Toddlers (up to four years): if your child is older than one year and/or weighs 10kg or more, they can sit in forward-facing seats, with the harness straps at their shoulders. • Young children (4-12 years): if your child weighs more than 18kg they can sit in a front-facing booster seat, which must be used with both the lap and shoulder belt securely fastened. Make sure the lap belt fits below and tight across the lap/upper thigh and that the shoulder belt fits snugly across the chest and shoulder. This will help avoid abdominal injuries. • For the best protection, keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible – at least until about two-years-old.
You will find the exact height and weight limit on the side or back of your car seat. 6. Avoid using an old or second-hand seat. If you must use a second-hand seat, make sure it has the original instructions (or contact the manufacturer for a replacement copy), has all its parts (check the manual), has never been involved in a serious accident, and hasn’t been recalled. (Sources: www.healthychildren.org; westerncape.gov.za/general-publication)
MISSING, ABDUCTED OR TRAFFICKED CHILDREN THE festive season is a busy time of the year for everyone and with the Covid-19 pandemic, things are likely to be a bit different this year. However, criminals are not on holiday or on leave and so it is vital that parents ensure the safety of their children during this time. According to statistics, children who are reported missing have either run away from home or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents about where they were supposed to be. Of the children and teens who are truly abducted, most are taken by a family member or an acquaintance. Only 25% of children are taken by strangers, and almost all children kidnapped by strangers are taken by men, and about two-thirds of stranger abductions involve female children. Most abducted children are in their teens, and school-going children are rarely abducted from school grounds.
Here are some tips for parents to ensure the safety of their children. • Don’t wait for 24 hours before reporting your child missing. • Know where your child is at all times, who they are with and what they are wearing. • Always keep a recent photo of your child on hand so that the photo will be readily available in case of an emergency. • Make an effort to know your child’s friends, their names, addresses and phone numbers. Be involved in your child’s life. • Teach your children their own names and addresses as well as your name and telephone number.
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MISSING, ABDUCTED OR TRAFFICKED CHILDREN Continued from page 10 • Take your children to the nearest police station, hospital and clinic to show them how to find it easily; point out landmarks to prevent them from getting lost, and homes of friends around the neighbourhood. • Teach your children to take the same route to and from places. • Teach your child to make loud noises in order to attract attention. • Teach them to move away from any car that pulls up beside them and is driven by a stranger, even if that person looks lost or confused. • For those kids who have cell phones, parents need to be techno-savvy in order to monitor their children’s online activity. • Make online safety a priority. Be aware of your kids’ internet activities and chat room “friends”, and remind them never to give out personal information. • Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your children online. • Set boundaries about the places your children go. Supervise them in places like malls, movie theatres, parks, and public bathrooms. • Never leave children alone in a car or stroller, even for a minute. • Choose caregivers – babysitters, childcare providers, and nannies – carefully and check their references.
• Avoid dressing your children in clothing with their names on it – children tend to trust adults who know their names. • If your kids are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they keep the door locked and never tell anyone who knocks or calls that they are home alone. The first few hours are the most critical in missing child cases. So it’s important to contact your local police and give them information about your child right away.
• SAPS – 10111 • Department of Social Development Call Centre – 087 158 3000 • Childline – 0800 055 555
Kolisi Foundation focuses on all-year-round collaboration and action 16 Days of Activism Against GBV VIOLENCE against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today, and remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. During August, the Kolisi Foundation held a series of conversations with men about their role in addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Coming up with solutions to GBV, the foundation listened to and learned from the experiences of women. “Over the last few months, we have listened to countless stories from women across our country. These stories are a piercing indictment on the reality that women in South Africa live in. They are also an invitation to men all over the nation to consider and re-imagine a world where women don’t live in constant fear.” We are reminded of the words of Kolisi Foundation co-founder and 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning captain, Siya Kolisi, to use August as an audit month. “It should be happening every single month because gender-based violence doesn’t only happen in a certain month, it’s an everyday fight,” said Kolisi. During the 16 Days of Activism period, the Kolisi Foundation is
Photo: Joanne Markland
joining hands with organisations in the GBV sphere by focusing on amplifying the work they are doing. Together with the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the Kolisi Foundation is collaborating with Youngblood Arts and Culture Development to host a fund-raiser to raise donations for the Kolisi Foundation’s GBV initiatives. The award-winning and highly-acclaimed artist, Laura Wenman, has donated her portrait of Siya Kolisi and the highest donation on this platform will receive the portrait. Visit the link to the fund-raiser for more information and to donate – youngblood-africa.com/shop/donations/
“As South Africans, we often think GBV is somebody else’s problem, but if you ask around, gender-based violence is closer to home than anyone may think,” said Kolisi Foundation co-founder, Rachel Kolisi. “Establishing a foundation during this time, we really wanted to assist in an immediate need and we wanted to partner with organisations that are already doing incredible work and to learn, listen and understand.” Follow the Kolisi Foundation’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign on their social media platforms or visit www. kolisifoundation.org for more information.
