Abu Dhabi authorities launch campaign to prevent child accidents

The General Command of the Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority have launched a critical awareness campaign titled "Our Winter is Safe and Fun," urging parents to take extra precautions to protect children from the dangers of falling from balconies.

This campaign highlights the importance of ensuring the safety of children in residential buildings, focusing specifically on the risk of falls from balconies. The authorities are calling on parents to remain vigilant by closing balconies securely and monitoring their children when they approach windows or balconies. They also advise being mindful of furniture or any items near balconies that children could potentially climb to reach unsafe areas.

The campaign outlines five essential guidelines to prevent accidents:

• Never leave children alone at home or on the balcony.
• Install acrylic barriers on balconies (after obtaining approval from the relevant authorities).
• Keep balcony doors closed at all times, opening them only when absolutely necessary.
• Install secure locks on windows and balcony doors to prevent access.
• Ensure there is no furniture or items near windows or balconies that children can use to climb.

The authorities emphasised that child safety at home is primarily the responsibility of parents.

A moment of negligence or carelessness could lead to tragic consequences, and many young lives are lost due to avoidable accidents.

By following these simple but essential guidelines, parents can help protect their children from unnecessary risks and ensure their homes remain safe during the winter season and beyond.