I’m but to completely get well from the sudden and stunning demise of three-year-old Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido. If there may be one demise that introduced grief to so many Nigerians, that of Ifeanyi stood out as one. Good-looking, with an innocence that’s endearing, Ifeanyi didn’t should die at such a younger age beneath such unlucky circumstance. Even when his demise was confirmed by the police, many have been nonetheless hopeful that he was in a coma and a miracle may nonetheless occur. However who’re we to query God? I solely hope and pray that Davido and Chioma will come out of this ordeal stronger and can be capable to transfer on with out a lot injury to their psychological well being. I’m a mum or dad and I understand how it feels to lose a cherished one. His tragic demise by way of drowning, gained’t be the primary to be heard amongst wealthy Nigerian superstars who’ve determined so as to add a swimming pool to their houses as a kind of luxurious gadgets to have for his or her most consolation.
In June 2018, one other music legend, D’banj, additionally misplaced his one-year-old son, Daniel Oyebanjo, in comparable circumstances.
The toddler drowned in a pool on the singer’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. D’banj was in Los Angeles, United States of America attending the 2018 BET Awards when demise snuck into his residence to grab away his valuable son.
These unlucky incidents have created a debate over the purpose of getting a swimming pool put in at residence. Whereas some say having one is okay, they expressed remorse that the main casualties have been kids under the age of 5. Because of their hyperactive nature, they’re most interested by water and never conscious of the hazard it poses to them. The identical phenomenon is rampant in the USA of America and different international locations of the world.
Drowning remains to be the main explanation for demise by unintentional damage in children ages one by way of 5 within the US, based on the Centre for Illness Management and Prevention. Additionally it is a number one explanation for unintended demise for these aged 5 to 19. Certainly, almost 900 kids die yearly within the U.S alone and hundreds extra endure non-fatal accidents – from incidents in swimming pools, oceans, lakes, streams, bathtubs, and even buckets of water. Nonetheless, the vast majority of younger kids who drown achieve this in residence swimming swimming pools.
Whereas swimming pools are a simple strategy to maintain children entertained for hours, it should be remembered that water has no mercy. “Having an unfenced pool is like having an uncaged lion in your yard,” says Morgan Miller, spouse of Olympian, Bode Miller, and mother of Emmy, whose tragic demise at 19 months in a buddy’s pool catapulted childhood drowning into the nationwide highlight in that a part of the world. “To a baby, that massive furry animal may appear to be one thing enjoyable to play with. It’s interesting and tempting. However we, as adults know {that a} lion is lethal and may kill your baby.”
Fortunately, all of us have the ability to maintain children protected. Certainly, as mother and father, we have to focus on the risks concerned in dipping into the water with our children. We should always discuss to them about all facets of water security. That’s to these children which are sufficiently old to know the hazard lurking in that inviting water. However to people who are nonetheless younger, to maintain them protected is the accountability of we adults and we must always not shrink back from that activity.
The true hazard, nevertheless, is the truth that almost 70 per cent of childhood drownings occur when children aren’t swimming; they could wander over to a neighbour’s yard, slip by way of an unlocked again door throughout playtime, or tumble into the pool whereas wandering about.
We should always allow them to know that it isn’t proper to go in or close to the water with out a grown-up grownup round. Once more, if, throughout a household gathering, the children need to swim, it’s obligatory to nominate a mum or dad as a ‘water watcher’ to be looking out for the children. When everyone’s watching, no one’s watching. That’s why security organizations urge mother and father and caregivers to take turns being on official “water-watching responsibility” in group-swim conditions.
Other than that, it’s also essential to know what a baby in misery appears to be like like. Youngsters drown silently and rapidly, usually when they’re vertical within the water with their heads tipped again. In contrast to what you see in films, a baby hardly ever splashes, flails their arms, or yells for assist. Being a very good water watcher is like being a very good lifeguard. As soon as chosen as a water watcher, it’s essential to put away your telephones and focus on the children. Once more, with a swimming pool at residence, it’s obligatory to have an emergency plan in place. Know a bit of bit about fundamental CPR and actions it’s essential to take instantly if there’s a disaster. Even when a baby doesn’t want CPR after being submerged, having water of their lungs can nonetheless result in critical bother. Be careful for coughing, lethargy, and speedy respiratory, and in case you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your baby’s physician.
Should you do have a swimming pool at residence, additionally think about surrounding it with a fence, protecting it when not in use, and eradicating the steps or ladder as soon as swim time is over.
