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Tribune News Network
Doha
While Eid Al Fitr is a joyous time of the year, it is also a time when parents need to be extra cautious. A safety expert from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is providing tips to help parents ensure their children stay safe and healthy during the holiday season.
Dr Rafael Consunji, director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), the community outreach arm of HMC's Trauma Surgery Section, says this time of year many families will spend a lot more time travelling to and from family gatherings and public events. He says parking lots and streets are often busier than normal, underscoring the need to keep an extra close eye on young children. He is also reminding the public about the importance of correctly restraining children while travelling by car.
"The proper use of car safety seats or seatbelts helps keep children and adults safer. All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the back seat, properly buckled in, on every trip. It is also important that drivers stay focused on the road while they are driving. While mobile phone and technology usage is among the most talked about distractions, lack of sleep, fatigue, loud music and some medications can also reduce driver's attention," said Dr Consunji.
He says it is equally important for parents to teach their children about traffic safety and the proper way to cross the street. Adults should be role models by always using designated crosswalks and sidewalks when walking with their children. Children under the age of 10 years do not have the necessary skills to judge the speed or distance of oncoming traffic and should be accompanied by an adult when crossing the road or navigating parking lots.
Dr Consunji recommends children wear bright-coloured clothing during daylight hours and reflective material during the night. He recommends standing clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles when crossing a roadway. Signify your intention to cross the street by making eye contact with oncoming drivers and putting your hand up.
For those planning to spend time using all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) during the break, Dr Consunji says it is important to remember that these vehicles are designed for one passenger. He says young children, below 16 years, should not drive or ride ATVs. ATV's are not toys and children should be kept away from them, Dr Consunji emphasised.
He recommends keeping children's play areas free from tripping hazards, like wires and toys, and away from heating sources, like stoves or ovens. He also recommends having 'kid-free' zones, such as the kitchen during cooking and food preparation time.
"It is important for parents to ensure their children are playing with age-appropriate toys, especially when considering projectile toys which are capable of shooting objects into the air. Toy handguns, bows and arrows, and dart guns can result in children sustaining serious facial, eye and ear injuries," said Dr Consunji.
He is also warning about the dangers of fireworks, noting that when not handled properly fireworks can cause serious burns and eye injuries. He recommends against the use of fireworks at home and suggests opting to attend public fireworks displays.
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18/06/2018
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