Abu Dhabi: A social worker has called for lessons warning children about the dangers of balconies and open vertical areas to be included in the school curriculum.
"These lessons can be taught to toddlers as young as three years old," said Fatima Sayyah Al Marzouqi, an Emirati mother who has worked in the capital as a social worker for nearly a decade. She said the child safety curriculum should be made mandatory both in private and public schools as it is the best way to create awareness among both parents and children.
She said increasingly fast-paced lifestyles that do not allow for constant supervision by parents and guardians have turned otherwise safe places like home into dangerous zones.
Tragic accidents
While most people focus on keeping children safe on the roads, it is also paramount to train children and other household members about domestic safety measures. "This includes treating balconies as a restricted area for children. And it is not enough for young ones to be told. Maids and babysitters need to be instructed to supervise children, and prioritise this over all their other tasks," Fatima told Gulf News.
A recent spate of tragic accidents in Sharjah has seen five children die over the past two months, causing concern among residents and authorities across the country. Fatima appreciated the Gulf News campaign on child safety and said it was good to raise awareness among parents.
Ultimate responsibility
Fatima, who herself has a five-month-old, said it was also important for parents to remind caretakers.
"If I ever have to leave my daughter with our maid, I always remind her to put aside all other work to watch over the baby. In the end, child safety is the ultimate responsibility of the parent, who needs to ensure someone qualified is always around for supervision," she added.
Meanwhile, the Child Protection Higher Committee and the Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre is reviewing construction safety codes. Various municipalities across the country are also reviewing building safety guidelines.
New buildings in Sharjah are now required to have concrete or aluminium bars in balconies placed not lower than 1.20 metres, while in Dubai, window openings must be at least 90 centimetres above floor level.
Unified codes
Fatima Amer, consultant to the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) in Abu Dhabi, also told Gulf News the authority was looking at introducing a set of unified codes for bringing safety to the emirate. These will mandate protective guards in open vertical areas like staircases and balconies, as well as devices that prevent windows from opening beyond a width through which toddlers can put their heads.
"Sadly, falls from buildings are not uncommon, and they occur all over the world. Parents with young children should therefore always check with landlords to install secure latches on windows and balcony doors in their apartments," Amer advised.
