WITH the end of the year fast approaching, we'll no doubt see the increase in balik kampung trips as well as families going on their much-needed holidays.
However, the fun could turn into a disaster if families pay little heed to the importance of safety during their journey and at the destination. How often have we heard news of children drowning in the hotel swimming pool or falling off the balcony?
CONDUCT SAFETY BRIEFING
Fortunately, most accidents involving children are preventable. Parents just need to apply some common sense and keep a cool head to create a safe and memorable holiday.
Parents must be alert to potential risks. For example, it's always a good idea to walk around the resort with the family and do a simple, informal safety briefing to ensure that everyone understands the dangers.
DROWNING HAZARD
I've had the experience of rescuing a child who jumped into the deep end of a pool. Luckily, I was there to grab him. It's certainly not an experience that I wish to see repeated again.
He was excited to see the pool and the parents were just a few steps behind. Swimming pools do appear shallow due to light refraction.
I couldn't imagine if he was alone. As such, it's critical that we highlight the risks and dangers of drowning to our children. Point out to them the deep and shallow ends of the swimming pool. Even if they're good swimmers, they must take precautions at all times.
Meanwhile, the beach is a totally different game. Be mindful of strong currents that can cause trouble even to the strongest of swimmers. Always be alert of the weather and only swim if it's safe.
FIRE HAZARD
Similarly, it's always a good practice to familiarise the family with fire safety at the hotel grounds. Look out for fire exits as soon you check in into the rooms, and be sure of where the escape routes are located.
Brief everyone, including the little ones. Prepare them mentally in case they're temporarily separated from the parents. Agree on a meeting place so that they know where to go in case of emergencies.
TSUNAMI HAZARD
If you're travelling to the beachside, it's good to include the tsunami escape plan in the safety briefing. For hotels that experienced the 2004 tsunami, they would already have established escape routes. We just have to highlight it to the children who may not even be aware of the danger.
REPORT TO MANAGEMENT
If you see something glaringly dangerous, don't hesitate to report it to the management. These may include missing signs, slippery floors or uncovered holes. Ensure that they do something to rectify the situation.
Don't get into the blaming mode because chances are, the management is probably quite overwhelmed by the sudden surge of guests.
Be the problem-solver; we may not just be saving our children's lives but those of others too.
At the end of the day, holidays are for enjoyment, not tragedies. If we pay a little bit more attention to the risks, we can create a safe environment for everyone to enjoy.
Zaid Mohamad coaches and trains parents to experience happier homes and more productive workplaces. Reach him at zaid@smartparents.com.my.