Author
Reference
Benard.,
L., (2015): Back to School Safety Tips for Kenyan
Students and Pupils Reporting Back to School. Intel Fire Group of Companies Blog.
Nairobi, Kenya.
Back to School Safety Tips for Kenyan Students and Pupils
It is another time of the year when
student and pupils in Kenya are reporting back to the second term of the schools’
calendar. Looking at the major streets in Nairobi and other towns through different video reports by various local TV stations paints a
picture of different uniforms from different schools for students either waiting
to board, have done shopping and even some with their parents on toe. Academic
professionals in the education industry will tell that this is good news for the
country as many young teenagers are seeking education to transform Kenya into a
future working nation.
In this period of time the students and
their parents alike need to carefully take into consideration measures that
will ensure their children report back to school safely. This extract therefore
is intended to give tips on safety measures as students and pupils go back to
school.
1. The Student should always be in their school uniform
The uniform is to easily identify
the student to the many strangers and more so enable you as a student take
advantage of strength in majority as the Matatu
transport service may resort to offer a vehicle to transport you and your
colleagues up to the school compound at a small fee or at no extra charge. Your
school on this occasion may also offer a ride to its students from the nearest
town to the school and the only identification as is the case will be the full
school uniform. In case of any eventualities, God forbid, the uniform will be
the direct and easier way for general identification of victims before the
specific identification process is undertaken. Your uniform, therefore, in
every aspects plays a bigger role.
2. Keep to the sidewalks and use footbridges where available
Incidences of students being hit by
moving cars have been the norm during this period and the figure from the 2014
statistics reveal a danger yet to be discovered on walking by the road as the
on-coming and going cars are driven at high speeds. The student should strive
to always use the sidewalks and footbridges which are provided in major roads
and where there is need to cross from one side of the road to the other without
a footbridge, look for a zebra crossing.
In most instances these fundamental
observation are breached by the parents and/or guardians taking the same
students to schools. In such a case therefore, the student should take charge
as most have always done by following what they have learned on safety.
3. Never travel at night unless it is necessary
Recently research has shown that most
accidents albeit major ones occur during the night mainly due to the fatigue
and non-clear vision on the part of the driver. These accidents are attributed
to the driver working longer hours than required and this is why the Kenyan
government implemented a rule that requires every night travel bus to have at least
two drivers but this remains just a rule and its effective application and
implementation is yet to be seen. Therefore as a student during this time of
the season better be safe and travel longer hours than risk the very life that
makes you a student.
The day travel is usually done when the driver is fresh especially when you are traveling in the morning and therefore cases of accidents are rare occurrence and this is the best time for students to travel to their various destinations and especially so for those going longer distance.
4. Have records of emergency contact numbers
It would have been better to travel with
a working mobile phone whose battery life will last the life-time of your
journey but again Kenyan schools does not allow students to carry mobile phones
therefore make sure, if they are not known off-head, that you have at least
three numbers that you can call to your rescue in case of any emergency during
your journey.
These numbers should be stored in a safe
and easy to access place within your belongings especially in your wallet or pouches.
This is to help emergency responders in any case any eventuality happen, to
call for immediate family members and also help in making immediate emergency
communications like your blood type.
5. Avoid asking strangers for directions
Many students have fallen into hands of
con-men who not only fraud them of their pocket money but in some instances also
the fees they were to pay in school. These are strangers who would look very
innocent and cleanly dressed but have a well-articulated plan and the student
is the target. If you must ask for a direction look for a police officer in
uniform as there are usually many of them on patrol in any town you will be in
or that security guard in front of some bank building or any security guard in
uniform.
At least for these two groups of
strangers they are no longer strangers as for one you know their employer and
their station of work making reference easier. Remember that the greatest risk
a student will indulge in is to trust a total stranger to deliver them to Canaan.
This will not have only solved the problem but added into the growing list of
students being conned on their way to schools.
As go back to school take safety measures and be safe, remember your life counts.
The Author is a Research Generalist in Projects Management Specializing
in Safety Service Delivery
No comments:
Post a Comment