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11 Summer Safety Facts and Stats

Teens on a Beach
  1. Dehydration and heat stroke are two life-threatening heat-related illnesses. They cannot be ignored.
  2. When you’re thirsty, drink water. Even though an ice-cold soda sounds totally thirst-quenching, it won’t keep you hydrated. Especially during a long, hot day at the beach.
  3. Sunblock [1] shouldn't be traded in for tanning oil... ever. Melanoma [2](a form of skin cancer) is the second most common form of cancer for young people ages 15 to 29.
  4. Don't wait until you're at the pool to lather up. It takes 30 minutes [3] for sunblock to fully soak in and protect you from the sun's harmful UV rays.
  5. Summer is the peak season [4] for underage drinking. If you’re not into the idea of sweating alcohol (gross!), get ready to say “no thanks” pretty often.
  6. Most first-time underage drinking occurrences [5] happen in the month of July. We bet partying on the 4th has something to do with that... which is weird because fireworks are obviously most enjoyed with a tri-color ice pop in hand... not a beer.
  7. If you find yourself at a pool party where people are trading in pitchers of lemonade for pitchers of beer, stick to water and keep a close eye on your friends, because up to half [6] of all recreational water deaths involve alcohol. Not only does alcohol dehydrate you, but your day drinking could turn into day drowning.
  8. Young people spend an average of 7 or more hours [7] per week driving in the summer compared to during the school year. We recommend you look both ways when you cross the street.
  9. 23 percent of teen drivers are more likely to drive with 3 or more other teens during the summer as compared to the school year. A packed car with the radio on and windows down often leads to distraction for new drivers. Be smart and buckle up.
  10. With more time on the road and more people in the car, teen drivers are at the highest risk in the summer. 7 of the deadliest days for teen drivers are in the summer.
  11. Some teens who start drinking in the summer time will make the really dangerous and foolish decision to drive while drunk. Of all 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in a car crash, 31 [8] percent had been drinking. Don’t be one of them [9].

Check out ways to be sun smart this summer. GO [1]

Sources: Akron [8], Washington Post [10], SADD [7], CDC [6], SAMHSA [5], NY Daily News [11], Hello Life [12]

 

Physical and Mental Health [13]
Alcohol Abuse [14]
Cancer [15]
Healthy Living [16]
Smart Driving [17]
Source URL: http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-summer-safety-facts-and-stats

Links:
[1] http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/how-to-stay-safe-sun
[2] http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-melanoma
[3] http://www.hellolife.net/explore/body-image/the-dangers-for-teens-who-tan/
[4] http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-06-17/local/27067390_1_teen-drinking-car-crashes-underage-drinking
[5] http://www.samhsa.gov/samhsa_news/volumexv_4/article10.htm
[6] http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
[7] http://www.sadd.org/teenstoday/summerdriving.htm
[8] http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aID=9177
[9] http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-driving-under-influence
[10] http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-07-02/local/35488664_1_teen-fatalities-teen-deaths-teen-drivers
[11] http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/summer-beer-underage-drinking-summer-plague-article-1.185544
[12] http://www.smartlivingnetwork.com/emotional-health/b/the-dangers-for-teens-who-tan/
[13] http://www.dosomething.org/cause/physical-and-mental-health
[14] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/alcohol-abuse
[15] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/cancer
[16] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/healthy-living
[17] http://www.dosomething.org/issues/smart-driving