Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Problems
What can the news teach us about safety, before and after major events?
Answers
Do you work or deal with people who work in hotels, restaurants, construction or insurance? Most of us do every year, every month, every week, every day.
This year I have read news items about the fire in the Grenfell skyscraper in London, terrorist attacks worldwide, crocodile, lion, dog and animal attacks, earthquakes in Turkey and Greece and floods and Tsunamis. Today I looked at photos and videos of people hiding under desks to avoid flying objects in an earthquake in Turkey, and Kos island in Greece, and a toppled minaret, and a chair and pushchair delaying people rushing out of a restaurant.
My first thought on seeing the toppled minaret was, haven't we learned anything from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Towers are an example of seeking attention, rather than thinking of health and safety.
Why do we need towers? Church towers with bells and minarets can be used to summon people to prayers. Clock towers can be used to signal time to all. Flag masts atop towers can be used to signal welcome, royals in residence, danger, or at half mast to signal mourning. High towers in Italy were used by rich, rival families to advertise their importance. The highest tower in the world nowadays gets into the Guinness book of records. Tallest, like biggest, is a sales attraction for tourists, status seekers, investors.
But just as cars are nowadays required by law to fit seat belts, and other safety devices, which began as novelties and rarities, in some new models, in all new models, in older ones adapted at great cost, prices come down, in all or most, in some or all countries, so with building regulations.
What can the tourist do?
DOCUMENTS / INFO /FINANCE IN POCKETS
What should you do? If you are ultra cautious, in an ideal world you have copies of all vital documents including credit card, phone and phone numbers in pockets so you don't delay yourself and others taking luggage.
Luggage Delays
Imagine the plane is filling with smoke, like it did in a plane this month (July 2017). You don't want delay getting luggage out from overhead. Nor do you want people obstructing the aisle with wheelie bags. Sometimes your luggage is at the other end of the place because the locker was full.
Chutes
You can't or shouldn't take your carry on luggage when exiting from an aeroplane via a chute. The luggage falls to the bottom. You hurl into it, fall over it, obstruct your quick exit. Don't delay yourself and everybody. Duty free drinks bottles break and cut your feet which are without shoes if you were on the plane without shoes or had to removed high heeled shoes.,
This is the path on day one, the easiest day, on a hiking holiday in Romania. Two toads are clearly seen in the middle. Several more camouflaged until they move and swim. The mud on the side is slippery. I fell once and covered my clothes in mud. The mud sucks your shoes. Better to wade through the water. Try not to wet your shoes, slip in the mud, kill the toads. This is good weather on a good day. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Waterproof Boots
I looked at people in a tsunami flood in Greece and Turkey. Only the emergency services and park rangers and nearby residents had access to their waterproof above the ankle boots. When going by car, I am thinking about packing waterproof boots or Wellingtons in the car boot (called car trunk in America).
Even in a minor flood and puddles boots mean your feet stay dry. In deeper water, they can protect your lower legs from wet, and dirty, flood water, as well as surface and hidden underfoot debris. Plus wildlife. Toads in shallow puddles.
Waterproof kniee-length boots, used for gardening, wet and snowy weather, known as Wellingtons, or the style of Wellington boots. Bought by mail order from shop advertising on Ebay. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Tips
News updates from news sources found on Google and from travel agents who have their own bulletins
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/news/tourists-killed-as-aegean-sea-earthquake-strikes-greece-and-turkey-10979?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Midday%20Bulletin
The UK Foreign office has guides for travellers from Britain on British passports but the safety advice may be applicable to others going to specific countries. Here's just one example of the safety and security webpage for Japan.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan/safety-and-security
Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment