Teach your children life-saving skills

Emergency situations usually come unannounced and therefore we must be prepared to handle any sort of emergency or else it becomes hazardous and in many cases leads to loss of life.
Life-saving skills when taught to children, adolescents and even adults can save a life in case of an emergency.
Swimming

The recent boat cruise accident and other recent drowning incidents have been eye openers to parents on the need to teach their children, right from a tender age how to swim. Swimming is not only a recreational activity, but also a very healthy activity and more importantly, a life-saving skill. Parents can swim along with their babies and toddlers as this builds confidence. As children get older, they can learn the core swimming skills of floating and getting in and out of water.

First aid
In many instances, children are always the first on the scene in case of an accident at school or at home. It is for this reason that all children and even househelps and adults need to learn basic first aid skills including dealing with burns, bleeding, choking, allergic reactions, and asthma attacks, among others.
For example the choking first aid known as the Heimlich manoeuvre which consists of a repeating cycle of five back slaps and five abdominal thrusts can be learned to save someone when choking.

Calling for help
Children should be taught how to yell and seek help in case of an emergency. Calling an adult in the house or in the neighbourhood or even picking up a phone and dialling an emergency line like the Uganda Police emergency lines 999/112 can save a life.
Parents should have their numbers saved in their home caretakers’ phones and also displayed some where in the house where all members of the home are aware and can easily retrieve these numbers in case of an emergency.

Road safety
With the few designated crossing positions on our roads in Uganda, people are left at the mercy of their own judgement to be able to safely cross roads. Road accidents in Uganda have claimed the lives of many including pedestrians who include children going to school or simply crossing main highways. Some schools located along highways have innovated ways of using an adult to help school children safely cross the roads. Children should be taught to find the safest place to cross; stop and look out for oncoming traffic on both sides of the road; if the traffic is coming, to let it pass and when it is safe, to go straight across the road without running.

Being aware of strangers
Striking a balance between letting your child be aware of strangers and being frightened of strangers is tricky. So basic rules such as: never accept gifts or sweets from strangers; never get into a car or go anywhere with a stranger; never go off by yourself without an adult or without telling an adult that is looking after you, can all go a long way in saving a child’s life.

Underwear rule
This is a simple way to start a conversation that could potentially protect your child from sexual abuse. Children as young as three years of age can be taught that anything that is covered by their underwear is private.
Simple acronyms can be used to remind the child such as PANTS; Privates are private, Always remember your body belongs to you; No means no; Talk about secrets that upset you; Speak up, someone can help.
Many other life-saving skills such as responding to snake bites and administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be taught to children. You never know what could come in handy in case of an emergency.