Personal Safety

1. Personal Safety Chapter 21

2. Differentiating Injuries • 182,000 Americans die from injuries each year • Economic cost of injuries is more than $700 billion each year • Intentional injury • One that is purposely inflicted by oneself or by another person • Unintentional injury • Injury occurs when no harm is intended • Leading cause of death for people under age 45 • National Safety Council (NSC) • 2008 each day • 333 Americans died from unintentional injuries • 91 died from suicide • 35 died from homicide

3. Unintentional Injuries • Four general classes • Motor vehicle injuries • Home injuries • Public injuries • Work injuries • What causes an injury? • Combination of human and environmental factors

4. Table 21.1 Unintentional Injuries in the U.S.

5. Motor Vehicle Injuries • CDC: 43,000 Americans killed and 2.5 million injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 • Factors contributing to motor vehicle injuries: • Speeding • Aggressive driving • Fatigue and sleepiness • Cell phones and other distractions • Alcohol and other drugs • Safety belts, air bags, and child safety seats

6. Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries • Obey the speed limit • Always wear a safety belt • Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs • Keep your car in good working condition • Allow for plenty of following distance • Increase your following distance and slow downif weather is bad • Choose interstate highways versus rural roads • Always signal when turning or changing lanes • Stop completely at stop signs • Take special care at intersections • Don’t pass on two-lane roads

7. Motorcycles and Mopeds • About one out of every ten traffic fatalities among ages 15-34 involves someone riding a motorcycle • Safety strategies • Wear light colored clothing • Develop the necessary skills • Wear a helmet • Protect your eyes with goggles • Drive defensively

8. Bicycles • Bicycles are vehicles and cyclists must obey all traffic laws that apply to automobile drivers • Safety strategies • Wear safety equipment • Wear light-colored clothing • Ride with the flow of traffic • Ride defensively • Stop at all traffic lights and stop signs • Continue pedaling at all times when moving

9. Pedestrians • Following strategies can help prevent injuries when you’re walking or jogging • Walk or jog in daylight • Wear light-colored, reflective clothing • Face traffic when walking • Avoid busy roads • Cross only at marked crosswalks • Don’t use headphones while walking • Don’t hitchhike

10. Home Injuries • Falls • 90% of fatal falls involve people 45 and older • Fires • Smoke detector: cooking lead cause of fire • Poisoning • National poison hotline • 800-222-1222 • Suffocation and choking • Heimlich maneuver • Firearms

11. Leisure Injuries • Swimming • Don’t swim alone • Always use a personal floatation device • Check the surroundings • Check equipment • Wear a helmet or other safety gear • Drink plenty of fluids • Don’t use alcohol or other drugs • In-line skating injuries • Scooter injuries

12. Work Injuries • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 • Back injuries • Proper mechanics • Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) • Carpal tunnel syndrome

13. In Focus: Repetitive Strain Injury Personal Safety

14. Violence and Intentional Injuries • Violence • FBI: 2009 over 1.3 million violent crimes in U.S. • Assault, homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, suicide, child abuse • Factors contributing to violence • Arguments or committing other crime • Social factors • Violence in the media • Gender • Interpersonal factors • Alcohol and other drugs • Firearms

15. Figure 21.2 Arrests in the U.S., 2009

16. Violence and Intentional Injuries • Assault • Use of physical force by person(s) to inflict injury or death on another • Homicide • FBI: 2007, estimated 15,000 murders • Gang-related violence • 1 million Americans belong to a gang • Hate crimes • When bias against another person’s race or ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability motivates a criminal act • School violence • Workplace violence • Terrorism

17. Family and Intimate Violence • Battering • Violence against intimate partners • Stalking and cyberstalking • Harassing behaviors such as following or spying on a person and making verbal, written, or implied threats • Internet, e-mail, chat rooms, and electronic communication devices • Violence against children • Elder abuse

18. Sexual Violence • Sexual Assault: Rape • Statutory rape • Date rape • Who commits rape? • Factors contributing to date rape • Date-rape drugs • Rohypnol, GHB • Drug-Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996 • Dealing with a sexual assault • Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) recommendations • The effects of rape

19. Child Sexual Abuse • Sexual act imposed on a minor • Incest • Most sexually abused children are between 8 and 12 when the abuse first occurs • Surveys suggest that as many as 27% of women and 16% of men were sexually abused as children • Sexual Harassment • Affects academic or employment decisions or evaluations • Interferes with an individual’s academic or work performance • Creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive academic, work, or student living environment

20. What You Can Do About Violence • Train for conflict resolution • Identify and target high-risk groups for intervention • Reduce gun-related injuries • Adoption of consumer safety standards for guns

21. Providing Emergency Care • First aid • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) • Emergency medical services (EMS) system • Check the situation • Check the victim • Call for help: Call 9-1-1 in most areas • Care for the victim

22. Personal Safety Chapter 21