Personal Safety and Online Safety Questions PDF

Personal Safety MAIN IDEA​ ​You can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of violence by avoiding unsafe situations​. Did you know that teens are the victims of violence more than any other age group? Violence is physical force used to harm people or damage property. Teens are more likely than chil...

Personal Safety MAIN IDEA​ ​You can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of violence by avoiding unsafe situations​. Did you know that teens are the victims of violence more than any other age group? Violence is physical force used to harm people or damage property. Teens are more likely than children to go out at night and less likely to protect their personal safety than adults. You can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of violence by avoiding unsafe situations. Be alert to what is going on around you and trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe, it probably is. Staying Safe at Home Staying safe at home involves observing safety rules such as the ones listed below. When you’re home, keep your doors and windows locked. Only open the door for someone you know, or not at all if your parents tell you not to answer the door. When you answer the phone or use the Internet, don’t give out any personal information. Never tell a stranger that you are home alone. Say your parents are busy and can’t come to the phone. When you come home, have your key ready before you reach the door. If someone comes to the door or window and you feel you are in danger, call 911. Staying Safe on the Street If you are going out, tell your family where you are going and how you will get there. Make sure they also know when you expect to return. Don’t walk by yourself, if possible. After dark, walk in well-lit areas. Stay in familiar neighborhoods; avoid deserted streets and dangerous shortcuts. If you think someone is following you, go into a public place, such as a store or a well-lit area where there are other people. Don’t look like an easy target. Stand tall and walk confidently. Never carry your wallet, purse, or backpack in a way that is easy for others to grab. If someone wants your money or possessions, give them up. Avoid strangers. Never get into or go near a stranger’s car or hitchhike. Do not enter a building with a stranger. Don’t agree to run errands or do other tasks for strangers. If someone tries to grab you, scream and run away. Go to the nearest place with people. Ask them to call 911 or your parents. READING CHECK Explain​ Why is it important to tell your family where you are going and when to expect you home? Online Safety MAIN IDEA​ ​Staying safe online is an important part of your overall safety​. You probably use online tools to complete your homework, shop, and communicate with friends. Most teens today have a smartphone or tablet of their own, and use the device to keep in touch with friends. Using text messaging and social media sites is now a common way that teens stay in touch with friends. The use of online tools requires some care. Text messages with personal information can be forwarded without your knowledge or agreement. The people you meet on social media sites may not be who they say they are. Everyone who uses online tools must take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of online predators. Protect Your Information Protecting your personal information can prevent people getting information about you. Cyberbullies and other online predators can use personal information to do harm to your physical, mental/emotional, or social health. Protecting your information also means being careful about sending photos and other private information online. Use the following tips to help protect your data while using the Internet. Avoid sending personal information online.​ When you send a message with photos or personal information, you lose control of who else sees it. The person who receives your message can forward it to anyone without your permission. Cyberbullies might use the tactic to bully you. Avoid opening attachments or email links.​ Viruses that can ruin your computer are frequently sent as email links or attachments. As rule, if you don’t know the send, don’t open the email or the links. Be careful about downloads.​ Unless a site has a solid reputation, don’t use it to download applications. The applications could come with viruses and spyware attached. Keep passwords private.​ Your passwords are private. They keep your information safe and prevent others from seeing it without your permission. Never reveal them to people online. Use filtering software.​ Search engines and browsers have a filter function that can block information that’s not meant for you. Check out the “preferences” tab to set it up. Get permission.​ Make sure to get the okay from a trusted adult before heading online—and especially before filling out any forms on the Internet. Establish rules with dating partners for online sharing.​ Talk to dating partners about the types of photos, videos, and other posts that you are comfortable to be shared online. Make sure the other person agrees to your limits. Avoiding Internet Predators Internet predators might be cyberbullies from your school or they might be older adults who target teens. To avoid falling victim to Internet predators, follow these general guidelines for online safety. Avoid sending photos to strangers online.​ Remember that you lose control of who sees the photo when you send it to someone else. Avoid responding to inappropriate messages.​ If someone online sends you a message that makes you feel uncomfortable, avoid responding. He or she may be an internet predator. Responding gives the person an opening to communicate more with you. Tell a parent or other trusted adult and report the sender to your internet service provider (ISP). Be cautious about meeting an online friend.​ Meeting new friends can be fun. However, if you first met the person online, you can’t be sure that the person is truthful about his or her age and other information. If you decide to meet an online friend in person, plan to meet in a public place. Tell a parent or guardian where you will go, who you are meeting, and when you will be home. Talk to a trusted adult.​ If you feel uncomfortable or scared about something that happened online, tell a trusted adult about it immediately. READING CHECK List​ What are three things you can do to protect yourself from online predators? Responsibility When you take steps to protect yourself when you are at home, on the street, or online, you are taking responsibility for your own safety. Taking responsibility for your personal safety is an important part of the health triangle. You can protect yourself from physical violence, you can feel confident about yourself, and you may feel less stress about situations that made you nervous before.