How can an individual identify potential risks that could lead to unintentional injury?
Do now: Write about an experience where you were physically injured. (broken bone, stitches, etc.) Could your injury have been prevented?
Accidents and injury
Accident: an event that leads to unintentional injury or property damage – implies that the event couldn’t have been predicted or prevented
Discuss the answers to the do now. Have students stand if their injury could have been prevented.
Injury
Unintentional injury: can almost always be predicted and prevented. These are often caused when people take risks. They include injuries from car crashes, falls, drowning and fires.
Intentional injury: caused by violence or self-destructive behaviors. These include assault, homicide, and suicide.
Risk
Risk: any action that increases the chances of injury to yourself or someone else, or leads to the destruction and damage of property.
Unintentional injuries caused by risk behaviors are the leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Knowing how to recognize, avoid or reduce potential risks can decrease your chance of injury or death.
Leading cause of death among teenagers:
1- motor vehicles*
2- homicide
3- suicide
4- drowning*
5- poisoning* (includes alcohol and drug overdose)
6- off-road vehicles*
7- unintentional firearm injuries*
8- falls*
9- pedestrian injuries*
10- fire and burns*
*Unintentional injury
Reckless vs. Cautious Risk Taking
Cautious: Cautious risks involve being aware of a risk and taking action to prevent dangerous outcomes. People who take cautious risks think through the situation first. They recognize risk, determine steps to reduce the risk, develop a safety plan, rely on the support of others, use available resources, and stay alert.
Reckless risks are more likely to result in injury, damage to property or death. People who take reckless risks don’t stop to think through the situation. They act impulsively, aren’t aware of the risk, don’t plan ahead, combine several risky behaviors, aren’t concerned about the impact their actions may have on others, don’t use available resources to protect themselves.
Summary: Refer back to the 10 leading causes of death among teens and young adults. Assign 2-3 causes of death per group and have them write it on chart paper. Have groups write down on chart paper three things they can do to prevent these things from happening to them or their friends.
From the lists, develop a “Top 10” list of injury prevention strategies for the class. Post the list in the classroom.