Set up a fence that’s at the very least 4 ft excessive round all 4 sides of the pool. The fence mustn’t have openings or protrusions {that a} younger baby may use to recover from, beneath, or by way of. Ensure that the gate resulting in your pool is self-closing and self-latching, and that it opens out. Latches needs to be above a baby’s attain, and the area between the underside of the fence and the bottom needs to be lower than 4 inches. By no means prop open a gate to the pool space.
Youngsters are quick, curious, and cellular, and can all the time need to discover their environment. It’s our responsibility as adults to make sure that we watch over them like an eagle and be sure that they’re protected always.
Whereas the swimming pool has turn out to be a mandatory evil at residence for youths, the tub has additionally turned out to be a killer of most adults and the aged in our society. The mixture of bathtubs and tiles in bathrooms has despatched many to their early graves in Nigeria. I took a aware choice whereas establishing my residence to not have a bath at residence.
Although Madam of the home kicked in opposition to the thought, I stood my floor after collection of explanations to persuade her failed. My stand was as a consequence of what Prince Bola Ajibola went by way of at the moment. Prince Ajibola, former Justice Minister and Legal professional-Normal, had slipped and had six of his ribs damaged whereas having a shower in a bath. That was in 2002. He survived, after being flown overseas for medical remedy. He survived as a result of folks have been in the home on the time he fell and assist was rapidly rendered each in Nigeria and out of doors the nation. Fortunately for him, cash for such costly remedy was not an issue.
If Prince Ajibola was fortunate, a former Nigerian ambassador to the UK, Ambassador J.T. Kolo was not that fortunate as he died from damage he sustained after slipping in his rest room. Ambassador Kolo was by himself when the incident occurred and there was nobody to rescue him. He was discovered useless hours later by a home employees inside his Minna, Niger State residence. He was 74.
One other one who didn’t survive her rest room fall as a consequence of a slippery tub and moist tiles was the spouse of former Police IGP, Michael Okiro. Hera Okiro slipped and fell in a freak accident in her rest room. On the time of her demise, Mrs. Okiro was solely 61 years outdated.
Additionally, the leisure trade recorded the same catastrophe as Nollywood star, Uduak Akrah in August 2018, died from an damage she sustained when she fell after taking her bathtub. Although she was rushed to the Lagos College Instructing Hospital, she finally gave up the ghost.
Former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, nevertheless, survived her fall within the bathtub, however not with out fracturing a bone. Hillary was in India on a go to when she slipped and fractured her wrist within the bathtub at a five-star resort the place she was staying. She was taken to a hospital within the metropolis of Jodphur the place she underwent an X-ray and a CT scan that confirmed a hairline fracture of her proper wrist.
To not be caught off guard, a businessman, based mostly in Benin, Edo State, Daniel Kings, vowed that he wouldn’t repair tiles in his rest room when he has assets to construct a home for himself. “From what occurred to certainly one of my neighbours in my former home and the tales I hear every so often, I’ve vowed to not have something to do with tiles in my rest room. It’s stunning however it has killed many individuals and put many others in ache. I can not use my cash to purchase what is going to kill me or any member of my household. God forbid,” he stated.
However Jolayemi Ayobami, who offers in constructing supplies in Atan, Ogun State, stated many home accidents have been a results of the flawed use of tiles by the tilers dealing with the job. Ayobami stated: “That is my 14th 12 months on this enterprise. Tiles are available numerous configurations and dimensions. A few of the surfaces are tough whereas others are very easy. It’s the responsibility of the tiler or builder to decide on which of the tiles is suitable on the ground or within the rest room. However what we normally witness is folks going for stunning and fancy tiles with out contemplating the implications when fastened on the ground. However constructing professionals with years of expertise know the suitable supplies for the suitable place. I heard of a girl who slipped proper in her sitting room, fell, and hit her head on a pillar. The lady died on the spot. It was later found that her granddaughter who came over poured water on the ground, which the unsuspecting grandma stepped on. Adults might be that cautious, however what about kids who’re all the time playful and carefree? Generally, you possibly can blame these dealing with the buildings, another instances, some property house owners readily accept low cost constructing supplies with a purpose to lower prices. This usually occurs when the challenge is supposed to be rented out by the proprietor. Thank God that we now have tiles that aren’t slippery, even in case you pour water or different liquid contents on them. Though the designs are costlier, it’s higher that householders go for them to avert risks of any variety.”
Whereas the swimming swimming pools, bathtubs and tiles are all modern-day facilities to provide us consolation at residence, we needs to be cautious and have it behind our minds that they might be potential brokers of demise. The one strategy to benefit from the consolation they provide is by guaranteeing that we do the suitable issues always and observe all security precautions in order that they’d not turn out to be a supply of sorrow to us at any age.
Might the soul of Ifeanyi relaxation in peace.
See you subsequent week.