Staying Safe

Articles In This Section

• Safety Tips: Swimming and Diving

  To keep things as safe as possible for swimming and diving season, follow these tips.

• Safety Tips: Wrestling

  In wrestling, injuries are bound to happen sometimes. To keep things as safe as possible, follow these tips.

• Safety Tips: Volleyball

  Following these tips can help protect you from injuries while playing volleyball.

• Sports and Concussions

  As long as people play sports, there will be concussions from time to time. Find out how to protect yourself and what to do if you get a concussion playing sports.

• Safety Tips: Lacrosse

  When everyone's moving so fast and using sticks to sling a solid rubber ball around, injuries are bound to happen in lacrosse. Here's how to avoid them.

• ATV Safety

  ATVs provide off-road fun. But with the thrills come big risks like rollovers and collisions. Here are tips for teens on staying safe.

• Safety Tips: Field Hockey

  Field hockey is a contact sport, and injuries are bound to happen. To minimize your risk of injury, follow these safety tips.

• Head Lice

  Lice aren't dangerous, but they do spread from person to person easily. They can also be hard to get rid of. Find out how to prevent lice -- and what to do if someone you know has them.

• What If a Parent Won’t Stop Texting While Driving?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Earbuds

  Earbuds are basically a tiny pair of speakers that go inside the ears. They're fine at low volumes, but they can cause permanent hearing loss if not used properly. Find out what's safe (and not) in this article for teens.

• Dynamic Stretching (Video)

  These videos guide you through 8 dynamic stretches that target different muscles and areas of the body.

• Cuts, Scratches, and Scrapes

  Most small cuts, scrapes, or abrasions heal on their own. Here are tips for teens on how to treat cuts at home - and when to get medical help.

• Chiggers

  Chigger bites aren't painful but they do cause intense itching. Find out more about the tiny critters that cause these itchy bites and what you can do to deal with and prevent them.

• Casts and Splints

  This article for teens has tips on taking care of a cast so it keeps working as it should.

• Safety Tips: Cheerleading

  Cheerleading today requires considerable athletic ability. The more challenging it gets, the greater the risk of getting hurt. Find out how to avoid injuries.

• Why Did I Feel Like Throwing Up After Stepping on a Nail?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• I Got Blisters From a Sunburn. What Should I Do?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• What to Expect When Your Cast Comes Off

  You probably can't wait to get back to your normal activities, but it takes a while for a limb that's been in a cast to finish healing. Here's what to expect.

• Summer Safety Center

  Want to avoid summer hazards so you can focus on the fun? This center offers tips for teens.

• Hip Pointer

  Most hip pointer injuries can be easily treated and heal in their own time. Find out what to do in this article for teens.

• Groin Strain

  A groin strain is a tear of one or more of the muscles that help you squeeze your legs together. Find out what to do for groin strains - and why it's important not to go back to sports or other activities too quickly.

• Meniscus Tears

  The key to healing meniscus tears is not to get back into play too quickly. Find out what meniscus tears are and how to treat them.

• Technology: 5 Ways To Reboot Yourself

  Sending and receiving messages late at night can disrupt your sleep and leave you tired and unfocused when it's time for school.

• Ankle Sprains

  A sprained ankle is a very common injury that happens when the ligaments that support the ankle get overly stretched or torn. Find out how to avoid ankle sprains and what to do if you get one.

• Finding Low-Cost Medical Care

  If you need medical care but don't think you can afford it, you're not alone. Get tips on finding low-cost or free care in this article for teens.

• Safety Tips: Football

  Football is a lot of fun, but since the name of the game is to hit somebody, injuries are very common. To learn how to keep things as safe as possible on the football field, follow these tips.

• Babysitting: Emergencies

  At most babysitting jobs the worst thing that happens is a fight over the last ice pop. But what do you do if there's really an emergency? Get some tips in this article for teen babysitters.

• Babysitting: Driving Kids

  Driving with young kids in the car can be different from the driving you're used to. If you're a teen babysitter with a driver's license, you'll want to read our tips on taking kids along for the ride.

• Babysitting: Bathtime

  Bathtime may seem like a fun activity, but there's a lot to watch out for when bathing kids. Get the details on bathing babies and kids in this article for teen babysitters.

