Home and Street SafetyTeacher Workshop

Introduction

Home and street safety affects the lives of children all over the US

“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among youths” (Telljohann, Symons, and Pateman, 2009, p. 220)¹

Common causes of unintentional injuries include electricity, fires, falls, drowning, road traffic, poisoning, and stranger danger

Let’s Discuss

Who taught you how to cross the street properly?

Have you or anyone you know been encountered by a stranger, and what happened?

Do you remember a time in your life when you thought you or someone you were with ingested a poison?

Have you ever been injured from a fall, and what were you doing when you fell?

Definition of Unintentional Injury

“Accidental circumstance in which injury was not anticipated” (Webb, Module 11)

“Injuries that occur without specific intent of harm” (Telljohann, Symons, and Pateman, 2009, p. 220)¹

These types of injuries are preventable

Why Include this Topic in the Classroom?

Parents often lack skills to teach children prevention of unintentional injuries

Education should include academics and life skills

Pertinent for children to lead long and healthy lives

These skills are also applicable in classroom settings- field trips- classroom etiquette- lunchtime/recess

Why is this Important to Teachers? Children lacking these skills can lead to

more unintentional injuries in the classroom

These injuries lead to higher absence rates in the classroom

Teaching these skills results in safer children which leads to safer adults and overall safer communities

Topics to be Covered

1. Street Safety2. Stranger Danger3. Poison Safety4. Electricity5. Falls

Street Safety

What Teachers Should be Able to Do:

1.List the 5 appropriate steps to crossing the street safely

2.Distinguish between a safe and non safe route to walk to school when given 2 scenarios

3. Identify and describe the purpose of a stop sign, crosswalk sign, and pedestrian street light

Terms to Know

Traffic Lights & Stop Signs: Tell cars when to stop and go

Crosswalk Signal: Tells walkers when to stop and go

Crosswalk : A safe place for people to cross the street (when no cars are coming)

Crossing Guard: A safe adult that helps people cross the street

Street Signs and Signals

Red ALWAYS means stop: Red stop sign Red Light Red Hand for crossing signal

Before Crossing the Street Stop at the curb of the sidewalk

Press the cross walk button

Wait for white walking sign to appear (walking human)

Look left, right, left

Make sure no cars are coming from any direction

(NCSRTS , 2009)

While Crossing the Street

Cross inside the crosswalk (white lines)

Walk, do not run

Pay full attention (avoid texting or playing)

(NCSRTS, 2009)

Tips For Teachers

Teach students to recognize stop signs, crossing signals, and safe crossing areas

Encourage your students to practice crossing an actual street with supervision

Allow time for questions or clarification

Stranger Danger

What Teachers Should be Able to Do:

1. Define the term stranger

2. Recite the 4 steps children should take if approached by a stranger

Terms to know

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a

stranger is “a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted.”¹

Abduction Statistics

Elementary school children abductions Strangers are responsible for 1/2 of all

abductions Relatives, neighbors, family friends, and adult

acquaintances are responsible for the rest Girls are at least 3 times more likely to be

abducted and murdered than boys ▪ Offenders are usually male, who select

female victims South Carolina Abduction Investigation¹

▪ 40% occurred on school grounds by a stranger

▪ A majority occurred around 5pm, right after school hours

Stranger Danger

Abduction Motives¹ Short-term: sexual molestation Long-term: sexual gratification,

retribution financial gain, desire to kill, and maternal desire

How can teachers help?

Teachers CAN help prevent child abductions! Keep an eye on all of your students at all

times Make sure the adult picking up the child

from school is the child’s legal guardian or is an adult that the legal guardian has given permission to

Teach your students preventative skills!

What can children do?

Four Simple Rules Children Should Follow When a Stranger Approaches:

1. Ignore2. Say “NO” when prompted3. Immediately walk or run away if

stranger persists4. Immediately tell an adult about the

encounter

Tips for Teachers

Outside Adults should ALWAYS know where their

child is going Enforce the buddy system Know your surroundings Walk in common, lit areas Don’t walk at night, if possible

Tips for Children

At home Children should NEVER answer doors Children should NEVER answer phones When children are home alone, ALL windows

and doors should be closed and locked

Important phone numbers to know: Legal guardian(s) Police (911)

Poison Safety

What Teachers Should be Able to Do:

1.Name 3 common terms that are used as identifiers on poisonous substances

2.Differentiate between safe and non safe storage places for poisonous substances when shown examples

3.Recite the poison control hotline phone number

Poison ActivityPreparation:

–Collect 20 household products and classroom items (i.e. cleaning sprays, glue, water, etc.) to serve as examples and non-examples of potential hazardous items when ingested–Disperse these items in groups on tables around the room

•Have audience walk around the room and note the items that they think are (potentially) poisonous•Hold a discussion on the items after everyone has gotten a chance to walk around the room

–Let audience know that even though some products may not seem to serve potential harm, when anything is ingested at a large quantity, that substance is hazardous to your health

What is a Poison?

According to the CDC a poison is any substance that is harmful to the body when taken or used inappropriately

“Any substance can be poisonous if too much is ingested” (CDC, 2009) ¹

Poisons!

130 children in America under the age of 14 are poisoned each year. (Mychildsafety.net, 2008)¹

Take the time to educate students on what substances are poisonous .

Store poisonous substances in safe places that are unreachable to children.

Know how to react in a poison ingestion situation.

