Chapter 20 Protecting Your Safety

Principles of Personal Health

I. Reducing Risk Factors

A. The greatest percentage of violent crimes tend to be committed and suffered by the young

B. You can affect many of the risk factors for injury or crime

II. Intentional Injuries- Injuries that are committed on purpose

A. Homicide (Murder)

1. Homicide- The intentional killing of one person by another

2. The homicide rate is now dropping in the U.S.

3. The most vulnerable group of homicide victims is African-Americans

4. Increasingly, Illegal drug activity is related to homicide

5. Research indicates that 25% to 50% of all homicides are drug related

B. Domestic Violence

1. Introduction

a. The composition of families has changed considerably

b. Since 1970 single-parent households have increased 112%

c. Families are under more stress than ever

2. Partner Abuse

a. Violence committed against a domestic partner

b. Most victims are women

c. The most vulnerable victims are African-American and Hispanic, live in large cities, are young and unmarried and have low socioeconomic status

d. It is estimated that about half the victims of domestic violence do not report the crime

e. Most communities have family support or domestic violence hotlines

3. Child Abuse

a. Harm that is committed against a child

b. Child abuse tends to be a silent crime

c. Physical abuse reflects physical injury

d. Sexual abuse includes acts leading to sexual gratification of the abuser

e. Child neglect includes failure to provide children with adequate needs

f. The most frequent form of child abuse is child neglect

g. Abused children are more likely to grow up to become child abusers

h. When an individual has abused once, he/she is likely to do it again

4. Elder Abuse

a. Elderly women over age 75 are especially vulnerable

b. Abusers are usually the adult children of the elderly

c. Elderly abuse is frequently unseen and unreported

C. Gangs and Youth Violence

1. Most gangs arise from large city environments

2. Rituals and gang initiation rites are important in gang socialization

3. Gangs often control territories within cities

4. Gang and youth violence takes a financial and human toll on law enforcement, the judicial cyctem and correction departments

5. Violent crime rates among the young have been sharply increasing

D. Gun Violence

1. Gun violence is a leading killer of teenagers and young men

2. Carjacking- A thief’s attempt to steal a car while the owner is behind the wheel (frequently involves a handgun)

E. Bias and Hate Crimes

1. Crimes directed at individuals solely because of a difference attributed the victim

2. State and federal laws have been enacted to make bias and hate crimes serious offenses

3. Bias and hate crimes are a problem worldwide

F. Stalking

1. Refers to an assailant’s (most are male) planned efforts to pursue an intended victim

2. The presence and potential for violence are enough to create an extremely frightening environment for the victim and family

3. Virtually all states have created stiff penalties for stalkers

G. Sexual Victimization

1. Rape and Sexual Assault

a. Survivors of rape include the young and old, male and female

b. Often a personal assault may turn into a rape

2. Acquaintance and Date Rape

a. Acquaintance rape- the forced sexual intercourse between individuals who know each other

b. Date rape- forced sexual intercourse by a dating partner

c. Alcohol is often a significant contributing factor

d. A greater amount of emotional damage may occur than physical damage

3. Sexual Abuse of Children

a. Children are especially vulnerable to abuse because of their dependent relationships

b. Sexually abusive practices often go unreported

4. Sexual Harassment

a. Unwanted attention of a sexual nature that creates embarrassment or stress

b. Both men and women are victims of sexual harassment

c. The victim should document the occurrences and report them to the appropriate personnel

5. Violnece and the Commercialization of Sex

a. Sexually related products and messages are intentionally placed before the public

H. Campus Safety

1. Students and faculty must continue to lead normal lives in the campus environment

2. Significant intentional injuries can happen to anyone at any time on a college campus

3. One should use the safety assistance resources available on campuses such as university-approved escort services and the campus security department

4. Organizations that specifically focus on campus crime:

a. Safe Campuses Now

b. Security on Campus

III. Unintentional Injuries (Injuries that occur without anyone intending any harm)

A. Residential Safety

Fireproof your residence

Prepare a fire escape plan

Do not give personal information over the phone to a stranger

Use initials for first names

Install a peephole and deadbolt locks

Avoid living in first floor apartments-Change locks when moving

Put locks on all windows

Require repair people or delivery people to show valid identification

Do not use an elevator if it is occupied by someone who makes you feel uneasy

Be cautious around garages, laundryrooms, and driveways (especially at night)

B. Recreational Safety

1. Introduction

a. Seek appropriate instruction for your intended activity

b. Make certain that your equipment is in good condition

c. Involve yourself gradually in an activity

d. Enroll in a first aid course

e. Remember that alcohol use increases the likelihood that people will get hurt

f. Protect your eyes from injury

g. Learn to swim

h. Obey the rules related to your activity

i. Be aware of weather conditions

2. Bicycle Safety

a. Wear a helmet

b. When cycling at night, wear brightly colored reflective clothing

c. Obey traffic signals just like any other vehicle

d. Break carefully using both hand brakes at the same time

3. Boating Safety

a. Most boating deaths occur when the victim is not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD)

b. Another major cause of boating accidents is "operators error" (inattention, carelessness, and speeding)

c. In more than half of all boating accidents, intoxication is a factor

C. Firearm Safety

1. More than half of all murders result from quarrels and arguments

2. Children are often involved in gun accidents

3. Safety rules:

a. Follow the gun possession laws in your state

b. Make certain your gun is in good condition

c. Enroll in a gun safety course

d. Consider every gun to be a loaded gun

e. Never point a gun at an unintended target

f. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot

g. Keep the barrel pointed down

h. Load and unload your gun carefully

i. Store your gun and ammunition safely in separate locked containers

j. Only target practice at approved ranges

k. Never play with guns at parties

l. Educate children about gun safety and the potential dangers of gun use

D. Motor Vehicle Safety

1. Introduction

a. The greatest number of accidental deaths in the U.S. occur on highways and streets

b. Safety tips for motor vehicle opperators:

Be familiar with traffic laws in your state

Ensure that the automobile or motorcycle is in good mechanical order

Do not exceed the speed limit

Always wear safety belts

Never drink and drive

Be certain that you can hear traffic outside your car

Give pedestrians the right-of-way

Drive defensively at all times

Look carefully before changing lanes

Be careful at intersections and railroad crossings

Carry a well-maintained first aid kit

Drive even more carefully during bad weather

Do not drive when you have not had enough sleep

2. Motorcycle Safety

a. Wear a helmet

b. Wear boots, gloves, and heavy clothing to protect your skin in a crash

c. Get proper training

d. Your risk increases in wet weather

e. Do not ride after taking medication, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs

f. Ride defensively

E. Home Accident Prevention for Children and the Elderly

1. For Everyone

a. Have adequate insurance protection

b. Install smoke detectors appropriately

c. Keep stairways clear of debris

d. Maintain electrical and heating equipment

e. Make certain that family members know how to get emergency help

2. For Children

a. Know all the ways to prevent accidental poisoning

b. Use toys that are appropriate for the age of the child

c. Never leave young children unattended

d. Keep any hazardous items locked up

e. Keep small children away from stoves

3. For the Elderly

a. Protect from falls

b. Ensure that the elderly have a good understanding of medications they are taking

c. Encourage the elderly to seek assistance for home repairs

d. Keep all door locks, lights, and safety equipment in good condition

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