Chapter 20 Lesson 3 - Safety on Road & Outdoors

Staying Safe on the Road MAIN IDEA​ ​Safety in vehicles includes wearing a safety belt and not distracting the driver​. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental deaths in people 1 to 24 years old. To be a safety-conscious passenger, wear a safety belt whenever...

Staying Safe on the Road MAIN IDEA​ ​Safety in vehicles includes wearing a safety belt and not distracting the driver​. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental deaths in people 1 to 24 years old. To be a safety-conscious passenger, wear a safety belt whenever you ride in a vehicle. Safety belts help keep you in your seat if your vehicle gets into a crash. Do not distract the driver of the vehicle. In 2010, more than 3,000 people were killed in accidents involving a distracted driver. Another way to stay safe is to never get in a car with a driver who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs. Call a trusted adult to pick you up instead. Many cars have air bags, too. Air bags can help keep people in the front seats from colliding with the steering wheel and dashboard. However, the force of air bags can hurt small children. The safest place for children to ride is in the back seat. Infants and small children should ride in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are large enough to use a safety belt. If you take the bus to school, don’t distract the bus driver while he or she is driving. Don’t get up while the bus is moving or put your arms out the window. When you get off the bus, make sure the bus driver and all drivers of the vehicles around the bus can see you clearly. Don’t cross behind the bus. If you are in a bus during an emergency, cooperate with the driver so that you and everyone else on the bus will remain safe. Safety on Foot Ever since you learned to walk, you have been a pedestrian​.​ Safety is important for pedestrians. Start by paying attention to what is happening around you. Follow these rules to become a safer pedestrian. Walk on the sidewalk if there is one. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing oncoming traffic, staying to the left side of the road. Cross streets only at crosswalks. Do not jaywalk, or cross the street in the middle of the block. Look both ways several times before crossing, and keep looking and listening for oncoming cars. If you cross in front of a stopped vehicle, be sure the driver can see you. Make eye contact with him or her before stepping in front of the vehicle. Obey all traffic signals. During the day, wear bright clothing. If you walk at night, take a well-lit route. Wear light-colored or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. Do not talk on a cell phone or wear headphones as you walk. Be aware of your surroundings. READING CHECK Name​ What are two safety guidelines for pedestrians? Safety on Wheels Riding bicycles and using skates, in-line skates, skateboards, and scooters are activities many teens enjoy. One way to prevent injury while participating in these activities is to learn about the risks and then follow rules to avoid them. Always wear an appropriate helmet and other safety gear. Also, make sure your clothing fits well and does not interfere with your activities. Head injuries cause 70 to 80 percent of the deaths from bicycle accidents. Wearing a helmet every time you get on your bike can reduce your risk of head injury by 85 percent. It is also important for bicycle riders to ride with the flow of traffic and obey traffic signs and signals. Bicyclists should never weave in and out of traffic. When riding with a friend, ride in single file, not side-by-side. Learn hand signals, and use them before you turn. Both bicyclists and drivers must practice defensive driving​.​ To stay safe, bicyclists should be visible to others by wearing bright, reflective clothes. Bicycles should have lights and reflectors. To reduce risk of injury while bicycling, do not ride at night or in bad weather. Skates, in-line skates, skateboards, and scooters can be a lot of fun, but only when they are used safely. Here are some guidelines for having fun while staying injury free. Wear protective gear, including a hard-shell helmet, wrist guards, gloves, elbow pads, and knee pads. Do not let your speed get out of control. Always follow your community’s rules on where you can ride your skateboard or scooter. This may include not skating or riding in parking lots, streets, and other areas with traffic. Before you head downhill, practice a safe way to fall on a soft surface. Don’t skate or ride a scooter after dark. Avoid riding or skating on wet, dirty, or uneven surfaces. READING CHECK Give examples​ Name one​ do ​and one​ don’t ​for staying safe on wheels​. Staying Safe Outdoors MAIN IDEA​ ​Safety precautions make outdoor activities more fun​. Do you enjoy swimming or boating? How about hiking or camping? These and other outdoor activities are more fun when you “play it safe.” To stay safe while enjoying outdoor activities, follow these tips: Use good judgment.​ Before scheduling any outing, plan ahead. Check the weather forecast. Make sure you have the proper safety gear for each activity and that what you are doing is safe. If you’re unsure, ask a trusted adult. Take a buddy or two.​ When you spend time outdoors, be sure you are with at least one other person. If something happens to you and you are with a group, one friend can stay with you and another friend can go for help. Always tell your parent or guardian where you are going and when you expect to be home. Warm up and cool down.​ This will help prevent injuries. Stretch after your warm-up and cool down. Stay aware.