Accidents: The No. 1 Hazard

Accidents kill more than 8,000 youth a year, making them the leading cause of death in young people. Traffic crashes are the biggest threat, followed by drowning, fires and burns, choking, firearms, falling, poisoning and electrical shock.

There are some basic precautions your teenager can take to avoid such accidents. First and foremost, discuss the seriousness of drinking and driving. Provide your teen with the facts about drinking and driving. Be sure to stress the serious and often deadly consequences of driving while intoxicated. Relay that they should never ride with a person who’s been drinking. Secondly, make sure your teenager knows safe driving techniques and the rules of the road. It’s also important to go over basic safety plans and first aid procedures for emergencies. For instance, your teenager should know what to do in case of fire.

Guns Aren’t Toys

In case your teenagers ever find a gun in anyone’s house, teach them that firearms are not toys, but deadly weapons and that they should never be played with. Be sure to discuss firearm safety.

Keep Your Teenager Safe From Crime

Without frightening your children unnecessarily, you can give them some tips on avoiding crime. Teach them to avoid such dangerous areas as abandoned buildings, wooded areas and dark streets. Tell them never to get close enough to a car so the occupant can jump out and grab them. And, of course, your teenager should never hitchhike or accept a ride from a stranger.

Help Your Teens to Protect Themselves

Overprotecting your adolescents may harm their developing sense of independence it if keeps them from learning from their own mistakes. Allow them as much as possible to deal with problems on their own, but give them the knowledge they need to avoid harm.