Two weeks after I got my driver’s license when I was sixteen years old, I got into a car accident. My fault. It was a minor accident, but devastating to me at the time. Teenage risk taking statistics

So here’s what happened. I had pulled into an intersection where the “left turn yield on green” rule applied. In other words, no “left turn signal” at said intersection.

I’m waiting until I think it’s safe to go. Meanwhile, a big white van is blocking my view from being able to see any oncoming traffic as he is also trying to accomplish a left turn going in the opposite direction.

So what do I do? I just go. Then BAM! SMASH! I never felt panic like that in my life. I didn’t know what to do, being so young and innocent yet 100% at fault.

Why am I telling you this? Because…

drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.

And older children within this age group most often drown in natural water settings.

The reason for this is because older children like to take risks, even when their parents have warned them of the dangers.

Adolescents think they’re invincible. I remember thinking to myself when I chose just to make the left turn that I’ll make it through unscathed. Was I wrong or what?

I can think of many other risks that I took as an adolescent simply because of believing that nothing bad ever happens to me.

I was lucky. It could’ve been much worse. teenage risk taking statistics

A mother of one of my students (almost 18 months old), asked me the other day, and I’m paraphrasing here, “at what age will my child stop running toward the pool on his own.”

And when her son in the past has made a beeline for the water, he was probably thinking to himself “I can do this, I’ll be fine, it’s all good. Nothing bad will happen.”

The answer to that question is about 26 years old. Kidding, but also not kidding.

Thank you, Amy, for your question. I was just as intrigued as you were to find out the answer.

So here’s the answer to your question in more depth. teenage risk taking statistics

Parents are always warning their children of the dangers that surround them on a daily basis.

Everything from looking both ways before crossing the street to smoking is bad for you.

Do children listen to these warnings? Not so much. It seems as parents we have to remind our children of the dangers of risky behavior always.

Pnas.org says that the reason for this is because humans show a natural tendency to discount bad news while incorporating good news into beliefs (the “good news–bad news effect”), an effect that may help explain seemingly irrational risk taking.

Npr.org explains that positive information is processed in many parts of the brain, while negative information tends to be centered in the prefrontal cortex, says Tali Sharot, a psychologist who studies the neuroscience behind decision-making at University College London. That’s the part of the brain that matures last, into the 20s in many cases. It’s the area in charge of judgment and problem-solving.

“We learn better from good news than from bad news,” Sharot says.teenage risk taking statistics

So children are more likely to adjust their behavior if the information is presented to them in a more positive light. For, e.g., “You’ll have a better chance of being accepted to your dream college if you get your homework done on time.”

When we’re talking about preventing drowning, just remember those very young children will need to be constantly reminded to stay away from water hazards, wear life jackets, stay close to adults, never swim alone, and the list goes on because they WILL forget.

And keep telling them until they’re confident swimmers or well into their 20s whichever comes first.

If you have any thoughts on the subject or experiences that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

Love the water,
Tessa

P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.

P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.

Did you celebrate last night? Hope you had a great time. I just stayed in and watched the festivities on TV with my husband. Our son is in L.A. celebrating with the relatives. Do you have any resolutions? I personally never bother with resolutions. This year is going to be different, however. My resolution is more of a mission. I’m going to make it my mission to bring as much awareness to the statistics of drowning as I possibly can. drowning statistics

Note: Since this post was written, there has been a change to the swimming pool safety act for California effective January 1, 2018.

Here’s a refresher on drowning statistics in America

It’s the number one cause of accidental death among children ages 1-4, and almost 4000 people die from drowning each year in America.

One way that we can lower the drowning statistics is to install a climb-resistant mesh fence around all home pools and spas.

Can you imagine if there was a law in place that required all home pools and spas to be equipped with adequate barriers?

I bet that would make a significant decrease in the number of accidental deaths among children ages 1-4.

Florida, Arizona, and New York have enforced such a law. Way to go Florida, Arizona, and New York! You got the right idea.