​ Learn the signs of weather emergencies. When necessary, move quickly to shelter. Know your limits.​ Be aware of your skills and abilities. Don’t take on more than you can handle. For example, if you are a beginning swimmer, don’t try to swim a long distance. Protect your skin.​ Remember to wear bug protection and sunscreen. It is important to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, which can cause skin cancer later in life. Planning for Weather When planning your outdoor activity, always check the weather. One major risk present during outdoor activities is an electrical storm. If you are caught outdoors during an electrical storm, try to find shelter in a building or car. Also, there are certain safety tips to follow during both hot weather and cold weather. During hot weather, your body can overheat when you are active outdoors. If you feel dizzy, out of breath, or have a headache, take a break. Keep cool by drinking plenty of water. Rest in the shade when you can. Overworking your body in the heat can lead to two dangerous conditions: heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Signs of heat exhaustion can include cold, clammy skin, dizziness, or nausea. Signs of heatstroke can include an increase in body temperature, difficulty breathing, and a loss of consciousness. Heatstroke can be deadly. If someone shows signs of heatstroke, get medical help right away. Streuous physical activity during hot weather can also cause heat cramps. Resting, cooling down, and drinking water should help relieve heat cramps. Gentle stretching and massage may also help. Cold weather can be dangerous if your body or parts of your body get too cold. This can lead to a condition called hypothermia. When you are active outside in cold weather, dress in layers. Wear a hat, warm footwear, and gloves or mittens. Anyone who starts to feel very cold or shiver should go inside and get warm. Just like in warm weather, it is important to drink plenty of water and take a break when you feel tired. Also, wearing sunscreen is important in both warm and cold weather. While performing some winter activities, such as skiing, you are exposed to the sun. Wearing sunscreen and sunglasses help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Water Safety Water activities can be a lot of fun. To avoid injury, you should take a water safety course and follow the rules. Know how to swim well. Good swimmers are less likely to panic in an emergency. If an emergency does occur in the water, stay in one place and try to conserve energy until help arrives. Follow these other tips to stay safe in the water. Swim only at beaches and pools if a lifeguard or other trusted adult is present. Swim with a buddy. Monitor yourself. Don’t swim if you are tired or cold, or if you have been out in the sun for too long. Look around your environment often. Watch for signs of storms. If you are swimming when a storm begins, get out of the water right away. Never swim in water with strong currents. Dive only in areas that are marked as safe for diving. The American Red Cross suggests that water be at least nine feet deep for diving or jumping. Never dive into unfamiliar water or into above-ground pools. If you are responsible for children, take extra care. Don’t let them near the water unless there is a trained lifeguard on duty. Accidents can happen even in small wading pools. When boating or waterskiing, wear a life jacket at all times. If the water is cold, wear a wetsuit. Safety on the Trail Preparation is the first step in a safe and enjoyable hike or camping trip. Following the tips listed below to help you stay safe while hiking and camping. Never camp or hike alone.​ Make sure family members know your route and your expected date and time of return. Carry a cell phone or long-range walkie-talkie in case of emergency. Dress properly.​ Be aware of the weather and dress accordingly. Dress in layers and wear long pants to protect yourself against ticks. If you are hiking up a mountain, know that the weather may change as you change altitude. Wear sturdy footwear. Before you hike in any shoes or boots, break them in to avoid getting blisters. Bring equipment and supplies.​ You should have a map of the area in which you will be hiking or camping. Learn how to read a compass and carry one. Take along a first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries. Be sure to bring an adequate supply of drinking water and food for your trip. Bring food that will not spoil. Know the plants and animals.​ Learn to recognize the dangerous plants and animals in your area so that you can avoid them. For example, learn what poison ivy and poison oak look like. To avoid insect bites and stings, tuck your pant legs into your socks and apply insect repellent. Learn first aid to treat reactions to poisonous plants, insects, and snakebites. Use fire responsibly.​ Learn the proper way to build a campfire. Light campfires only where allowed. Put out all campfires completely before you go to sleep or leave the campsite. To do so, soak the campfires with water or cover them completely with sand or dirt that is free of debris. READING CHECK Identify​ What safety items should you bring with you on a hike or camping trip? Increasing My Fitness for Hiking​ To increase my fitness level for hiking, I can fill my backpack with items I would take hiking and camping, put on my hiking boots or shoes, and walk for one hour several times a week. I can go to the park or walk in my neighborhood. This will help me get used to walking with some weight in my backpack and break in my shoes, while increasing my fitness level.