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June 2007 – Help Teens Avoid Risky Behaviors for a Safe Summer
School will be out soon, and summer fun is on the horizon. As teens gear up for an active summer, peer pressure and the excitement of risk-taking may overshadow their concerns for safety.
“Teenagers have a sense of invincibility and are highly susceptible to peer pressure,” said Lisa Hass-Peters, RN, injury prevention educator in the Emergency Department and Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital. “Teen risk-taking can occur in many forms, such as reckless driving or drug or alcohol abuse.
“The weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the busiest ones for hospital emergency departments. For teens, the major causes of injury in the summer months are risky behaviors that result in motor vehicle crashes, drinking-related injuries and other injuries.”
Risky behavior and drivingAccording to a 2005 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds, and the primary cause for collisions is driver inattention. In Wisconsin, only 6 percent of licensed drivers are ages 16-19, but they account for 16 percent of all drivers involved in crashes.
Distracted driving along with underage alcohol use, speeding, drinking and driving, and not wearing a seat belt are risk-taking behaviors that can cause medical and emotional injury. Car crash victims can be disfigured or killed, leaving a trail of tragedy behind for families.
To encourage safer driving among teenagers, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin have created the Just Drive! campaign. The program highlights the dangers of distracted driving and encourages both parents and teens to eliminate those distractions and “just drive.”
“Parents have a significant impact on their teens’ driving habits,” Hass-Peters said. “Parents need to be aware that if they exhibit distractive or risky behaviors while driving — talking on a cell phone, eating, speeding and following other vehicles too closely — that their teenage children may do the same.
“Parents can help set a good example by avoiding distractive behaviors when driving, driving within the speed limit, wearing a seatbelt, not drinking & driving, and other safe practices. They should encourage their kids to avoid risky behaviors and should monitor their teenagers’ activities, especially related to alcohol use.”
Another program, ENCARE (Emergency Nurses CARE), brings emergency department nurses from Froedtert Hospital to schools with a presentation showing the consequences of distracted driving, underage alcohol use, drinking and driving and lack of safety belt use.
According to Hass-Peters, other summer-related activities that pose a risk to teens include:
- Diving — severe spinal injuries can occur when divers hit their head on the bottom in a pool, lake or other body of water. Don’t dive into water if you don’t know the depth. Wade in the water first to determine if it’s deep enough. Don’t dive headfirst into crashing waves, and obey “no diving” signs.
- Swimming — swim only in designated areas and never swim alone. Don’t use glass items near swimming areas because it’s difficult to see broken glass in water. Wear aqua socks to avoid slipping on wet surfaces around a pool. If you are not a good swimmer, stay near the shore. Don’t swim if you’re too tired, too cold, have had too much sun, or you’re too far from safety.
- Boating — never mix alcohol with boating, and always wear a life jacket. Know safe boating rules.
- Biking and skateboarding — teens should wear a helmet when riding bicycles, dirt bikes, inline skates and skateboards to prevent head injuries. Wear a properly fitting helmet designed for these activities. Teens should also wear knee pads and wrist guards when riding a skateboard or using inline skates.
- Motorcycling — by law, anyone under age 18 in Wisconsin must wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Teens should be discouraged from riding on any two-wheeled motorcycle, even if they have a license, because these vehicles are more dangerous than cars.
- Riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) — adolescents who are not licensed to drive a car should not be allowed to operate off-road vehicles. Those who operate an ATV should wear a helmet.
- Lawn mowing — teens under 16 should not operate a riding mower, and those under 12 should not use a walk-behind mower. When on a riding mower, never have a child or pet on your lap. Wear sturdy shoes (not sandals) when using a walk-behind mower in case it slips and catches your foot.
- Using fireworks — when lighting fireworks, keep flames and fireworks away from you. Sparklers can cause serious third-degree burns. The safest thing is to not use fireworks at all, and go to a park with a professional fireworks display.
Hass-Peters also reminds teens — and everyone — to wear sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher when outdoors.
Author: Marla Fraunfelder Date: June 1, 2007 | Medical Reviewer: | Lisa Hass-Peters, RN |
Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler
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