Health Quests

Being a Safety Hero

Did you know that each year, about 15,000 Americans between the ages of 10 and 19 die as a result of an injury? According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more adolescents die from injuries than from all diseases combined. Injuries can occur anywhere and at any time. Many injuries occur in the place where you most likely feel the safest-your own home. Other injuries can occur when you are outside having fun while riding a bike, playing basketball, or in-line skating.

Injuries can be prevented by following safety guidelines. If you know safety and injury prevention skills, you will be able to identify safety concerns and take safety precautions to stay healthy and avoid injuries. This activity will show you how to use the Internet to find valuable information about safety and injury prevention in the home and outdoors.

After exploring these sites and completing the questions, you will be able to

• identify safety hazards and provide tips for preventing injuries.
• use your knowledge to create your own "Safety Superhero" to be a safety role model for younger children.

	Choose a potentially dangerous situation that you have read about at one of the Web sites. Then write a short story or draw a comic strip that depicts your Safety Superhero saving people from this situation. Be sure to include tips for avoiding dangers and preventing injuries.
	Health Links
	Safety in the Home Storing Hazardous Items At this Web site, you can read about household items that may be hazardous to your health if you don't use and store them properly. Read about what to do if you have an accident. http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/kids/hometour Preventing Fires At these Web sites, you will learn about the importance of fire safety around your home, including smoke alarms, escape planning, and home fire safety tips. What are three facts you have learned about each? http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/fire.htm Choosing Safe Products This is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site, where you will learn about the safety of consumer products used in and around the home. What steps should you take if you find a household item, such as an appliance or toy, that poses a threat or hazard? http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/lives.html http://www.cpsc.gov/consumer.html Outdoor Safety Riding a Bike Visit this Web site to learn about safety when riding a bike. Why is it important to wear a helmet when biking? What are three of the rules of the road that should also be followed by bicyclists? What are good color choices to wear when riding a bike? http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/outreach/KidsPage/biketour/index.html Playing Sports Visit this Web site to learn about safety when playing sports. Choose one sport and read about the safety measures you should take when playing. What equipment should you wear? What other precautions should you take? http://www.chp.edu/besafe/01kids/01kids.html

Once you have explored these links and answered the questions, you are ready to create your short story or comic strip featuring your very own "Safety Superhero." Your story or comic strip should

• clearly identify a safety hazard.
• provide tips for avoiding the hazard and preventing injuries.
• incorporate information from the Web sites in a creative way.
• provide a clear, accurate, and informative message for younger children.