Last evening we went to the supermarket and I was busy grabbing chips, chocolates and other yummy foods that I love. I am in love with donuts, finger fries and chips…they taste yum and uplift your mood instantly. But when mumma saw me picking them, she said I don’t want you to become overweight, so keep them back.

Overweight! What is that? What is the problem if I become overweight? I did not say anything at that moment but I had a talk with mumma when we came back home. I asked her, ‘what do you mean by becoming overweight? Did you mean fat?’ She said ‘Yes’. You call that obesity and a person who is too fat is known as obese. Being fat is something but being obese is very harmful since losing weight becomes a serious problem and obesity leads to a number of health problems.

She said, we need to develop healthy eating habits from a very young age so that we can avoid being obese. Fatty and sugary foods such as the ones that I love eating (L) can lead to obesity, so we must avoid eating them. Eating donuts and chips once in a while is fine but we must avoid eating them regularly. We must also exercise every day so that we can stay sit and healthy.

Then asked what kind of problems do obese people face? Mumma said obese children and adults have to face a number of health problems that include heart diseases (due to high blood pressure and cholesterol), asthma, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and many more. Some children might even have psychosocial problems because they often become targets of bullying and suffer from low self-esteem. You may also be unable to take part in school sports, physical activities  and have a hard time making friends. This is something really serious!

Then I asked what leads to obesity? Does everyone who eats more become obese? Mumma said no. there are many factors that add up and make a person obese. She said if you eat more you need to exercise more; if you do so you won’t become fat even if you eat a lot. Some factors that contribute to obesity are:

• Genetic traits
• Unhealthy diet
• Not getting enough exercise
• Not getting enough sleep

By avoiding all of the above you can lead a healthy life and stay lean and fit. Being thin is not the goal; you need to be fit and healthy. You must eat nutritious food and exercise every day. Having junk food once in a week is alright but you must not eat them regularly.

Staying fit makes a person happy and energetic and you can enjoy life to the fullest. So I have decided to cut down on my intake of chips, sweets and donuts since I don’t want to become obese. I will eat healthy and exercise every day. I will tell this to my friends so that they can also stay fit and fine!

It was fire safety week in our school last week. We were taught about fire safety and performed various drills to keep ourselves and others safe in case there is an emergency. Our teacher said all of us must learn about the dangers of fire and how to respond when there is a fire outbreak.

We learnt a lot of things and I would love to share them with you.

Prevention

Prevention is the best way to prevent fire hazards. We must get the electric outlets, electric appliances and other things that might lead to fire hazards inspected at least twice every year. All malfunctioning appliances must be repaired without delay to prevent fire hazards. We must also have fire extinguishers installed in every room, especially in the kitchen, garage, and near a fireplace; so that we can take control of small fires and put them off quickly. The room heaters must be kept away from paper and curtains.

Respond to the Alarm

Most schools, office spaces and houses have smoke alarms installed inside them. The smoke alarms start ringing as soon as they detect fire; so the first thing that we need to do is to get out of our houses, classrooms or office spaces to protect ourselves from fire. Next the fire department must be informed as soon as possible.

We must never hide under the bed, chairs, tables, or behind furniture when there is a fire outbreak. We must look for the nearest exit and get out of the space immediately. We must also cooperate with the fire extinguisher personnel without fear. They are helpful people and would help us even if they have to put their lives in danger.

Fire Safety Drill

We did some fire safety drills to understand what to do if there is a fire outbreak in school. Our teacher got the floor plan of our school and pointed out the exit ways from each class. We also decided a outside meeting place where all the children would gather once out of their classes. Our teacher told us we should not rush or push each other when evacuating the classrooms since it can cause further confusion and make the situation worse. We must walk quickly but without pushing anybody. Our teacher said if the exit passage is smoky, then we must get down low or crawl under the smoke, so that we can breathe some clean air. In case the clothes catch fire, then we must stop, drop and roll to put the fire off.

One of our school staffs rang the fire bell and we all started evacuating the classrooms to practice how to respond during a fire outbreak. All of us quickly came out of our class and started moving towards the main exit and then to the location where we were instructed to gather.

The same things should be followed if there is fire in your house or office. It is essential that you respond quickly and wisely to keep yourself and others safe in case of fire.