Lesson 13.2 Promoting Safety in the Community and Online

Staying Safe at School

Your may feel like a very , and it probably is safe most of the time. There are times, however, when you might , or dangers, at . Someone may try to start a with you. Another student may bring a into the school. You may experience an during sports practice or (P.E.) class.

Schools have and procedures in place to protect you from school-related hazards. You have a responsibility to follow these safety rules and procedures whenever you are on school property. You also have a responsibility to alert school staff to and emergencies that may exist, such as the . If you are uncomfortable about anything you see at school or during extracurricular activities, tell a teacher, counselor, dean, or school security officer (Figure 13.12). By alerting the appropriate , you may be able to reduce the risk of an accident or injury occurring.

During sporting events and P.E. classes, to help protect your safety and the safety of other students. To of sports-related injuries, use , such as helmets and kneepads, whenever necessary. Always be respectful of your fellow students and use gym equipment appropriately.

and family members can also play a role in keeping schools safe. and school administrators set the rules you should follow at school. Teachers and family can reinforce these rules. Ultimately, however, you are for keeping yourself and others safe at school.

Staying Safe in Public Places and Social Situations

As you get older, you may enjoy spending time with your friends in rather than staying at home. Your family may drop you off at the to hang out with your friends. These are examples of public places, which include anywhere that is not your home or a friend’s home. Spending time in and public places like the mall can be fun, but dangers also exist.

When you are in , you are often around people you . These people are strangers. Someone who is a could be a to you. The rules in Figure 13.13 can help you stay safe in public places and social situations. If you are unsure about what decision you should make, or other trusted adult. They can give you about how to stay safe.

Staying Safe on the Internet

Using the Internet has many benefits. online takes seconds, and online communities can people. People can use the Internet to find reliable information.

When you share a , or communicate with a , these actions are . Others can see what you shared. Your friend can look back at old messages at any time. Even if you delete a picture or post, people can still find it. All of these actions, even those you took a long time ago, make up your digital footprint.

Positive Online Behavior

Acting online is an important part of safety and your . By engaging in positive online behaviors, you are practicing , or responsible, healthy actions as part of the digital community. means acting respectfully and honestly by treating others well and not pretending to be someone else.

Another part of positive online behavior is . You have probably seen some rules when joining a website. The website may have asked you to or agree to a set of rules about acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Pay attention to rules and do not try to get around them. Do not try to and do not violate rules by sharing content others created or posting violent material.

Privacy

As you make friends and , you will probably share a lot of about yourself. You will want to tell friends about your interests, activities, and plans.

Some personal information can make it possible for people to identify you or know where you are (Figure 13.14). This can lead to (when people use your personal information to pretend to be you). It can also put you in from Internet predators, who use personal information to find and harm people or violate their privacy.

To protect yourself online, use , keep passwords private, and do not click on links or download apps from suspicious sources. and apps can expose your information to hackers, who illegally access data on digital devices.

Do not post any online. If you want to post this kind of information, talk with a parent or guardian first. of your school, home, or other locations that could help someone find you. Avoid tagging yourself at certain locations or saying you will be at certain public events. In addition, always ask permission before sharing photos of another person.

When talking with people you met online, personal information or photographs or agree to video-call or meet. A video-call can help an identify you. Meeting in person can put you at risk. If someone you met online asks for your personal information or asks to video-call or meet with you, and tell a trusted adult what happened.

Thinking Before You Post

When , consider whether you want everyone to see what you are saying now and in the future. Posts that promote bullying or illegal activity may become an issue when you apply for schools or jobs. Posts with can be shared with anyone and remain on the Internet for a long time. Before you , think about whether you will regret it later (Figure 13.15). If you are unsure, read your draft out loud or show the photo or video you are sharing to a . If you receive any message or see any content that makes you , tell a trusted adult immediately.

