(CA.ARA) - No school, lax rules, restlessness and
adventurous activities combine to make summer a magical, memorable -- and
dangerous -- time for youth. While younger children are typically supervised,
adolescents are usually on their own. The Canadian Red Cross is reminding
parents to think about prevention and set some groundrules before turning
their teens loose this summer.
“The freedom that summer represents can be exhilarating for young people, but
it can also lead to unsafe situations. Adolescents crave excitement and
autonomy, but they also need limits -- even if they argue they don’t,”
explains Judi Fairholm, manager of RespectED, the Red Cross program that
offers violence and abuse prevention education to help keep young people
safer.
Parents typically know how to protect their kids from obvious summer dangers,
like sunburn, bug bites and poison ivy, but other less apparent threats are
just as preventable.
* Stranger Danger
Unscheduled, unsupervised days leave youth at greater risk from predators,
either online or in person. Attractive promises can entice youth into risky
situations.
Often these adults offer to take them camping, or give them a place to party
or a pool to swim in; drugs and alcohol may be an enticement. The experience
and the relationship can make youth vulnerable. “These adults or older
adolescents gain the trust of their teen ‘friends,’ and then sexually assault
the youth,” says Fairholm.
“Awareness is the first line of defense.
Adolescents are old enough to fully understand the danger that predators pose,
and need to be told that it is not usual or healthy for older people to want
to hang out with young friends.”
Fairholm says it’s critical that parents let their kids know they should never
agree to meet someone they’ve chatted with online, and that they should say
‘no’ to luring offers -- even if it feels like they’re hurting someone’s
feelings. “Open dialogue is important. Youth need to know they can tell their
parents about such offers.”
* Dating Violence
Violence between peers, including dating violence and sexual assault, is
another potential problem. Recent studies suggest as many as 25 percent
of teens will experience violence in a dating relationship before they
reach adulthood.
Unsupervised open-air parties provide a warm and romantic setting, but
things can quickly become too hot to handle, especially when drinking or
drugs are in the mix. “As a parent, you have to ensure your daughter or
son knows everyone has rights and responsibilities in a relationship --
that they have the right to establish boundaries and expect respect,
that they have a right to refuse any sexual activity, and that they have
the responsibility to always respect the limits another person sets,”
says Fairholm.
Alcohol and drugs significantly increase risk. “We know that 74 percent
of males and 55 percent of females involved in acquaintance rapes had
been drinking or taking drugs just before the attack,” adds Fairholm.
Youth should be taught to develop a safety plan: always attend
gatherings with trusted friends, designate someone who will remain sober
and drug-free throughout, stay with the group and don’t go off alone
with a suitor, and have a plan to call for help immediately if things
start to get out of hand. “Most importantly, friends need to take care
of one another, and everybody must listen to their instincts and heed
the earliest warning signs.”
* Drowning Prevention
Alcohol use can also spark tragedy in and on the water. According to an
analysis of a decade of drownings recently published by Canadian Red
Cross, alcohol continues to play a critical role. From 1991 to 2000, it
was involved in at least 30 percent of drownings among 15 to 24
year-olds. “Drinking and water activities don’t mix. That message needs
to be emphasized over and over again to young people,” says Sue
Phillips, national injury prevention manager for Canadian Red Cross.
Phillips also says adolescent adventure contributes to tragedy in the
water. She notes that young men, in particular, are at risk of drowning
because they tend to be risk takers. “Most Canadian drownings happen in
rivers, lakes and oceans, where currents can play a role. Adolescent
males have a sense of infallibility and may overestimate their swimming
ability.” Whatever the reason, the statistics are chilling: 220 young
men aged 15 to 24 drowned while swimming during the decade studied.
* Boating
Boating, which accounted for 43 percent of drowning deaths over a
decade, is another activity where prevention can greatly diminish risk.
“Drowning victims are almost never wearing a lifejacket or personal
flotation device (PFD). Everyone in a boat should wear one, all the
time,” Phillips says, noting that it’s essential to check for proper
fit. “Remember that adolescents are growing fast. The PFD that fit them
last summer may no longer be appropriate.”
With some awareness and forethought, those lazy days of summer can be
free from injury and tragedy, and offer teens great memories for decades
to come.
Courtesy of ARA Content
SIDEBAR
Summer Safety Checklist for Parents of Teens
You can’t follow your teenagers around all day and night, but the
Canadian Red Cross says you can help keep them safe with a little
forethought.
Ask yourself the following questions: Do you know where they are, who
they’re with, and generally what their plans are for the day/night? Are
they hanging around with their own age group? Do they feel safe with
these friends? Ask these questions consistently, and keep the lines of
communication open.
Have you scheduled “check in times” and curfews, especially for younger
teens? These help provide structure -- and alert you to problems
earlier. Have you helped plan activities to keep them busy? Boredom and
restlessness can lead to risk-taking and carelessness.
Have you provided the tools to prevent sunburns? Buy your kids each a
large bottle of sunscreen -- let them pick the scent and they’re more
likely to use it. Remind them every day to use it. Insist no one leave
the house without applying that first coat, and tell them to reapply
every few hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
Did you teach youth that alcohol and water don’t mix -- and set a good
example? Don’t drink near the water, or if you’re planning on swimming
or boating. Do you insist everyone in a boat wear a personal flotation
device that fits properly? If your youth are going away with a friend’s
family, have you talked to the parents about their PFD policy?
Have you equipped your youth with the necessary safety education? The
Red Cross offers the following classes:
* First Aid for all ages, as well as babysitting courses
* On Board for young boaters, who must have a Pleasure Craft Operator
Card to operate a boat
* Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety lessons
*What’s Love Got To Do With It? -- relationship violence prevention for
youth
*Beyond the Hurt -- prevention of bullying and harassment for youth.
Visit the Canadian Red Cross Web site:
www.redcross.ca to
learn more about safety and safety training, or call your local Red
Cross office for more information.
Courtesy of ARA Content
To submit your
own article, please email it as a text attachment to: webmaster@lovelinksplus.com
We do not compensate authors for being published at lovelinksplus.com but we
will provide a link back to your website and you will maintain the copyright
to your submitted article. Email us for further details. Not all submissions
will be published.
