Summary:

The 8th session of the Itsekiri NextGen Project focused on Health, Safety, and Environment. The main topic discussed was safety in homes and schools. Oritseweyinmi Thomas Igbineweka, the resource person, conducted the session, utilizing visual aids to enhance understanding.

Session Delivery:

Due to the previous day’s Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, the 8th session was impromptu and had to be postponed. However, following the rescheduling of the election to the 18th of March, the session was reinstated. Despite concerns about attendance, we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout of participants.

The session commenced with a prayer of thanksgiving for the participants’ presence and the overall success of the project. Following this, the Itsekiri anthem was sung, and a quick review of the previous session on the Itsekiri Language was conducted, where participants named body parts in Itsekiri and translated them into English.

Oritseweyinmi Thomas Igbineweka then took charge of the session as the facilitator. He began by asking the participants to define safety, which elicited various responses, all of which were considered valid. Laju Faulkner’s definition stood out, describing safety as keeping the environment free from danger.

The facilitator further explained Health Safety and Environment as a set of processes aimed at identifying potential hazards in the environment and developing solutions to eliminate them, thereby ensuring a safe and clean environment.

Key safety practices discussed during the session included:

1. Keeping floors clean and dry to prevent slips and falls that may result in injuries or fatalities.
2. Reporting faulty sockets to guardians instead of attempting to manage or fix them, as electrical hazards can lead to shock, mental disorders, and even death.
3. Properly disposing of sharp objects and keeping them in their designated places to avoid accidents.
4. Not engaging in play with sharp objects to prevent injuries.
5. Understanding the importance of health, safety, and the environment in homes and schools to avoid accidents caused by carelessness.
6. Ensuring safety for children, parents, and teachers.

The facilitator also highlighted common hazards in homes and schools, including fire, sharp objects, drowning, choking, bad behaviour, noise, slips, and electricity. He shared a real-life incident from the Chrisland school, where a girl was electrocuted and died after touching a naked wire in a popcorn machine during the school’s inter-house sports event. This story emphasized the need for safety consciousness and avoiding contact with any exposed electrical wires.

Additionally, the participants were reminded of the importance of looking both ways before crossing the road to prevent accidents.

Throughout the session, animated safety videos were played to reinforce the teaching and engage the participants.

Overall, the session was a success, and the participants gained valuable insights into health safety and environmental practices for their homes and schools.