As young people learn more about themselves, they may be , or in the form of actual text, pictures, or videos. has many potentially . Legally, it can be seen as harassment and lead to serious consequences. A person can also be charged with for sexting with a minor. Mentally and emotionally, sexting can negatively impact one's self-esteem and body image. Once have been sent, they can be posted online or shared with others. If someone sends you a sext, with others. Immediately delete the sext and tell a trusted adult. If someone , use refusal skills to say no. Remember, if someone really cares about you, that person will not pressure you.

Staying Safe on the Road

Did you know that motor are the leading cause of death among young people? In fact, motor vehicle crashes account for about of the deaths associated with unintentional injuries. Many of these deaths occur among pedestrians involved in the accidents. are people on foot or using small wheels, such as bicycles, skateboards, or wheelchairs (Figure 13.16). To protect yourself and remain safe, there are certain precautions you can take as a pedestrian. You can also take precautions to stay safe while riding in a car or school bus.

Pedestrian Safety On the road, pedestrians have the “ .” This is the legal right of a pedestrian to move before a vehicle moves, in certain situations. For example, if a vehicle comes to a stop sign, and pedestrians are waiting at the corner, the pedestrians have the right of way to cross the street first. The respect that right and allow the pedestrians to cross.

As a pedestrian, however, you also have responsibilities. These include the following:

Always assume that drivers cannot see you. Drivers should stop for pedestrians, but that does not mean they always do.

• Walk where drivers would expect you to walk, which is on , if possible.

• If walking on the road, , not in the direction of traffic. Make with drivers at intersections to make sure they see you.

• signals and use specific crosswalk areas at intersections, where it is safer for you to cross.

• to your surroundings (Figure 13.17). Distracted walking contributes to many pedestrian deaths each year.

• Wear proper , such as a helmet, when skateboarding or rollerblading.

• If you must walk at night, wear or carry a flashlight.

Riding a bicycle is an inexpensive form of transportation and a fun way to get physical activity. Use the following guidelines to remain safe while riding a bicycle:

• Always wear a properly fitted helmet.

• Know and obey all traffic rules.

• Ride on the right side of the road and with traffic, never facing traffic.

• Ride with friends in a single file.

• Signal your turns at intersections so drivers can anticipate your movements. With your left arm, point left to indicate a left turn and bend your forearm up to indicate a right turn.

• Always stop at red lights.

• Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night.

• Use front and rear lights if riding after dark.

Vehicle Safety

Although you cannot drive yet, you probably spend a lot of in a car. The most important safety precaution you can take in the car is to wear a seat belt (Figure 13.18).

Another safety precaution you can take is to the driver. Any distractions in the car, such as , can make it difficult for the driver . This increases the risk of an . Using a phone while driving is another distraction that can cause accidents. If you see the driver , ask the person to to the road to stay safe.

Perhaps you take the school bus each morning and afternoon. If so, there are specific precautions to take when riding the school bus. Only get on the bus once the bus has stopped and the driver says it is safe. Always listen to instructions from the bus driver. Wear your seat belt if the bus has seat belts, and avoid distracting the bus driver.

Staying Safe in the Water

In the summer when the weather is hot, people often like to engage in water-related activities such as in the local public swimming pool. Sailing, water-skiing, and spending time at the beach are also fun (Figure 13.19). This means that water-related accidents can occur.

You can by learning and practicing the following water-safety tips:

• alone in or near water of any kind—including , , , and —even when lifeguards are on duty. This also means never leaving children alone in bathtubs. A drowning can occur in minutes when someone stops paying attention or turns away.

• Teach children how to swim.

• Wear a when swimming.

• Never or in unsupervised areas.

• Do not dive in .

• Check the weather and avoid getting in the water if a .

• Do not swim in a river after a storm because currents may be stronger.

• Check the water temperature and avoid swimming in really cold water.

• If you believe someone is , call 911 or tell someone to call right away. The American Red Cross recommends that untrained rescuers avoid entering the water. Drowning people panic and may push you down. They can even drown you. Instead, rescuers should reach for the drowning person or throw a , life jacket, rope, or any object that will float.