Do you remember when there were no seatbelt laws? so

Individual states throughout the union started to enforce the use of seatbelts in the ’80’s and ’90’s.

2011 had the lowest traffic fatalities in 62 years.

In addition to other safety features in newer vehicles, the use of seatbelts plays a significant role in decreasing the mortality rate.

Let’s reduce the mortality rate with drowning by making it a law in California to enforce proper barriers around home pools and spas!!

So let’s get onboard California and the rest of America (except Florida, Arizona, and New York).

Of all the states, you would think California would have been the first. Seems like something needs to be done.

I’m going to take action to make California the fourth state to enforce such a law. so

I don’t even know where to start. I’ll figure it out. I have committed now that it’s in writing. so

If you do have a resolution, try writing it down, you might stick with it. so

May you have a year filled with smiles, love, luck, prosperity and especially good health.

If you have any thoughts on the subject or experiences that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

Love the water, so
Tessa so

P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.

P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here. so

I just watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas last night for the first time in a few years. I love that movie. Jim Carrey is priceless. Does he commit to his roles or what? That’s the kind of commitment (in a child caring way) you would want your child to receive when under the care of others. Am I right or am I right? It must be unnerving to leave your child under the care of someone who has proximity to a body of water such as a pool, pond, stream, lake or ditch just to name a few. You know for a fact that no one on this planet cares more for your offspring than you. Grandparents are an exception to the rule. Where does drowning occur?

When my son was very young, we lived right around the corner from his grandparents (pictured above with my son eight years after the fact). They jumped at every chance to babysit.

We were fortunate to have the best kind of caregivers. We also didn’t have any water hazards to worry about either.

When we moved to the desert, our son was twelve and a confident swimmer.

And even though we have an indoor pool, it was never a concern. Our son was old enough to understand that he must never swim alone.

Where does drowning occur? The location where drowning is likely to take place changes with age:

• children under twelve months commonly drown in toilets, buckets, and bathtubs
• and children between the ages of one and four mostly drown in home pools
• finally, older children typically drown in natural bodies of water where does drowning occur

So when leaving your children under the care of others, know the water hazards and take the necessary precautions to prevent drowning.

And if there’s a pool, hopefully, it includes four-sided fencing. If it does not have a fence, insist that your child wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

There may not be a pool, but in case there is easy access to other bodies of water, then a life jacket is still essential.

And finally, insist that your caregiver knows how to swim and how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

To learn more and enroll in first aid, CPR and AED training, click here.

Stay safe, and I hope you and all your family, and friends have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and meaning.

If you have any thoughts on the subject or experiences that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

Love the water, so
Tessa so

P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.

P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.

Drowning is silent. My husband Ross shared a story with me illustrating just how true that statement is. It happened when he was twelve years old (pictured below with his Grandpa).

A long time ago in a land known as the San Fernando Valley Ross’ family were hosting a pool party. About a dozen people in attendance one beautiful sunny summer day.

Many children of all ages and their respective parents were having a great time. Lunch was ready, so everyone exited the pool and gathered around the table.

A stretch of time had passed since the water in the pool was as still as a mountain lake. Just then Norman’s Mother noticed that Norman was missing. drowning is silent

Everyone quickly scanned the area and immediately saw Norman (five years old) floating facedown in the pool. drowning is silent

Ross shared with me that it was like time froze and he wondered why no one was responding.

My future husband took immediate action when he realized no one could escape their panic-stricken state. He dove in and pulled Norman’s lifeless body out of the pool.

Everyone gathered around, and once they rolled Norman over, he immediately retched.

Norman completely recovered from the incident thank goodness and also thanks to the heroic efforts of young Ross.

To this day, no one knows how Norman ended up facedown in the pool. He didn’t have any visible signs. No cuts or bruises.

How does something like this happen with so many sets of eyes around a backyard pool?

Love the water but fence it in, so
Tessa

P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.

P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.