Personal safety is both physical safety (freedom from physical harm) as well a psychological safety, which also a freedom from worry about physical safety as well as being victimized by hostility, aggression, and harassment.

Tips to Stay Safe from the Toronto Police:

BE AWARE

Avoid “autopilot”. Remain alert and walk with a purpose. Even if you are on a route you take every day, be aware of your surroundings. Also pay close attention to crosswalks and driveways even if you have the “right of way”.

PLAN AHEAD Think about where you are going and plan your route before you leave.

What time of day is it? Are you walking through an uninhabited or badly lit area? If you see trouble, can you cross the street or go into a nearby store? If you are not familiar with the area, did you take directions with you?

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS Trusting your own instincts that a situation seems “wrong” can be the

best personal safety tool you have. Pay attention to it and don’t be afraid to act on it! A moment of embarrassment if you are incorrect is far less important than your overall safety.

REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:

• In an emergency: CALL 9-1-1 • To report a crime that is not an

emergency: non-emergency # (416) 808-2222 • To report a crime anonymously, call

Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS)

Being aware, planning ahead and trusting your instincts, can greatly reduce the opportunity for a crime to occur!

Can you be completely safe from all risk?

Who is responsible for your safety?

What areas of your life pose a risk to you, related to personal safety?

How do you reduce your individual risk and increase your personal safety?

If acceptable risk is an individual decision, how do you set acceptable risk for yourself, related to personal safety?

How does awareness and preplanning reduce risk?

What agencies and organizations provide information and assistance in reducing personal safety risks?

Statistics show that most people who die between the ages of 1 – 45 years old die of an accident

In the US there are over 10 million disabling accidents a year

90 % of all cases where CPR is performed by a non-professional care provider, the CPR is performed on a friend or family member of the provider 

An estimated 1.3 million adolescents died in 2012, (worldwide) mostly from preventable or treatable causes.

Road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death in 2012, with some 330 adolescents dying every day.

In 2012, some 120 000 adolescents died as a result of road traffic accidents.

Globally, there were 49 births per 1000 girls aged 15 to 19, according to 2010 figures.

Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood appear to start by age 14, but most cases are undetected and untreated.

Harmful drinking among adolescents is a major concern. It reduces self-control and increases risky behaviours. It is a primary cause of injuries (including those due to road traffic accidents), violence (especially by a partner) and premature deaths. It also can lead to health problems in later life and affect life expectancy.

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death and disability among adolescents.

Drowning is also a major cause of death among adolescents – 60 000, two-thirds of them boys, drowned in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q4Ksk4YOZU

Complete the How Safe Are You personal Quiz

Why are adolescents and young adults over represented in traffic fatalities?

What other areas of risk do you think teenagers are over represented in statistically? Why?

poor decision making substance use lack of experience driving choice of vehicles peer pressure belief that they are not susceptible to danger choice of protective equipment – seat belts, helmets lack of respect for the laws that are meant to protect them – G1, G2 regulations poor vehicle maintenance Image Didn’t consider the risks Lack of reality Less consequences

List possible threats to your safety and others around you.

Lack of Knowledge of First Aid & CPR Campus safety Work environment safety Automobile maintenance & safety Robbery Recreational safety (hiking, hunting, biking, jogging

& swimming Home, apartment & dormitory safety Assault Personal safety related to Travel

Threat to safety Skills and strategies to deal with these threats

Complete a hazard analysis of your next recreational activity. Identify all of the problems that might occur, and determine how to reduce or eliminate these problems and how you will handle them if they occur.

Pick three activities and do a written safety plan for each one.

Choose one everyday activity, such as going to class at night or driving to the mall or simply arriving home.

Then choose a recreational activity that you like, such as going to a concert, camping, boating or traveling.

The last activity should be an activity that is high-risk – something that you do but do not like to because it scares you.