• Safety Tips: Gymnastics

  Gymnastics is a great sport and a fun way to get a muscular, toned body. But, it also presents a very real risk of injury. To keep things safe during practice and competition, follow these tips.

• Safety Tips: Inline Skating

  Inline skating is good exercise and an excellent off-season training program for hockey and skiing. To stay safe while inline skating, take a look at these tips.

• Safety Tips: Running

  Injuries can be common, and runners should always be aware of their surroundings. To keep things safe while running, follow these tips.

• Safety Tips: Tennis

  Injuries in tennis are rare, but it's good to be aware before you play. To minimize your risk of injury while playing tennis, follow these safety tips.

• Safety Tips: Golf

  While it may seem silly to think of golf and danger in the same sentence, injuries can and do happen. To learn how to stay safe on the golf course, take a look at these safety tips.

• Safety Tips: Soccer

  Soccer is easy to learn at a young age, and it's great exercise. But it's also a contact sport, and injuries are bound to happen. To help prevent mishaps, follow these safety tips.

• Strains and Sprains

  Sprains and strains are common injuries, especially for people who play hard or are into sports. Find out what they are and how to recuperate from one.

• Safety Tips: Basketball

  It may be fun to play and great exercise, but basketball is also a contact sport, and injuries occur frequently. To help make sure you're doing everything you can to stay safe on the basketball court, follow these safety tips.

• Safety Tips: Skateboarding

  Skateboarding is undeniably cool, but it's also easy to get hurt. Keep it safe while skateboarding with these safety tips.

• Safety Tips: Baseball

  Baseball is by no means a dangerous sport. But it can present a very real risk of injuries from things like wild pitches, batted balls, and collisions in the field.

• Safety Tips: Snowboarding

  Snowboarding is a great way to have fun, but it can also present some very real dangers. Follow these safety tips to learn how to stay safe on the slopes.

• Safety Tips: Hockey

  As fun as it is, ice hockey carries a very real risk of injury. To find out how to stay as safe as possible, follow these tips.

• Safety Tips: Sledding

  Sledding is a lot of fun, but can also cause injuries, some of them pretty serious. To keep yourself safe while sledding, follow these safety tips.

• Safety Tips: Skiing

  There's a lot to love about skiing, but it can also present some very real dangers, from frostbite and sunburn to blown knees and head injuries. Follow these tips to stay safe on the slopes.

• 5 Tips for Surviving Shots

  If you're afraid of shots, you're not alone. Next time your doc asks you to roll up your sleeve, try these tips.

• 5 Ways to Get Drivers to Stop Texting

  If a texting driver is making you nervous but you're not sure how to bring the topic up, here are some ideas.

• Texting on the Move

  You've heard the warnings about texting and driving - but ER docs are also warning against texting and walking. Read our tips for safe texting.

• Protecting Your Online Identity and Reputation

  The virtual world is full of opportunities to interact with people around the world. It's also a place where nothing is temporary and there are no "take-backs." Here are some tips for safeguarding your online identity.

• Serious Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)

  A person with severe allergies can be at risk for a sudden, serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction can seem scary, but the good news is it can be treated.

• Splinters

  It may be tempting to ignore a splinter, especially if it doesn't hurt. But a splinter can become infected, so you should try to get it out as soon as you notice it.

• I Just Got My License – Now What?

  You have joined the millions of new drivers already behind the wheel. Here are a few tips to keep you both sane and safe.

• Jamming the Traffic

  Congestion, nighttime, and construction zone driving are tricky driving conditions. Here are tips for teen drivers on handling these situations.

• Bad-Weather Driving

  Factors beyond your control may affect driving conditions: rain, wind, snow, ice, bright sun, fog, and hail, just to name a few. So what should you do if you find yourself driving in bad weather?

• What to Do After a Car Crash

  Although you do your best to drive responsibly and defensively, it's still a good idea to know what to do just in case you end up in an accident.

• Figuring Out Health News

  News reports on health and medicine can be confusing —and sometimes downright scary. How do you know what is important and accurate?

• Dealing With a Knocked-Out Tooth

  A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency. Find out what to do by reading this printable instruction sheet.