Poisonous Labels

Common terms on poisonous substances: CAUTION

WARNING

POISON

DANGER

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Common Poisonous Items Medications

Cleaning Supplies

Pesticides

Fuel

Lawn and Garden Fertilizers

Cosmetics and Personal Care Items

Plants and Berries

Storing Toxic Items

Keep items in high storage areas that are out of reach

Lock cabinets with child safe locks

Keep medications in original containers with child safe caps properly tightened

Storing Toxins, Continued

Keep cleaning items in their original containers with proper labeling

Instruct children of off limit areas that contain poisonous substances

Unsafe Storage Areas

Any place within a child’s reachDrawers and cabinets that cannot be

lockedPurses and bagsCarsClosetsGarages

In Case of Poisoning

If child is unresponsive, having difficulty breathing, vomiting, or having seizures call 911

If the child is not reacting to the poison, call the Poison Hotline for further guidance 1-800-222-1222

Calling Poison Control

Know the child’s age and weight

Have the bottle or label of the item ingested

Know the approximate time and amount of product ingestion

Know the address of where you and the child are

Remain calm!!

Electrical Safety

What Teachers Should be Able to Do:

1. List 3 possible electrical dangers within the home and classroom

2. Recite the 4 appropriate steps of what to do if a child is electrocuted

Why Teach Electrical Safety?

According to CPSC (1991-2001):24,000+ children under 10 years old

were treated in ERs for incidents related to electrical receptacles (About 7 children per day.)

89% are under 6 years old

Typical Location of Incidents

Image found at: http ://www.childoutletsafety.org/datastatistics.html

Electrical Safety

• What is an electric shock?An electric shock happens when a person touches an electrical energy source. Electrical current flowing through a part of the body will cause a shock.

• What is electrocution?Electrocution is death caused by electric shock.

(Electrical Safety Council, 2009)

Possible Effects of an Electric Shock

Increased blood pressureFaster pulse rateDifficulty breathingLoss of consciousnessHeart attackBurnsDeath

Possible Electrical Dangers in the Home and Classroom

Outlets Exposed wires and cordsPlugsLight bulbsAppliances near sinks and liquidsComputer equipment

Preventing Electrical Injuries

Install outlet safety plugs

Turn off and unplug electrical devices that are not in use

Keep appliances away from water

Check electrical cords for fraying

In Case of Electric Shock

DO NOT touch the person receiving the electric shock until the electricity is switched off and you are sure it is safe to do so

If you touch them, you could get an electric shock or be electrocuted yourself

(Electrical Safety Council, 2009)

In Case of Electric Shock

If the person is conscious and seems unharmed:- He/she should be told to rest- If in doubt call a doctor

If the person is unconscious:- Open the airway and check breathing- Resuscitate if necessary- Place injured person in recovery position- DIAL 911!

Falls

What Teachers Should be Able to Do:

1. Detect all fall hazards within an image when presented with a scenario

What Are Falls?

“Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children” (Britton, 2005, p. 33)¹

Falls can be categorized as follows:1. “Falls while walking or running2. Falls from heights3. Falls while participating in recreational activities4. Falls during competitive sports activities” (Britton, 2005, p. 33)¹

Fall Prevention

Prevention Strategies: Keep walkways and ground areas clear

of objects Don’t run around in enclosed spaces Avoid climbing of crawling onto object’s

past one’s own height Avoid running up and down stairs Keep floors dry of any liquids and spills

In the Event of a Fall

What to do if fall injury occurs: Should be able to assess severity of

the injury Call for proper help (parent, school

nurse, or ambulance)

Lesson Plan Discussion

Now let’s think about possible lesson plans! How can we integrate these topics into

other subjects? What types of lessons will you want to

create? Which lessons may overlap?

Lesson Plan Activities

You may want to include the following activities into your lesson plans: Role playing Visual Literacy Mnemonics Hands-on-Activities

Lesson Plan Examples

1.Science: Poisons-Understanding poison labels and hazards

2. Language Arts: Pedestrian Safety- Identify important street signals and signs- Understand appropriate street safety procedures

3. Math: Street Signs/Shapes- Discussing street signs and identifying their shapes

Lesson Plan Examples

4.Social Studies: Safe Routes-Understand geographical directions and weather conditions-Identify how to find a safe walking route

5. FCAT/Reading: Stranger Danger- Practice FCAT procedures and skills- Practice appropriate behaviors when approached by a stranger

CitationsBritton, J.W. (2005). Kids can't fly: preventing fall

injuries in children. Wisconsin Medical Journal, 104(1), 33-36.

Electrical Safety Council, . (2009). First aid. Retrieved from http://www.switchedonkids.org.uk/pt_firstaid.html

Lord, W. D., Boudreaux, M. C., Lanning, K. V. (2001). Investigating potential child abduction cases: A developmental perspective. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 70(4), 1-10. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2001/apr01leb.pdf

Citations

Miller, J. M., Kurlycheck, M., Hansen, J. A., Wildon, K. (2008). Examining child abduction by offender type patterns. Justice Quarterly, 25(3), 523-543. doi: 10.1080/07418820802241697

National Center for Safe Routes to School, . (2009, July). Safe routes to school guide teaching children to walk safely as they grow and develop: a guide for parents and caregivers. Retrieved from http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/collateral/TeachingChi

ldrentoWalkSafely.pdf

National Electrical Manufacturers Association. (n.d.). Electrical-receptacle-related injury statistics. . Retrieved from

CitationsStranger. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved June 9,

2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stranger

Telljohann, S.K., Symons, C.W., & Pateman, B. (2009). Health education: elementary and middle school applications. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

http://www.childoutletsafety.org/datastatistics.html

Home Safety Council. (2010). Poison prevention tips. Retrieved from http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_poison_w001.asp

Home Safety Council. (2010). Poison prevention tips. Retrieved from http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_poison_w001.asp

Home Safety Council. (2010). Poison prevention tips. Retrieved from http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_poison_w001.asp