Heavy Rain: Parents, Schools Urged to Prioritise Safety of Schoolchildren
By Chizoba Njaka
Safety expert (name withheld), have urged parents and guardians to keep schoolchildren at home during periods of heavy rainfall to reduce their exposure to road accidents, flooding and other weather-related hazards.
The expert said the precaution was particularly important in communities where poor drainage, flooding, erosion and damaged roads can make movement dangerous during heavy downpours.
According to him, heavy rainfall can quickly flood roads and walkways, make surfaces slippery and reduce visibility for motorists, thereby increasing the risk of road crashes involving pedestrians.
He also warned that floodwaters can conceal open drains, deep potholes, sharp debris and other hazards capable of causing serious injuries or drowning. Contact with contaminated floodwater, they added, could expose children to waterborne infections and skin diseases.
The expert advised parents to monitor weather forecasts and official alerts and prioritise the safety of their children over school attendance whenever severe weather conditions are forecast.
He further recommended that where travel becomes unavoidable, parents should ensure that children use the safest available routes, avoid moving floodwater and wear suitable footwear and rain gear.
Children should also be discouraged from playing in floodwater. Schools were equally advised to establish severe-weather safety plans, including timely communication with parents about closures, delayed opening or early dismissal.
The expert also called on schools to provide safe and supervised shelter for pupils when flooding makes it unsafe to send them home, while ensuring that staff are equipped with basic first-aid and emergency-response skills. He urged motorists to reduce their speed during heavy rain, give pedestrians sufficient space and avoid driving through flooded sections of roads.
The expert further called on local authorities and emergency agencies to strengthen drainage maintenance, early-warning systems and public education on flood risks. He said concerted efforts by parents, schools, motorists, local authorities and emergency agencies would help reduce avoidable accidents and protect schoolchildren during periods of severe rainfall.
Comments
Post a Comment