• Dealing With Falls

  Falls are mostly a problem for young children and old people, but they can happen to active teens. Find out what to do - and when to get medical attention - by reading this printable instruction sheet.

• Dealing With Cuts and Wounds

  Most cuts can be safely treated at home, but deep cuts and certain other injuries require medical treatment. Find out what to do by reading this printable instruction sheet.

• Dealing With Broken Bones

  A broken bone requires emergency medical care. Find out what to do in this printable instruction sheet.

• Dealing With Burns

  Some burns can be treated at home, but others need emergency medical care. Find out what to do by reading this printable instruction sheet.

• Poison Ivy

  About 60% to 80% of all people get a reaction to poison ivy. If you're one of them, check out these tips on what to do and how to avoid poison ivy.

• Road Tripping

  Whether you're driving your friends to the beach for the day or going on vacation with your family, read these tips for surviving road trips.

• Bug Bites and Stings

  Generally, insect bites and stings are harmless. Find out how to keep pests from ruining your fun.

• Farm Safety

  Farm safety may seem like a foreign subject to you - and something only teens who live on farms need to know about. The truth is that all teens can benefit from learning about farm safety.

• Fireworks Safety

  Fireworks safety starts with the manufacturer, but it ends with you! Read these tips on handling fireworks safely and have a blast on the Fourth!

• 911 Emergencies

  No one likes to think that something might happen to someone we care about. But whether we like it or not, emergencies do happen, and they require us to think and respond quickly.

• Concussions: What to Do

  In a concussion, the brain shifts inside the skull. This can cause a sudden - but usually temporary - disruption in a person's ability to function properly and feel well. Here's what to do if you suspect a concussion.

• Keeping Your Cool in the Cold and Snow

  Read this article to find out how to protect yourself from cold-weather hazards - from frostbite to carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Tanning

  The sun can do a lot more than just give you a warm summer glow. Get the facts on sun and skin damage - and what you can do to protect yourself and still look tan.

• Knee Injuries

  Healthy knees are needed for many activities and sports and getting hurt can mean some time sitting on the sidelines.

• Repetitive Stress Injuries

  Repetitive stress injuries happen when too much stress is placed on a part of the body, causing problems like swelling, pain, muscle strain, and tissue damage.

• The Keys to Defensive Driving

  These defensive driving skills can help you avoid the dangers caused by other people's bad driving.

• Testicular Injuries

  Serious testicular injuries are relatively uncommon, but testicular injury can be painful. Read this to find out what steps you can take to protect yourself from injury.

• Rape

  Rape is forced, unwanted sexual intercourse. Rape is about power, not sex. Both men and women of any age can be raped. Find out what you can do and how to take care of yourself after a rape.

• Dehydration

  Your body is about two thirds water. When the water level dips below that level, you could be dehydrated. Read about what causes dehydration, what it does to your body, and how to prevent it.

• Nosebleeds

  Although nosebleeds are usually harmless and easily controlled, it may look like a gallon of blood is coming from your nose! Read this article to find out what causes nosebleeds and how to stop them.

• Dealing With Sports Injuries

  You practiced hard and made sure you wore protective gear, but you still got hurt. Read this article to find out how to take care of sports injuries - and how to avoid getting them.

• Camping Basics

  Whether you'll be in the woods, on the desert, combing the beaches, or climbing mountain trails, check out our article about camping basics for a few important survival techniques.

• Self-Defense

  Many people think of self-defense as a karate kick to the groin or jab in the eyes of an attacker. But self-defense is actually about using your smarts — not your fists.

• Online Safety

  Whether it's protecting yourself from hackers or cyberbullies, these tips for teens will help you navigate the digital world safely.

• Sports and Exercise Safety

  Playing hard doesn't have to mean getting hurt. The best way to ensure a long and injury-free athletic career is to play it safe from the start. Find out how.

• Bike Safety

  The sun is shining - why not dust off your bike and go for a ride? Before you hit the trail, though, read these tips on the right type of bike and gear you will need.

• Water Safety

  Swimming and other water sports are a great way to beat the heat. Read this article to find out how you can stay safe at the pool, beach, lake - and even the water park.

• Travel Tips

  It's always important to take care of your health, particularly when you're traveling. Our article will give you tips for keeping your travel experience as healthy as possible.