Safe Fun in the Sun for Teens Summer break is a time for teens to relax, spend time with friends, and participate in outdoor activities. But summer also poses safety concerns for teens. Sun exposure can increase a teen’s risk of skin cancer and other outdoor activities like biking brings fun and sometimes, preventable injuries.1,2 Summer is an especially dangerous time for teen drivers.3 Learn more about how teens can stay safe this summer! Avoid the Burn: Sun Safety The most common form of cancer in the United States is skin cancer,4 and 25% of ultra-violet (UV) skin damage occurs before adolescents turn 18.5 UV rays from the sun can damage unprotected skin in just 15 minutes.6 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends always wearing a hat, shirt, and sunglasses; applying sunscreen (15 SPF at minimum) at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, and then reapplying every two hours (or more if swimming or sweating);7,8 and avoiding the sun when it’s at its strongest (between 10am and 4pm).9 Taking precautions outdoors is important, but the sun isn’t the only cause of UV skin damage. About one in three 12th grade girls report indoor tanning,10 which is particularly dangerous because first exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma.11 Cooling Off in Style: Water Safety As the weather heats up, many teens head to the pool, lake, or beach. But swimming and boating can be dangerous.13 Adolescents can prevent drowning by knowing how to swim, using life jackets, avoiding alcohol use, and making sure they or others nearby know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).13-15 Certain teens are more likely to drown than others: almost 80% of drowning victims are male (they may be more likely to overestimate their swimming ability, drink alcohol, or take more risks in or near water).13,16 Black youth between the ages of five and 14 are almost three times as likely to drown as are their white and Hispanic peers. Black youth may be less likely to know how to swim.13,14,17 Dangerous Days: Driving Safety Summer is a particularly dangerous time for teen drivers: seven of the 10 deadliest days for teens on U.S. highways are between May and August.3 Several factors contribute to car crashes, but a teen’s crash risk increases when other teens are in the car or when a teen is driving at night.19,20 Teens should always limit the number of friends in the car, follow nighttime driving restrictions, and always wear a seatbelt.21 Heads Up: Street Safety As the weather warms up, it’s great to take advantage of the outdoors by walking places rather than driving. However, being a pedestrian is not without danger. In 2010, 413 pedestrians between the ages of 10 and 20 were killed in traffic crashes – the danger rises for males, youth living in urban areas, youth who walk at night, and adolescents who are under the influence of alcohol.22 Texting while walking is a particularly dangerous practice – one recent study found that texters took almost two seconds longer to cross the street than those not texting.23 To be safe, adolescents should be constantly aware of their environment, walk on the sidewalk facing traffic, cross streets at corners and/or in crosswalks, and wear brightly colored clothing (and reflective clothing at night).24 Rolling through the Heat: Bike Safety Bicycles are a great way to keep teens cool and help adolescents get from one place to another. Teens can stay safe while biking by wearing fitted clothing (so clothing doesn’t get caught in the bike chain), following all traffic laws, and always wearing a helmet.25 Teens should never have headphones in while cycling, nor drink alcohol and bike.2,25 Taking a Bite out of Summer: Tick Safety These small insects are most active in the warmer months between April and September.26 To avoid being bitten, adolescents should wear light-colored long sleeves and pants in highly wooded areas and high grass, and walk in the center of the path whenever possible in these areas.26,27 They should also wear insect repellent that is at least 20% or more DEET if going into wooded areas26 and then shower and conduct a full body check for ticks, including in hair and behind ears, within two hours of returning.26
1 National Cancer Institute. (2012). Cancer trends progress report: 2011/2012 update. Bethesda, MD. Available here. 2 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2012). Bicyclists and other cyclists. Washington, D.C.: NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis. Available here. 3 American Automobile Association. (2011, June 6, 2011). NewsRoom: AAA analysis finds seven of top 10 deadliest days for teens occur during summer months. Available here. 4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Basic information about skin cancer. Available here. 5 Balk, S. J. (2011). Ultraviolet radiation: A hazard to children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 127(3), 2010-3502. Available here. 6 Kaplan, L. A. (2007). Exposure to radiation from the Sun. 5th edition ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby. Available here. 7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sunscreen for your sun day. Available here. 8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Protecting children from the sun. Available here. 9 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Skin cancer: Prevention. Available here. 10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2011. Atlanta. Available here. 11 International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on Artificial Ultraviolet (UV) Light and Skin Cancer. (2007). The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of Cancer, 120(5), 1116–1122. Available here. 13 Laosee, O., Gilchrist, J., & Rudd, R. (2012). Drowning 2005-2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(19), 344-347. Available here. 14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Unintentional drowning: Get the facts. Available here. 15 Driscoll, T. R., Harrison, J. A., & Steenkamp, M. (2004). Review of the role of alcohol in drowning associated with recreational aquatic activity. Injury Prevention, 10, 107–113. Available here. 16 Howland, J., Hingson, R., Mangione, T., Bell, N., & Bak, S. (1996). Why are most drowning victims men? Sex differences in aquatic skills and behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 93-96. 17 Irwin, C. C., Irwin, R. L., Ryan, T. D., & Drayer, J. (2011). Urban minority youth swimming (in)ability in the United States and associated demographic characteristics: toward a drowning prevention plan. Injury Prevention, 15, 234-239. 19 Chen, L., Baker, S., Braver, E., & Li, G. (2000). Carrying passengers as a risk factor for crashes fatal to 16- and 17-year old drivers. Journal of the American Medical Association, 283(12), 1578–1582. 20 Shope, J. T., & Bingham, C. R. (2008). Teen driving: Motor-vehicle crashes and factors that contribute. American Journal of Prevention Medicine, 35(3S), 261-271. 21 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Eight Danger Zones. Available here. 22 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2012). Pedestrians. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation. Available here. 23 Texting while walking may be as dangerous as texting while driving. (2013). Available here. 24 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2012). Safe walking tips for youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation. Available here. 25 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Bicycling activity card. Available here. 26 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Preventing tick bites. Available here. 27 Heller, J. L. (2013). Tick Removal. Available here.
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