The fire and tragedy at a Swiss ski resort—where, in a country otherwise known for strict compliance with regulations, children lost their lives in a fire that appears to have occurred precisely because the rules were not followed—strike at the very core of the issues we address on our portal.
Even when appropriate rules are applied in high-risk places, that is no guarantee that something won’t go wrong. It is even less certain that someone else will protect you if you yourself have not done everything possible to at least reduce the consequences of a potential accident. It is unlikely that parents will go and inspect the venue where their child is attending a celebration to see what the conditions are like. It is impossible to predict what kind of foolish decision the venue owners might make—such as lining the ceiling with highly flammable, fast-burning material. And in a basement room, no less. Who could have imagined that someone would climb onto a friend’s shoulders and use sparklers to set the ceiling on fire? Many will say, “We did even stupider things when we were young.”
Still, if you have read the advice on our portal about behavior at events where large numbers of people gather, you could have learned how important it is to follow instructions on how to act once an accident has already occurred. It is clear that young people who are having a great time will not immediately grasp how dangerous a fire is in a room they cannot leave quickly, so they excitedly shout and record the initial fire on their phones (which at that moment could still be put out), instead of extinguishing it quickly or leaving the room.
Likewise, it is unlikely that any of the visitors, upon arrival, checked where the fire extinguishers were located or which route could be used to exit quickly. Yet these are small details that can sometimes save your life.
That is why we advise you to talk to your children before they go out. Warn them about possible dangers, even if it seems to you that they are not listening. There is a chance they will remember at least some advice and act responsibly in a dangerous situation. Read about the topics we cover on the Sigurno.info website and briefly explain them to your children at the right moment.
However, when we see reports of severe injuries that children suffer from holiday fireworks—when parents buy dangerous pyrotechnics for their children and, without any preparation, let them use devices containing amounts of explosive material comparable to a hand grenade—it is clear that, as parents, we ourselves could do much more.
(Illustration by Freepik)