Safe or Unsafe?
You are at the park and find some broken glass on the ground. Would it be safe or unsafe to pick it up and throw it away?
Unsafe. Never touch broken glass because it could cut you and, with this, could come serious bleeding and/or infection.
You are helping a group of community members by cleaning up litter in your neighborhood. You come across a syringe. You know this is litter, but also know this is dangerous to touch. What should you do?
You should alert an adult. NEVER touch syringes or needles - these could be very harmful.
When someone pressures you to try a substance, you use this strategy by saying: "I can't. My parents check my eyes the second I walk in, and if I get grounded, I can't go to the game this weekend." What is the name of this strategy?
Using or "Blaming" your parents (or using a strict guardian as an excuse)?
Who can you talk to if you have questions about being safe at home or in your neighborhood?
A trusted adult -- an adult who is responsible and makes good choices. This could include a family member, a staff member at school, an adult from church, a coach, etc.
Smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes introduces over 7,000 toxic chemicals into the bloodstream every time a person takes a puff. Name two long-term negative side effects that regular cigarette smoking has on a person's appearance or overall physical health over time.
Severe yellowing of teeth and fingernails, chronic bad breath, premature skin wrinkling, highly increased risk of heart disease/strokes, or lung cancer.
You have a fever and a bad cough. You find some cough medicine prescribed to one of your family members in the bathroom. Would it be safe or unsafe to take this medicine to help you feel better?
Unsafe. Only take medicine that is prescribed to you and only take medicine when given by an adult. This way you know you are getting the correct medication at a safe dosage for you.
You are visiting the house of a friend you just met last week. You get a headache and your friend's mom offers you medicine to help your headache. What should you do?
You should get your parent or guardian's permission before taking any medicine. Only take medicine from adults you know and trust. If you need to, go home and visit your new friend another day.
You handle peer pressure by saying: "No thanks, I’m trying to keep my lungs clear for the track meet," or "I need my brain working for this big math final tomorrow." What is the name of this strategy?
Using a personal goal, hobby, or sport as the reason.
Alcohol is a depressant drug that immediately starts slowing down the body’s central nervous system and altering how the brain functions. Name two negative side effects that happen to a person's physical coordination or behavior shortly after drinking too much alcohol.
Loss of balance (stumbling/tripping), slurred speech, blurred or double vision, slowed reaction times, nausea/vomiting, or dangerous/poor judgment, death.
Your friend is drinking a new type of sports' drink that you have been wanting to try. He offers you a sip of his. Would it be safe or unsafe to try your friend's drink?
This would be unsafe. Drinking after others spreads germs very easily.
A friend of yours has been taking cigarettes from his dad and has been smoking while you wait on the bus to go to school in the mornings. He keeps pressuring you to try one. What should you do?
Tell him no and let a trusted adult know the situation to help your friend.
Instead of standing there having an awkward argument, you firmly say, "Nah, I'm good," and immediately ask the person about a completely different topic like a video game update, sports score, or a popular video. What is the name of this strategy?
Changing the subject (or the "Quick Pivot").
Name 2 people you can talk to if you are feeling unsafe in your home environment (at home or in your community).
Trusted adults at home, school, at church, etc. Answers can vary.
You have a severe headache right before a big exam. You find a bottle of Tylenol in the house, but because the pain is really bad, you decide to take three pills instead of the recommended one or two, thinking that extra medicine will make it work faster.
Unsafe!!! The idea that "more medicine equals faster healing is a LIE! Taking more than the recommended dose can cause liver damage. Students should never take over-the-counter medications without a parent, guardian, or school nurse approving the correct dosage for their age and weight.
You have a younger cousin visiting your house and notice that an adult at your house has left a bottle of medicine on the table. What should you do?
Leave the bottle alone. If you can, ask an adult to put the medication somewhere safe so that younger children cannot get ahold of it. Most medications are in child-proof containers; however it is better that all medicine be kept up and away from children.
If you are at a party where people start using substances and you feel uncomfortable, you use this strategy by texting a pre-arranged emoji or a single letter to a parent, which tells them to instantly call you with a fake excuse to pick you up. What is the name of this strategy?
Emergency code word or exit text signal.
You take two medications every morning. For the last few days, the adult at your house has forgotten to give you your medicine. Who can you talk to about making sure you get your medicine to make sure you are as healthy as possible?
You may talk to the adult who gives you medicine, and simply remind them when they seem to forget. If this becomes an ongoing issue, talk to an adult whom you trust will help you find a solution. This may be another adult in the home or even a staff member at school (teacher, counselor, etc.). It is VERY important that you take medicine from your doctor as he/she has prescribed.
You are sitting on a park bench after school with your friend while their older cousin uses a vape pen a few feet away from you in the open air. Is this safe or unsafe?
Unsafe!!! (Secondhand vape clouds still contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and nicotine that are harmful to breathe in, even outdoors.)
You walk into the school bathroom and notice two older students vaping. They look at you and say, "Don't say anything to anyone if you know what's good for you."
Leave the bathroom immediately and quietly report it to a trusted adult, staff member, or via an anonymous school safety portal.
Someone in your social circle tries to call you "scared" because you refused a vape or a drink. You shut down the pressure by looking them calmly in the eye and saying: "Why do you care so much about what I do?" or "I don't need to do that to fit in, but you do you." What is the name of this strategy?
Flipping the pressure back on them (or setting a confident, direct boundary).
You see a group of students actively passing around a vape pen or a suspicious looking substance during recess right on the schoolyard.
Trusted adult, nearest school staff, safety agent, or teacher on duty.
Many cheap street vapes, fake cartridges, or synthetic pods are laced with unregulated, highly toxic industrial chemicals or fake weed (like K2). Name two severe negative side effects that synthetic, unregulated chemical substances can have on a teenager's heart or mental state.
Dangerously rapid heart rate (heart palpitations), severe panic attacks or extreme paranoia, hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there), seizures, or sudden loss of consciousness.