Being a teen can be a stressful period. Teenage years start some of the biggest changes in our lives which include our body changing, our social lives becoming more complex, the way we think and view things undergo dramatic changes. Sometimes it is tough to find answers to questions about health and safety. Here are a few answers to questions that you may have. At the end of this page you will find a web address where you can find even more answers. One thing to remember never be afraid to ask questions! Asking questions can help you to make good life decisions. For further information on any of these topics you can go to the Teens Health web site for further information and links to other sites. Teens Health site is located at www.kidshealth.org
Internet Safety:
The internet is home to millions of places you can and should visit. The web can take you to the ends of the earth with the information it contains. However, the internet can take you to places that can expose you to things you do not want.
You may have heard about people that get into trouble in chat rooms. Would you give information to a stranger you meet on the street about where you live or private information about you or your family? Of course you wouldn’t! However every day someone gives information about themselves that can be used to steal from them. Predators use the internet to get information about you to begin illegal or indecent relationships or to harm a person’s or family’s well-being.
Usually people who ask you for private information like your home address, phone numbers, and email addresses use this information to fill mailboxes and answering machines with advertisements and other unwanted communications.
How Do I Protect Myself And My Family When I Use The Internet?
Smart Surfing!!
The most important rule is to remain as anonymous as possible. That means keeping all private information private. What is private information?
Most credible people and companies won’t ask for this information online. If someone does then it is a red flag someone is trying to gain information for the wrong reasons.
Think carefully before you create an email address or screen name. Use a combination of letters and numbers in both that doesn’t identify whether you’re male or female. In chat rooms use a nickname that’s different from your screen name. Why? If you find yourself in a conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable, you can exit without having to worry that someone knows your screen name and can track you down via email. Another way to be certain you are safe in a chat room is to set up private chat rooms where only you and people you invite and enter to chat. Also don’t allow people you don’t know to enter the chat room.
CYBERBULLYING:
If you get bullying messages online, don’t answer them. Cyber bullies, just like other bullies, may be angry or disturbed people----and may be looking for attention or a reaction. Most times ignoring a bully will stop the problem, but if that doesn’t make it go away then the next step is to seek help this is especially true if the cyber bullying contains threats. Talk with a parent, School counselor, or another trusted adult about what is happening. Cyber bullies can be stopped!
Online Annoyances:
Email is relatively private, although hackers can still access it, or add it to their spam lists. Spam like advertisements or harassing or offensive notes, is annoying. So how do I protect myself against this problem? Spam blockers can keep your mailbox from getting clogged with spam. Several service providers will help you block out or screen inappropriate emails if your parents agree to set up age-appropriate parental controls.
Virus Protection:
If you don’t recognize the sender of a document or file that needs to be downloaded, delete it without opening it to avoid getting a virus on your machine. Virus protection software is a must for every computer. Software is also available to help rid your computer of unwanted spyware programs that report what your computer is doing to people who don’t need to know. You can also find programs that stop those in-your-face pop-up ads.
The best advice is to talk with your parents about web-sites that would be safe for you to use. Parents have your best interests in mind.
Rape:
Rape is forced, unwanted sexual intercourse. Rape, sometimes also called sexual assault, can happen to both men and women of any age. Rape is not about sex it is about power. Rape is frightening and traumatizing. A person who has been the victim of rape needs care, comfort, and a way to heal. The biggest hurdle for the victim of rape is to understand you are a victim; you did not do anything to deserve what was done to you. You have the right to determine what happens with your body, and you have the right to say NO! The only person that deserves the blame is the rapist themselves.
If you are the victim of rape the first and most important thing to do is tell someone! Keeping rape a secret will not help you in fact it will only take you longer to heal from the attack. If you don’t know how to talk about what happened to you and you don’t want to speak with someone local you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673(HOPE) they will provide you with advice and support.
Self-Defense:
You’ve seen it on T.V. and in the movies the pretty girl walking across a dark parking lot. Suddenly a slimy guy jumps out of the bushes and grabs the girl. She becomes the mutant ninja teenager and with two swift karate moves the slimy creep is lying on the ground moaning and our girl hero is walking away with a bit of a strut. WELL FOLKS THAT’S THE T.V. AND MOVIES NOT REAL LIFE!! Let’s hit the rewind and see what really happens. Our girl hero is walking across the dark parking lot and el-creepo jumps out of the bushes and grabs our girl and when she does her karate move el-creepo knows what’s coming grabs her arm or leg, pulls her off balance. El-Creepo now mad because his victim fought back he flips her onto her back and now our girl hero is on her back on the ground where she can’t run and will have a difficult time defending herself. WOW!!!
So what can you do? The first and best rule is to use your intuition and common sense. Self-Defense is not the karate kicks and punches that we see on T.V. and the movies. Self-Defense actually means doing everything possible to avoid fighting someone who threatens or attacks you.