What to do if your child has heatstroke LONG hours in the sun could result in heat-related conditions such as sunburn, heat exhaustion or heatstroke – which is a life-threatening condition. Babies and young children are also at risk of developing heatstroke. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s core temperature increases beyond 40°C. It can cause an individual to slip into a coma or suffer organ failure, and can be fatal if not treated promptly and properly. Heatstrokes should be treated as a medical emergency and you should contact emergency medical services immediately if you suspect that your child is suffering from the condition. The symptoms of heatstroke may differ from person to person and may include heat exhaustion, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, muscle cramps, aches and dizziness. However, you should look out for the following symptoms in particular: • High body temperature with dry flushed skin and an absence of sweating; • Rapid pulse with trouble breathing; • Bewilderment or confusion; • Unusual and sometimes aggressive behaviour; • Seizures and loss of consciousness. It is vital to attempt to get your child’s body temperature down in order to try and prevent the risk of organ damage. If possible, place the child in a bath filled with cool or tepid water, if they are conscious, and keep a close eye on the child to make sure they don’t lose consciousness. Don’t use very cold water as it can cause peripheral circulation to shut down, thereby preventing the heat from escaping the core of the body. Alternatively, move the child out of the sun and into the shade, and remove excessive clothing. If possible, spray the child with cool water, wipe them down using a cool and wet cloth or fan them to encourage evaporation on and cooling of the skin. It is also vital to give the child water to drink or, even better, isotonic drinks containing electrolytes, if available and if they are able to take any liquids orally. Commence with CPR should the child suffer heart arrest (cardiac arrest).
Water safety tips at the beach
DURING the festive season, the beach is a popular destination for locals and holidaymakers – but this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, going to the beach will be very different. If you are one of those who will still be going to the beach these holidays, it is important to equip your child with important information. When at the beach, swim only where and when lifesavers are on duty and swim between their red and yellow flags. Rip currents are the greatest cause of drowning accidents along the coast. A rip current is a section of water that flows fast out to sea against the incoming waves. Anyone caught in a rip current will realise they are being swept out to sea faster than they can swim towards shore.
If you are caught in a rip current: 1. Do not panic and do not try to swim against the current. Let the current take you out to sea. It will not take you more than a few 100 metres and will not pull you under the water. There is no such thing as an undertow in the sea. 2. Raise one arm in the air and wave for help to alert people on the shore that you are in trouble. 3. The rip current force gets weaker the further out to sea it gets. At your first opportunity, swim parallel to the beach until you are free of the rip current and then use the incoming waves to aid your progress to get back to shore. WaterWise, an educational initiative of Sea Rescue, uses the acronym PLAN to help children remember what to do when they are at the beach:
P- Prepare: Pack a bag for your trip to the beach. Remember food, water and a swimming costume. Know who to call in an emergency – the ambulance telephone number is 10177. L- Look: Look out for waves and rip currents. Slippery rocks are dangerous. Never turn your back on the sea. A- Ask: Ask an adult to watch you when you swim. Always tell an adult where you are going and when you will be back. N- Never: Never swim alone. Never swim if you are too tired, hungry or cold.
SOURCE: www.nsri.org.za/2012/03/ safety-tips-from-waterwise-for-the-easterholidays/
EMERGENCY NUMBERS Ambulance response: 10177 The 10177 number can be used in the case of a medical emergency and can be called in conjunction with both the fire and police department respectively, depending on whether or not there are casualties. ER24: 084 124 nationwide Netcare911: 082 911 This private emergency response company will respond to emergencies whether you are a member or not. Emergency - Cell phone: 112 The number 112 can be called from any cell phone in South Africa. It will transfer your line to a call centre and they will route you to the emergency service closest to you. When this number is dialled, it is followed by an automated menu. But remain calm, because the menu exists as a form of triage (priority of treatment) control and filters out abuse of the medical and emergency system. A call to 112 on a cell phone is free and is even possible on a cell phone that does not have airtime.
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