Staying safe when home alone• Remember not to do anything while home alone that you aren’t allowed to do when your parents are there
• Don’t engage in or allow any drug or alcohol abuse, nor allow friends to use your house for sexual encounters.
• If you use the Internet, remember to engage in friendly and legal behavior. Be sure not to cyber-bully or download pirated music/videos/software. Do not give any personal information (such as your address or phone number) to anyone you meet online. Never let people you meet online know that you are home alone.
• Keep the doors locked and don’t let anyone in your home without a parent’s permission. If something goes wrong while you’re home alone, call a trusted adult or law enforcement officer to help you.
• If you have a pool, don’t allow friends to swim unless others are monitoring them, ensure no horseplay is occurring and never allow swimmers to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Staying safe at work• Be sure not to work alone, especially after hours. Create a buddy system for walking to parking lots or public transportation.
• Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or other valuables with you at all times or locked in a closet, drawer, or locker. Mark other personal items with your name or initials.
• Know the exit routes and evacuation plans for your building.
• Don’t allow sexual harassment by anyone, especially your boss. Immediately leave the building and report this to your parents immediately.
Staying safe with friends...or when on a date• Using alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous no matter where you are or who you are with. Using tobacco is harmful, too, and illegal if you're under 18.
• Set conduct rules and limtations right away. If sexually active, be sensible, responsible and always use protection. Don't bow to peer pressure, coercion or force. If you feel the situation going in the worng direction, get away from the situation and to a public place where you can call your parents or a friend ot come get you. Carry a pocket-sized can of Pepper Spray - use it if you have to!
• Pay attention to the road when driving with friends and don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you’re riding, don’t let the driver be impaired to any degree. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death for teens.
• Before you leave your house, tell your parent or caregiver where you are going, who you are going to be with, and when you’ll return. Stay within your time limit or call to apprise if you'll be later.
• When in a group, don’t stray from your friend(s), stay in sight and in well-lit areas. When on a date, don't go to unknown or remote, dark areas.
Staying safe when traveling• Carry traveler’s checks instead of cash, and record information (serial numbers and item name) of any valuables you take on your vacation (such as cameras or mp3 players). Take a copy of the information with you, and leave one with a family member or trusted adult.
• Learn about your vacation destination before you arrive; know what sites you want to visit and how to get there using a safe, well-traveled route. Use a chaperone whenever possible and check in with a friend on a regular basis.
• Be sure to lock your room at your lodging place, and insist that everyone carry his or her key when outside the room. Remember not to give out your room number or invite strangers into your room.
• Don’t accept invitations for a ride or go to a party with someone you just met or hardly know (especially of the opposite sex). Go in a group with known friends and stay in the group (safety in numbers).
• Carry a pocket-sized can of Pepper Spray in case you are threatened or attacked. Defend yourself if necessary.
We could go on and on, but these are the “high points”. Every teen deserves the privilege of growing into adulthood. If they’re careful, prudent and sensible…they just might!
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended to provide good faith information, experienced advice and personal opinions to our readers. Any information contained in this article is not to be considered or construed as specific legal opinions, legal advice or other professional directions, indications or directives for conduct of others. The principals of Essential Directions.com shall not be held accountale for misinformation, errors or omissions, or other liability related to or derived from any information or opinions in this article. Some information may have been taken from other articles, editorials or excerpts of reports in nationally-published periodicals or other media, including the Internet and the Alumni Newsletter of Almeda University.
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