Prevention Works

Rocking Springtime Safety

 Finally, spring has sprung! If you’re like me, you look forward to spring all year long when the sun is out, trees are blossoming, and you can spend time outside without wearing a 30 pound winter jacket.  Long runs on the trail, outside movies, street festivals, dining outside, is this starting to sound familiar? Though we all may be daydreaming about all the fun spring brings, we must of course remember: safety first.

Now, spring is the perfect time to get off the couch, get off that treadmill, and get outside. Let’s talk for a minute about the beauty of exercising outside.  Fresh air, changing scenery, and peace of mind are all reasons to run, walk, bike, or hike outside. Before you get too excited and lace up those sneakers and head out the door, there are some things you should keep in mind before you start your workout.

• Stick with trails you know so you can find your way back.
• Avoid exercising alone or in unpopulated areas. If something happens, the other person will be able to get help.
• Carry a noise maker like a whistle in case you need to draw attention to yourself.
• Avoid exercising at night.  If you do prefer to work out at night, bring a friend or stay in well-lighted areas like an outside track.
• Stay in tune with your surroundings. It may seem impossible to work out without your iPod or MP3 player, but having headphones on prevents you from hearing any potential threats.
• Trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right about a person or place, leave immediately.

Spring also means that it’s time for outside events. Whether you live in the city or a rural area, outside events like festivals, concerts, movies, or just lazy days at the park (and hopefully some crime prevention events) are most likely happening in your community. To keep the fun going without any trouble, follow these safety tips to ensure an enjoyable time:

• Carry only the money you will need with you on that particular day.
• Make sure your purse is closed or zipped up.
• Avoid keeping your wallet in your back pocket where people can easily snatch it.
• If out at night, bring some friends along to avoid being alone in the dark.
• Be aware of your surroundings; know what’s going on around you.

So get out there, have fun, and stay safe! For more information on how to keep yourself safe while you’re out enjoying the beautiful weather, click here.

Drive safely, the life you save may be mine.

Why is it that as we get older we lose some of what we’ve learned from our parents. Our parents taught us to be honest, trustworthy, kind, and to treat others as we would like to be treated. Today we use programs like NCPC’s Circle of Respect to teach our children to respect themselves, respect their family and friends and to respect their community. The reason I’m writing on this topic is because I commute a long distance to and from work each day and I’ve seen people acting like they don’t care about anyone and don’t care what they do while driving. Would they treat their family the same as they treat their fellow commuters with little to no respect? Would they speed up if a family member was trying to change lanes? I don’t think so, so why is it they treat others differently when they’re behind the wheel. If it were a family member would they cut someone off and then wave without using all their digits? I don’t think so.  Would they follow so closely to the vehicle in front of them that you would never have time to stop safely? I don’t think so. So why is it that when driving we forget what our parents taught us and what we taught/teach our children? Is it that we’re not the same person when we are driving but change into Dr Jekyll? Whatever the reason, late, tired, sleepy or just not paying attention, we have to change. Treat your fellow commuters with a little respect, when you see someone trying to change lanes, let them in, don’t follow too closely and when someone allows you to cut in front of them give them a little wave to say thanks and yes, use all your digits, but most importantly respect yourself. One thing I’ve learned, traffic congestion isn’t going to go down, if anything it is going up, so as more and more of us commute let’s get back to basics and respect each other as we were taught. I should also bring to your attention that most of these driving habits, like speeding and aggressive driving are crimes and may be punishable by fines, loss of license or jail time. Lastly, I see people on their cell phones, or texting, and other distractions that are also often considered crimes. The Wireless Foundation is making combating these distraction issues a high priority and we are here to help them get the word out. Drive safely, the life you save may be mine.

Dating violence has to be taken seriously

Dating violence is not as rare as people may believe. Dating violence is a viscous cycle that not only affects adults but also affects teens as well. One in 5 teens today say that he or she has been or know a friend who has been a victim of dating violence.  Dating violence consists of verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. It is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over a dating partner. By the time physical abuse is present, a pattern of verbal and emotional abuse has already been established.

Dating violence has to be taken seriously. If not confronted, it can ultimately affect the rest of a young person’s life by setting a pattern of dating violent partners. The longer a teen stays in a violent relationship the more likely he or she will be confused about what constitutes a healthy relationship. As parents, you should talk to your child about dating violence.

AS A PARENT WHAT CAN I DO?

The first thing you should do as a parent is set an example. Children learn how to conduct themselves in relationship by observing their parents. Displaying positive and healthy relationships will help them judge what is appropriate behavior. Another thing you can do is talk to them early about dating violence, explain to them what a healthy and respectful relationship looks like. Let them know that if they ever find themselves in a violent relationship, that they are not to blame.  Assure them that they can talk to you and that you are there to help them have a safe and happy life.

WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?

• Your child makes excuses and apologies for his or her partner’s behaviors.
• She or he often has unexplained injuries, such as bruises or body pain, that can’t be explained or seem not to make sense.
• Your child seems to be distancing him or herself from family and friends, becomes isolated, and deals only with his or her partner.
• Your child’s dating partner constantly texts or calls and demands to know who he or she has been with.
• You find that your child is changing his or her behavior in order not to anger or upset his or her partner.
• Your child changes the way he or she dresses in order to please his or her partner.
• When your child’s dating partner seems to put her down and call her names in front of others.
• Your child’s partner acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to him or her, especially members of the opposite sex.
• Your child is frequently upset or depressed and seems withdrawn and quiet but won’t explain why.

TEN TIPS TO HELP YOUR TEEN

1. Educate yourself on teen dating violence and access resources that will help you begin the discussion with your teen about dating violence. Articles and brochures can help you approach your teen in an effective manner.
2. Talk to your teen about dating violence early. If your teen seems already to be in a dangerous relationship, assure her that she is not to blame for her partner’s behavior and that you’re there to help.
3. Listen to your teen when he or she approaches you about dating abuse. Explain that you are going to help him or her get out of the situation.
4. Emphasize that when he or she wants help, it is available. Let your child know that domestic violence tends to get worse and become more frequent with time and that it rarely goes away on its own.
5. Work with your teen to identify resources that will help provide emotional support and build self esteem.  
6. Try to avoid the impulse to rescue your teen; instead empower him or her. Let him or her know that you will be there to help sort through feelings but you won’t make decisions for him or her.
7. Look for opportunities to increase your child’s self-esteem. People who believe in themselves and their own worth are better able to believe in the worth of their partner.
8. Be realistic when talking to your teen. Teenagers often have a false picture of romantic relationships. Explain that every relationship has its up and downs. Talk about effective ways of dealing with conflict, such as negotiation, problem solving, and communication.
9. Share your standards. Talk to your teen about the way he or she should treat and respect others; furthermore, explain how you feel he or she should be treated in return.
10. Create an open environment. Be open to all of the questions that your child asks. Don’t criticize, judge, or jump to conclusions when he or she asks about relationships.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

• Contact your child’s school and ask about introducing programs that teach children about dating violence and relationships.
• Work with the art teacher or art students to create a visual statement against dating abuse. Consider a poster contest or other project that can be displayed at the school.
• Encourage the school to obtain free materials and resources that relate to dating violence.