Safety Consciousness – The Safety Chic

Who are the Stakeholders in a Child’s Safety?

Ulomka — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:32:41 +0000

There have been at least 3 major safety-related injuries and deaths in and from school which social media helped escalate awareness. Don Davis, Keren-Happuch and Sylvester did not deserve this. There are many more cases that are being hidden or manipulated. No child deserves to get injured or die because they sought education. We must do better as a society. For that to happen, all stakeholders must play their part.

If your child complains to you and you’re not listening or you ask them to endure, you are part of the problem.

As a teacher, if you see children being mean to another child and you turn away, you are part of the problem.

As a school owner, if you do not take action when a child goes out of line because the parents are rich, you are a part of the problem.

As a family member, if you see children ganging up against another child and you mind your business, you are part of the problem.

If justice is trying to be served and you are distorting information or frustrating the parents, you are part of the problem.

STOP IT!

Sylvester’s death has led to an outcry across all segments of society. This was totally preventable. We cannot continue to be a reactive society. Children do not need to die or get injured before we realize that their safety is critical. This case must be transparently treated and we must ALL work towards preventing a re-occurrence.

According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, an estimated 644,855 children under the age of 15 were killed by an injury and between 10 million and 30 million more suffered a non-fatal injury. A large proportion of these unintentional injuries occurred in or around the home while others occurred in the community.

You have a role

Parents: You are the primary caregiver of your child. Your child should be able to tell you ANYTHING about their experiences without fear. Build a loving relationship with them so this can happen. When they confide, please TAKE ACTION because it builds their confidence in you. Stop shutting them up or using words like “man up”
Family/Extended Family: Be observant. If you notice a child is not getting the care from their parents, care. There have been cases of children confiding in their grandparents on the abuse they face. This can only happen if they know the person cares. So, care. Observe, ask questions, support.
Teacher: You are a major influence in a child’s life. Use your influence positively. Do not be a part of the problem with abusive words, aggressive character and “funny” undertones. Don’t be nonchalant when you observe anything that compromises a child’s safety. You might be their last hope of getting a “safe” adult’s attention.
School administrator /Owner: What is the overall culture in your school? Children’s development is not just about academics. Are they physically and emotionally safe? How do you ensure that? Do you have a proactive and reactive method of addressing safety concerns? No child deserves to die or get injured because they came to school. You must be seen to give a fair judgment regardless of socioeconomic status.
Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA): This is not an association to show off or gang up against the school. It is an opportunity to get involved in the well-being of children. Use your expertise to make life better for children who may not have anyone to speak for them. If you say it’s not your business because your child is fine, what happens when another child without scruples goes after yours? Get involved. Speak up.
Government: No child on your watch should die. If they do for any reason, you must use your FULL authority to get to the bottom of it. No hidden agendas because the child is the important party to be protected.

The media, places of worship, childcare services providers and YOU must use your voice. Call out bad behaviour in children when you see it and build them to make better choices. Do not be an enabler of bad behaviour.

Over the years, we have spoken and trained on the importance of equipping children and having the systems to protect them. We will continue. But we ALL need to rise up and play our roles too. ALL hands must be on deck.

A child should be confident that they are protected and will not die because adults did not have the courage to do the right thing.

#TheSafetyChic

Intentionally building a safety conscious generation

What If?

Ulomka — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 12:17:10 +0000

Recently, a lady shared a tweet of how she was saved because the cab driver was able to resuscitate her. In another situation, one of our students had to administer First Aid to a fellow passenger based on what she had learned from one of our sessions.

As the year winds down, there is some pressure externally and internally. Externally, the heat situation most especially in Lagos is uncomfortable plus there is increased traffic on various routes. Internally, there are underlying health conditions, worries of not meeting set goals, worries about the increased price of goods and worries of how the Christmas season will pan out.

So, what happens if in the course of moving from Point A to Point B, you slump/faint/pass out? .

Should all drivers learn First Aid?

Should YOU also learn First Aid?

