Festive parade brings joy for all at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital

The holiday season is a joyful time for many children playing with their mates, enjoying family traditions and receiving gifts. It can also be difficult and emotional for those children and families who spend days in hospital. With the help of several partners, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital hosted its annual festive parade today (13 December) to spread joy and festive cheer to patients, their families and healthcare workers.

The day started with members from Wilderness Search and Rescue abseiling from the roof of the hospital, dressed in costumes sponsored by Fancy That Costume Rental, adding to smiles and excitement to those looking from below. Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, joined the team and abseiled from the hospital’s roof, dressed as Snow White.

Next, Zoe Rudolph, an 18-year-old matriculant who volunteered to dress up as a princess, entertained the crowd by singing carols and uplifting songs, adding to the magical atmosphere of the day. She specifically chose to sing “Rise Up” by Andra Day to inspire hope for all who will be at the hospital during the holiday season.

The young patients were engaged with various games on the playground, coordinated by the hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department and interns across the hospital.

Just after 10:00, a special surprise arrived for the little ones, as Santa, a porter at the hospital, Mr Jacobs, was escorted by a fire truck, courtesy of the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services’ Salt River Station, Platoon 2. Santa was accompanied by his little helper, Kiran Pursad. 

All children and their families, as well as staff, had the opportunity to take photos with Santa and the fire services team. The young patients received gifts thanks to the generous donations from the hospital’s Paediatric Wellness Team and Book Dash. 

Behind the scenes, various other departments supported the event to ensure it was a fun-filled day for the children, including the Engineering Department, Nursing Department, the Hospital Facility Board, and all healthcare staff who dressed up to add to the festive atmosphere and make the day even more memorable for everyone.

As we conclude this year’s festive parade, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness also highlights the importance of safety for all children and takes a moment to recognise the healthcare workers who, during this time, will be away from their loved ones to care for our young patients.

Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, thanked all partners for their participation on the day and urged all present to prioritise child safety.

“The festive parade brings together many partners to uplift our children, their families and staff during the holiday season. This can be a tough time, and we extend our gratitude to the partners that have made this day possible once again to bring much-needed festive cheer to our hospital community. Our work, however, continues as we head into the festive season. With learners on holiday, we encourage all parents and caregivers to be vigilant and to ensure that every child is supervised and protected during this time. Help us to keep your little ones out of hospital and being mindful of their safety and yours at all times.” 

Tips to keep children safe this holiday season

Professor Heloise Buys, the Head of the Clinical Unit: Ambulatory and Emergency Paediatrics at RCWMCH, encouraged parents to keep a close eye on their children. “The holiday period brings about a lot of trauma related injuries because children are at home. Parents are mostly at home but not all parents have the opportunity to be home and look after their children as they’d love to because they have to work, like myself. I am a parent, and I have two children who do not have me at home all the time because of my job. 
 
Professor Buys shared essential tips to keep young and older children safe over the holiday period, making reference to the ABC of resuscitation: A for airway, B for breathing, C for circulation, and D for disability - and the golden hour, which emphasises the importance of getting medical help quickly for the best possible outcome. 

With this framework in mind, here are safety tips to ensure your child’s well-being during the holidays:

Prevent choking hazards: Professor Buys shares that toys with small parts can be dangerous for small children, especially as we enter the season of gift-giving. “We will start with airway and breathing as they go together. If you don’t have an open airway or if you’re not breathing, you may die. Airway breathing dangers can be linked to the season where people give children gifts, and these gifts are quite sophisticated and usually have lots of small parts.”

Choking is a hidden danger during the holiday season, especially with the influx of new toys. As Hannah, a medical student from the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Paediatric Surgery Division, shares: "We have seen a surge of cases recently where children have ingested small, round magnetic metal balls used as adult stress relievers. These magnets resemble the silver balls found on top of cupcakes, making them particularly attractive to children. In other cases, children are swallowing batteries from electronic toys, which can cause severe chemical and caustic damage. The surgical procedures required to repair the damage caused by these magnets are extensive and difficult. These injuries are preventable, and they can have very serious consequences. With the festive season approaching, it’s important to be extra cautious when selecting toys for your children and to ensure that items with small, swallowable parts, such as magnets and batteries, are kept out of reach."

Watch for gastroenteritis:

Gastroenteritis, often caused by viruses, spreads quickly among children, especially during play. The best prevention is frequent handwashing, particularly after using the bathroom or before eating. Hygienic food preparation is also important. 

Professor Buys said, “If your child develops diarrhoea, make a sugar-salt solution (as advised in the Road to Health Booklet) and keep them hydrated.” Parents are urged to seek medical help at the nearest clinic first if diarrhea is severe or if you notice blood in the stool. Dehydration can lead to shock, so prompt action is necessary. Vaccination against rotavirus is also important, as it can significantly reduce the severity of diarrhea, a common risk during the festive season.

Burns prevention:

Burns are extremely painful and can lead to permanent scarring. Professor Buys advises parents to keep hot pots and kettles out of children's reach, and never leave children alone with matches, lighters, or candles. “Please don’t leave your children alone and unsupervised. Put away the candles and make sure when using gas etc, that all pot handles are away from where they can reach and that you have an eye on them.”

Be aware of falls and injuries:

Children are naturally curious and may attempt to climb anything they can. Prof Buys advises parents and caregivers to supervise children around tall structures like trees, walls and roofs. A fall can result in serious injuries. “Parents may discover when they get home that a child is injured if a child cries or their finger looks bent, or they have a swollen arm – recognise the injury. Don’t leave it overnight, take your child to your nearest clinic or 24-hour facility to get the child checked over.”

Supervision is key:

Professor Buys shared the importance of knowing where your children are and choose child carers who are responsible and trustworthy. Ensure your child is supervised at all times, whether they are playing outdoors at the beach, or even at home. She added, “With older children, you need to have a discussion with them on about their safety and a safety plan, such as, what happens if we lose each other, who to trust and what to do.”

Travel safety this holiday season

With many families travelling over this period, Zaitoon Rabaney, Executive Director of ChildSafe South Africa, added, “The top five causes of injury are firstly road traffic related incidents, then drowning, followed by burns, falls and lastly ingestions and poisoning.  Nearly all injuries are preventable. We know at least 1275 children (3 to 4 per day) lose their lives in road traffic related incidents, more than 800 children fatally drown every year (2 per day) and at least 70 children (6 per month) succumb to accidental ingestions or poison related incidents annually.”

She encouraged parents to ensure that all children are safely buckled up when travelling. “Holidaymakers and those travelling on our roads over the holiday period should ensure all children in the vehicle are buckled up and properly restrained using an approved, age-appropriate car seat and or safety belt at all times, without exception. Research shows wearing a seat belt will reduce your chance of serious injury or death in a motor vehicle accident by 40% to 50% if you're sitting in the front of a car and will reduce the risk of death in children by 60%.”

She has alco encouraged parents to be careful when visiting other people’s homes where medications and poisonous substances may not be safely locked away. “Being out of one’s routine may make one more forgetful. When travelling, do not keep medications in travel or shopping bags where they are easily accessible to curious children. Make sure all medications are safely stored away immediately after use.”

As parents and caregivers, we all play a vital role in reducing the risks children face during the holiday period. Stay vigilant, supervise closely, and take preventive measures to ensure your child’s safety. Remember to always first visit your nearest clinic. The primary healthcare facility will refer a child if needed to their nearest hospital. Let’s work together to make this festive season a safe and happy one for all children.