Safety insights shared with ECD forum
Illegal electricity connections were a major concern.
Pre-schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres from the greater Isipingo area were invited to an informative meeting by the Isipingo ECD Forum at Orient Park library last month.
Sipho Shangase and Vusi Hlanze of the environmental health department explained to all practitioners the logistics of operating an ECD centre or pre-school and answered questions pertaining to best practise for each area.
Mandla Mkize and eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services firefighters then took to the floor and went through procedures involved in keeping young children and adults safe from harm. “Illegal electricity connections were a major concern as was obvious from the questions posed,” said executive member of the Isipingo forum, Ruwaida Manjoo.
“Mandla explained how best to handle these situations but said this is an ongoing problem that government needs to handle urgently. He did a few practical demonstrations and concluded by ensuring all present had emergency numbers easily accessible.
The meeting was well attended and found to be invaluable for supervisors, principals and teachers at these establishments.
Molly Govender of the Dakota ECD was especially grateful for the visit by the safety and security personnel as they’d had a fatality in the area of the centre where she teaches. A child was electrocuted by an illegal connection. She said it taught them to be alert of where children were playing at all times.”