Are you certain of your health status?

When was the last time you had a medical checkup?

Does the food you consume provide the required daily nutrient?

These questions should cause you to reflect. There are so many people with underlying health conditions that they are not even aware of. Getting yourself checked helps you know your exact health status and it gives you directions on the areas that need improvement. Recently, after a friend passed out that’s when he realised he had low blood count. .

Don’t wait for something to happen, do the following:

1) Ensure you do not slump. Yes, it is possible. Eat right, exercise, rest, sleep well, avoid stuffy locations (use portable fans) and take necessary medication when ill

2) Learn basic first aid. It will save your life and that of others

3) Go for periodic medical checks

#TheSafetyChic

Intentionally grooming a safety conscious generation

Safety and health and the future of work

Ulomka — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 08:33:47 +0000

Yesterday was World Day for Health and Safety at work and the theme for this year is “Safety and Health and the future of work”

Have you ever thought of what could happen when machines take over work, start attending to your physical requests and maybe even driving you? Is there a possibility of your safety being compromised? What can be put in place to effectively manage it?

When I was in Arizona last year for the Mandela Fellowship, there was an accident in Tempe involving one of the self driving cars and a woman lost her life. I remember mentioning at one of our visits to Maricopa County that even if self driving cars are allowed, we need to think about possible things that could go wrong and put control measures in place. For example, if the car lock malfunctions, how can the passenger open the car to exit safely? In the case of the accident mentioned above, the human operators were trained to always monitor the car so they can take over controls if the vehicle wants to make a wrong move but the human operator in this particular vehicle got distracted because she was streaming a show.
So, the human factor is still important in determining safety. Work would evolve, life would evolve because technology is here to stay but we have a choice. We have to choose to be responsible enough to monitor and come up with control measures to ensure we are safe at all times as the world begins to engage machines. We also have to choose to comply with the set control measures to reduce the probability of machine related accidents. Remember, your safety is your responsibility

Apply and win free training slot

Ulomka — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 18:50:38 +0000

If you’re on my mailing list or on my Facebook group, The Safety Tribe, kindly check you have a message

Applications are now open for the FREE certified training courtesy our International partners. This is one of the activities for this year’s #SchoolSafetySummit

Application link is on those platforms. Due to limited slots, we’d only take the best applications. However, there will be a paid version of the training if you do not make the FREE slots but still need the “Safety Mastery for Schools: How to build a safe and inclusive school system for children” training.

All the best.

What You Need To Know About The School Safety Summit

Ulomka — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 08:21:44 +0000

What is the School Safety Summit?

It is a forum for stakeholders to discuss loopholes in the school safety system and proffer solutions to bridge the gap and keep the children safe.

Who should attend?

It is open to parents, teachers, school owners, representatives of security agencies and concerned citizens

How much is it?

It is free

How can I register?

Who are the organisers?

Ulomka Multi Solutions Ltd

How many people can attend?

As many as possible

Venue?

Eden Comfort Place, 17 Alade Avenue, off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja

How do I get there?

Once you get onto Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, the street directly opposite Lagos Airport Hotel is Alade Avenue. Eden Comfort Place is located at number 17, Alade Avenue.

Time?

9am

Who are the speakers?

The list of speakers will be unveiled as soon as availability is confirmed.

What is the event all about?

It’s about discussing loopholes in the safety of children in school and showcasing innovative solutions to close the gap

What if I want to volunteer at the event?

Please send an email to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com

How do I become a part of The Safety Chic Team?

Please send an email to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com expressing your interest

How can I sponsor the School Safety Summit?

Please send an email to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com to discuss the details of your interest

How can I partner with this event?

Feel free to send an email to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com

Do you run safety training for schools?

Yes, visit www.thesafetychic.com to register. You can also send an email to Ugochi@thesafetychic.com

Do you run safety training for other businesses?

Yes, send an email with the brief to ugochi@thesafetychic.com

Is this an annual event?

Yes