Safety tips during school holidays
Rather be safe than sorry! ER24 gives safety tips for the school holidays.
The second last school holiday of the year has started. You may be planning to relax with your family at home, go away on a holiday or even just spend a few days out at local attractions.
Whatever your intentions, Ineke van Huyssteen of ER24 has urged everyone to ensure their safety.
Every occupant of a vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Be a responsible driver and ensure that all of your passengers’ seatbelts are fastened before you start off in your vehicle. By law, every child must be strapped into an appropriate car-seat in a moving vehicle. Do not drive with children sitting on laps or allow them to move about freely in the vehicle while it is in motion. Keep restless children happy during your journey by providing them with toys, books to read or games to play.
Make sure that you use your vehicle’s headlights while you are travelling, even during daylight hours. This will ensure that other motorists will be able to see your vehicle from further away.
It is essential to take regular rest stops while you are travelling – either every two hours of driving or every 200km travelled. Get out of your vehicle, stretch your legs and get some fresh air. It is also essential that children get out of the vehicle and move about at rest stops.
Do not make use of your cellphone while driving. Ensure you have a hands-free kit or a passenger that can take your calls if need be. Do not text and drive, under any circumstances – no matter how quick you think you will be.
Keep water at hand in the car while you are travelling – staying well hydrated is an essential part of the journey for you and your passengers.
Do not forget to have your chronic prescriptions filled before you go on holiday. Take your medication with you and remember to take it at the right intervals. Carry a spare prescription in case you need to go to the doctor. Also have prescriptions made out before your local doctor goes on leave.
Every child needs to be supervised around any body of water, regardless of whether the child can swim or not. Make sure that young children are never alone while swimming.
Do not drink alcohol and drive a vehicle, no matter how short the distance may be; alcohol impairs your reaction time and may prevent you from avoiding a collision.
Your vehicle manufacturer should be able to assist you with a complete check of your vehicle for safety purposes before you embark on your trip. Go to your nearest dealer and have your vehicle thoroughly checked before travelling long distances.
Do not leave children, the elderly or pets in a parked car for extended periods of time. Temperatures can reach above 45 degrees inside the vehicle. This leads to dehydration, and in some cases coma and death.
Makes sure that young children are in the care of an appropriate caregiver while at home during school holidays.
Remember to stay out of the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm and always wear some form of sun protection. Ensure that it is re-applied at regular intervals.
If you come across an accident, unless you are medically qualified or know first aid, it is not necessary for you to stop. Rather call for the assistance of ER24 on 084 124, and provide as much detail about the incident as possible, including accurate location and landmarks.
Whether you are staying at home or going out of town during the school holiday, familiarise yourself with the emergency numbers in your area. There are different numbers to dial for requesting different essential services. In case of a medical emergency, you can dial 084 124 from any phone, anywhere in South Africa.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za  (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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