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Guide to Adolescent Safety
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Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your teenager safe:
- Make sure that your child is buckled-up with a lap and shoulder harness at all times, and if driving, that he follows speed limits and other rules of the road.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Have an escape plan in case of fire in your home, and teach your child about fire safety.
- Maintain smoke free environments for your children.
- Avoid exposing your children to too much sun (use sunscreen) and discourage the use of tanning parlors.
- If you must have a gun in the house keep it and the bullets in a separate locked place and teach your child to not handle guns without adult supervision.
- Keep household cleaners, chemicals and medicines completely out of reach and always store them in their original container and know your local Poison Center number (find your local Poison Center).
- Teach pedestrian safety (crossing streets, etc.).
- Teach stranger awareness (review scenarios that predators may use, including offering candy or toys to get in the car, asking to help look for a lost pet, or being told they are picking your child up because you are sick).
- Always wear a bicycle helmet and avoid bicycling near traffic.
- New! Do not allow your child to ride in the cargo area of a pick up truck, even if it is enclosed. In an accident, children in the back of a pick up truck have little protection from serious injury or death.
- Practice sports safety: teach your child to always wear all of the appropriate safety equipment made for each sport (helmets, mouth guards, pads, etc.), including certified eye-protective devices when playing paintball.
- Use life jackets on boats at all times.
- Supervise your child's use of the computer (a child at this age should not have unsupervised access to the Internet), computer games, movies, and know what they have access to at their friend's homes.
- New! Injuries related to using a scooter are up 700% this year, especially fractures and dislocations. If you child has a scooter, be sure that he uses the proper safety equipment, including a helmet and knee and elbow pads.
- Be a good example for your teen by always using a seat belt, helmet, etc.
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