Teens
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As children grow into their teen years, their brain development provides significant changes both physically, socially, and emotionally, putting them at more specific injury risks. Fortunately, with effective skill training and education both among the teens and parents, these risks are 100% preventable.
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A Brief Summary of Prevention Tips
The following are general causes with prevention tips. However, we urge parents and caregivers, and teens, to visit Car Seat Safety, Parent Central, and Health and Wellness for additional safety recommendations. By understanding these risks and applying preventive strategies, parents can help protect their teens and support their healthy development.
Assault/Homicide
Causes: Peer conflicts, gang violence, drug or alcohol involvement, and exposure to unsafe environments.
Prevention Tips:
Prevention Tips:
- Foster open communication and trust with your teen.
- Educate about conflict resolution and the dangers of violence.
- Monitor peer relationships and social activities.
- Encourage involvement in positive activities and communities to reduce risk exposure.
Suicide
Causes: Mental health issues, bullying, family problems, substance abuse, or feelings of hopelessness.
Prevention Tips:
Prevention Tips:
- Maintain open, non-judgmental communication with your teen.
- Watch for warning signs such as withdrawal, changes in behavior, or talk of hopelessness.
- Promote healthy coping skills and seek professional help if needed.
- Ensure your teen knows they are supported and loved.
Motor Vehicle Injury
Causes: Distracted driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts, or driving under the influence.
Prevention Tips:
Prevention Tips:
- Emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts every time.
- Set clear rules about safe driving and not using phones while driving.
- Model safe driving behaviors yourself.
- Encourage teens to avoid driving after drinking alcohol or using substances.
Pedestrian
Causes: Reckless crossing, distracted walking, or crossing streets outside designated crosswalks.
Prevention Tips:
Prevention Tips:
- Teach your teen to always look both ways and use designated crosswalks.
- Remind them to stay alert and avoid distractions like phones while walking near traffic.
- Encourage walking in groups and crossing streets only at crosswalks with signals.
- Supervise when necessary and set good safety examples.
Poisoning
Causes: Ingesting medications, household chemicals, drugs, or alcohol—often due to curiosity or accidental access.
Prevention Tips:
Prevention Tips:
- Store medications, cleaning supplies, and chemicals out of reach and in locked cabinets.
- Educate your teen about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and poisons.
- Keep harmful substances in their original containers with clear labels.
- Talk openly about peer pressure and the importance of making safe choices.
Additional Tips
Adolescent Risk Behavior
Among the most common injuries include assault/homicide, suicide, motor vehicle occupant injury, pedestrian injury, and poisoning, these are all 100% preventable. However, there are skills that parents must do, which for starters is to model positive, healthy behaviors to their children. And this begins early in childhood. As an injury and neuroepidemiologist, I have studied neuroscience at the doctoral level to understand and apply what is known about brain development to improving programs that help reduce the risk of adolescent risky behavior. While our CBI Programs are specialized programs to help parents and teens reduce these risks, there are a few things that parents must know about what happens during brain development during adolescence, through middle through high school, and also college-aged teens as well, up until mid to late 20s. Additionally, visit Health and Wellness to explore topics such as building healthy relationships, safe dating, bullying prevention, grief support, healthy parenting, sexual behaviors in children and teens, and strategies to enhance overall well-being.
Among the most common injuries include assault/homicide, suicide, motor vehicle occupant injury, pedestrian injury, and poisoning, these are all 100% preventable. However, there are skills that parents must do, which for starters is to model positive, healthy behaviors to their children. And this begins early in childhood. As an injury and neuroepidemiologist, I have studied neuroscience at the doctoral level to understand and apply what is known about brain development to improving programs that help reduce the risk of adolescent risky behavior. While our CBI Programs are specialized programs to help parents and teens reduce these risks, there are a few things that parents must know about what happens during brain development during adolescence, through middle through high school, and also college-aged teens as well, up until mid to late 20s. Additionally, visit Health and Wellness to explore topics such as building healthy relationships, safe dating, bullying prevention, grief support, healthy parenting, sexual behaviors in children and teens, and strategies to enhance overall well-being.
"Smart Drugs" - not helpful!
High school and college students must be aware on the importance of regular physical activity that they enjoy, regular sleeping patterns and proper nutrition to help them get through projects, testing, papers etc. If not, they are at risk of temptation of using "smart drugs". Because their brains are not fully developed until their mid to late 20's using smart drugs has shown to severely damage brain development putting them at an increased risk of memory, emotional and behavioral problems.
High school and college students must be aware on the importance of regular physical activity that they enjoy, regular sleeping patterns and proper nutrition to help them get through projects, testing, papers etc. If not, they are at risk of temptation of using "smart drugs". Because their brains are not fully developed until their mid to late 20's using smart drugs has shown to severely damage brain development putting them at an increased risk of memory, emotional and behavioral problems.
Study Tips
- Study in a regular, comfortable place that is quiet with no distractions
- Study at regular schedules days and times
- Turn off electronic devices - studies show total quiet helps to improve focus, attention and memory
- Take brief breaks of about 5-minutes per every 20-30 minutes of studying. Be sure to stand/walk, stretch and take deep breaths
- Study during daylight, if possible - studies show this can improve productivity by 50%
- During testing, use note cards - when writing down information helps to improve memory
- Prioritize your homework - if you have lots of different homework assignments, do the easier ones first (by estimating how much time each will take) to get more finished. Then move onto the more difficult work that will take longer.
- Once you learn something, review that subject within 24-hours of learning it - this helps to improve memory
- Start homework and studying for testing as soon as possible - never wait!
- Get plenty of sleep by going to sleep at the same time each night by turning down lighting and electronic devices 30-minutes before bedtime
- When testing use note cards to take brief notes - writing improves memory
- Eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts. Decrease fats, salt and sweets. Drink water instead of sweetened or caffeinated drinks
- Get at least 30-minutes of physical activity (that you enjoy such as tennis, running, biking, swimming, etc.) at least every other day
