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‘A child that is strapped is a child that is saved’

By Bertram Nwannekanma
02 June 2016   |   7:37 am
Though the figure might be higher but facts emerging that over 57 children below the age of 10 have been victims of avoidable accidents along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway...

strapping-a-childOrganisation advocates strapping to save children in moving vehicles
Though the figure might be higher but facts emerging that over 57 children below the age of 10 have been victims of avoidable accidents along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the last five months, is to say the least, alarming. In most of these cases, children had either lost their lives or got severely injured.

According to a parent, who witnessed a pathetic case involving a couple near Ibafo in Obafemi Owode Local Council of Ogun State, where a child was flown from the window of a moving vehicle when it was hit at the back, there is need for all relevant agencies to take the issue seriously to check a reoccurrence.

The parent, who pleaded for anonymity told The Guardian that efforts by the parents, police and sympathisers to locate the whereabouts of the child proved abortive. “The parent lost the child and they are still being haunted by that incidence till date.“Perhaps, if the child, who happened to be their only child, was strapped in the vehicle, the story might have been different,” she added.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Strap and Safe Child Foundation, Bolanle Edwards, perhaps if the children were strapped, perhaps if the driver was not over-speeding, it would not have happened. Perhaps if the normal safety cautions were taken, those children would not have been dead by now.

Edwards, whose foundation recently sensitized parents on the dangers of not strapping their children during the Children’s Day celebration last Friday, stressed the need for children to be strapped while in the vehicles.

Speaking to The Guardian on her mission to save children’s lives, who are lost daily by avoidable accidents, Edwards said a child that is strapped is a child that is saved.”

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