Dubai: In view of an increase in the number of domestic accidents, Dubai Municipality has launched an awareness campaign to educate the public in an innovative way.
The Public Health and Safety Department of the civic body launched the campaign titled “Is Your Home Safe” based on the statistics and studies related to domestic accidents, Redha Salman, the director of the department, said in a press release on Tuesday.
Records available with the department indicate an increase in domestic accidents in recent times due to a lack of awareness about home safety practices, which are not followed by parents, children and maids at home, he said.
He did not provide the number of accidents reported. However, Salman pointed out that it was important to raise awareness and educate the community to follow the safety guidelines in their homes, thereby prevent accidents and potential damage which may be caused to them, especially children.
House-shaped installations with cut-out models providing instructions to improve home safety will be exhibited at municipality centres, malls and schools as part of the new awareness campaign launched by Dubai Municipality.
After inaugurating the campaign, Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of the municipality, said the provision of health and safety is an objective that covers everyone in the community, and each one is responsible for that.
“The head of the family should provide a safe environment at home away from dangers. Health and safety are the most important life rules, if not the basic focus, to provide a safe and stable environment for individuals and society,” Lootah said.
With the campaign, the municipality is urging parents and members of the public to follow instructions for play areas and children’s toys. It says adult supervision in the play areas at home without any distraction can help prevent injuries to children. The important instructions are:
Pool safety
Children must be under constant supervision by an adult while swimming
They should wear the buoys and life jackets
First aid box and survival hoops should be placed close to the swimming pool
Build a safety fence around the pool and don’t allow children to run or play around the pool area
Toy safety
Choose age-appropriate toys for your children
Read warnings and specific instructions for each toy
Avoid buying toys that contain glass and tiny parts
Store toys in an enclosed and secured place after play time
Medicine safety
Keep medicines, health supplements and personal care items out of reach of children
Read the instructions on the labels
Check expiry date, instructions of use, health and safety warnings and precautions
Kitchen Safety
Keep kitchen equipment and tools well-organised
Keep small children out of the kitchen while cooking
Avoid wearing inappropriate clothing such as long sleeves which may cause danger
Put a childproof lock on your oven to prevent danger
Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children
Place gas cylinders in a well-ventilated location
Do not expose the cylinder directly to sun and heat sources
Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen
Ensure gas valve/regulator is closed before leaving the kitchen
Rooms and interior safety
Install safety gates for staircases to avoid your child from falling
Gap between the stair balusters should not exceed four inches
Do not keep furniture, tables, chairs etc near windows or balconies
Install safety barriers on high places like windows or balconies to prevent children from falling
Put safety guard pieces to protect sharp corners at home
Store sharp tools and equipment in enclosed areas
Secure all equipment, wires or materials laid on the floor to ensure safety
Avoid overloading sockets to prevent risk of fire
Keep empty plastic bags and ropes away from the reach of children
Cleaning tools, bathrooms and pesticide safety
Wear rubber hand gloves and face mask while using or mixing household detergents and disinfectants
Chemicals and household cleaning materials must be kept in a safe place out of children’s reach. Read the warnings on the product label before using it.
Wipe away any water or soap spillages on the floor immediately to avoid slips and falls
Put mats on tub shower and washroom floor to prevent falls
Never leave children alone in the washroom