The best self-defense is to listen to your spidy sense when it warns you something is wrong.
Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well lit, and well traveled. Become familiar with the buildings, parking lots, and other places you walk. Pay attention to those places where someone could hide----such as stairways and bushes.
At night travel in a group, avoid shortcuts that take your through isolated areas
Make sure your friends and parents know your daily schedule (classes, sports practice, club meetings, etc.). If you go on a date with friends for an after-game snack, let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
Carry a cell phone if possible and have your parents number programmed into the phone.
Take a self-defense class, but be certain the person teaching the class knows what they are doing. If it is a martial arts school, ask around about the instructor and the school.
Self-defense is a very serious matter! Don’t think just because you have seen a couple of Jackie Chan movies or watched Walker Texas Rangers you can handle every situation.
Why Do I Fight With My Parents So Much?
Why don’t you eat the food your mom fixed? You are not going out the house wearing that! Why can’t I stay up later? You don’t like any of my friends? Do you or your parents say these things? As a young child your parents had to make decisions about everything for you. As you become older you start making decisions for yourself and start developing your own identity. The changes create you are undergoing are also changes for your parents. Parents have to get used to the new you-they only know you as the kid who had everything decided for you and you didn’t mind.
The changes it is a time for adjustment that can cause tension and sometime fighting. Teens become angry because they don’t think parents respect them and parents become angry for the same reason.
So what can I do to make this better? The first step is to understand that parents have to make adjustments to the new you. Understanding is the key to this step. Your parents will adjust to your new needs and see you are becoming your own person if you allow them. Compromise with your parents and communicate with them in a factual manner about how you feel. Be patient with your parents they are learning and growing along with you.
When Parents Fight:
The first thing to understand about parents fight is they are people! As individuals they may have different opinions about certain matters. It is normal for you to worry about parents fighting. Parental fighting can cause you to feel insecure about your family. Have you ever had an argument with a friend about something that was silly and you later regretted the argument? I bet you have.
Parents argue about all kind of things. It can be about money, jobs, vacations, or even you. Most times parents work these things out. Remember you have bad days and you may say things you didn’t mean. Parents have bad days as well and also say things they don’t mean, most of the time they work things out, apologize, and make up.
Sometimes fights can get out of control. Name calling, yelling and screaming and too many harsh things said can cause unnecessary tension in a family. Sometimes fights can even become physical or threats of harm to the other person or to ones self are made. This type of behavior is never ok. If this happens then you need to speak with someone about the behavior. Talking with a friend about what’s happening can be helpful, but if the fighting includes physical actions or threats then you should speak with a teacher, or counselor.
Farm Safety:
Did you know there are about 2 million work and live on farms? As many as 22,000 are seriously injured, and about 100 kids and teens die each year on farms. Farm jobs have the highest rate of fatalities and injuries of all types of teen employment. Agriculture is considered to be the most hazardous industry in the United States.
So how do I keep myself safe when working on a farm? Be familiar with the equipment you are working with. Knowing how to safely operate the equipment is important to safeguard yourself from injury. Large farm animals such as cattle, horses, and swine can injure you if you are not aware. Farm equipment coming into contact with electrical equipment can cause electrical shock. Harvesting and bailing equipment can cause crush injuries.
The best way to keep yourself safe is to think safety. If available take a course in agriculture safety, these can be found in trade or technical schools or in FFA or 4H programs.
Water Safety:
Water sports, it’s what summer is all about. A dip in a lake, stream, or pool goes hand in hand with a hot summer day. A few tips can make your swim or boat ride a happy event.
For more information on water safety and where to find boating courses you can go to the Missouri State Water Patrol web site at www.mswp.dps.mo.gov
Body piercing & Tattoos:
Some of the hottest new shows on TV today are shows about tattooing, and body piercing. You probably have noticed a lot of celebrities with tattoos or body piercing. Some things you need to know before getting a piercing or tattoo include;
The best way to find out good information is to speak with your family Doctor about piercing or tattooing. They may not agree with what you are planning but you will have good medical advice that can help you to make a sound decision.
I have my driver’s license and I’m ready to go! Whoa, slow down, wait a minute. Do you know that teens make up some of the highest numbers of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents? Driving too fast, not wearing seatbelts, and distracted driving are just some of the reasons teens become involved in accidents.
Did you know there is a website for teen driving safety? Well there is just go to www.savemoyouth.com for a site that is made for teens to give you more information about driving safety, and besides it is really cool.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER KIDS HEALTH RELATED TOPICS YOU CAN GO TO:
www.Kidshealth.org/teen/safety/index.html
If there other topics about teen safety you would like to see covered in the future you can contact bill_moulder@camdenmo.org with your ideas and we will work on getting them on this site.