Trauma counselling starts at nursery school level
The children were taught how to properly tie a helmet, make themselves visible around cars and even got to play with the emergency vehicle sirens.
Netcare 911 together with staff from the Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital presented a programme titled Trauma Injury Prevention to about 50 children and staff at a nursery school in Krugersdorp.
The aim of the event, which was held on Thursday morning 29 June, was to get a crucial safety message across to the children in a fun and interactive manner. The children’s ages ranged from three to six years.
Photo: Sumbitted
Firstly the little ones were taught how to get out of a car safely and to raise their hands high into the air. The purpose of this is to remind them that there are cars around and that they need to be careful, safe and thoughtful in their actions. It also makes their small bodies more visible to other roads users and their parents in the big bakkies or high SUVs. The children were encouraged to do this every time they got out of a vehicle where there may be other cars around, such as at their school and in shopping centre car parks. Ideally they should do it every time they are around cars, as accidents do happen at home.
Then they were taught a short song to remind them how to put on a helmet and fit it correctly.
Photo: Submitted
Some eggs were broken as a gentle reminder of how precious and fragile their heads are. The eggs with ‘helmets’ on did not break when they were dropped.
“This is an important lesson for all children, especially little ones, as thousands of children sustain bicycle-related head injuries every year, some of which result in permanent damage or death,” said Nick Dollman, Netcare 911 spokesperson.
After the fun but serious lesson, they explored the specialised Rescue Unit and its interesting equipment, and of course played with the safety helmets, lights and sirens.
Photo: Submitted
Along with the new song they were taught, the children also received colouring-in books with safety-related images to drive the message home.
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