During adolescence, teenagers struggle with separating from their parents, establishing their own identity, and becoming more independent. Because of their increasing independence, teens and preteens face an especially high risk of violence and assault. Additional adolescents’ safety issues are also related to physical growth and increased strength and agility that usually develop before other skills, such as decision-making, common sense, and good judgment. Adolescents often feel invincible and they may take unnecessary risks in response to peer pressure.
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Safety risks can often be prevented through awareness, action, and skills. Personal safety skills prepare adolescents to navigate their world with safety and confidence. 
 
General safety tips for adolescents include:
  • ALWAYS TELL AN ADULT WHERE YOU’RE GOING. Letting someone know where you’ll be at all times is smart. If you’re faced with a risky situation or get into trouble, your family and friends will know where to find you. If possible, do not go out alone.
  • SAY NO IF YOU FEEL THREATENED. If someone—anyone—touches you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to say no. Whether it is pressure about sex, drugs, or doing something that you know is wrong, be strong and stand your ground.
  • STAY ALERT AND USE YOUR INSTINCT. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If you find yourself in a situation where you are approached by a person who poses a threat to you, try your best to remain as calm as possible, so that you will be able to react and think more logically.
  • DON’T HESITATE TO CALL FOR HELP. Call the police, parents or someone trusted immediately and identify yourself and where you are.
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Safety at School

Although school is usually a safe place, difficult situations can sometimes arise.  Because most of your time is spent there, you need to know what’s going on in your school. These situations include:
  • If you or someone you know is threatened by another student, take them seriously.  If in doubt on what to do in a situation like that, discuss it with your parents or someone you feel comfortable with, possibly a guidance counselor.
  • Be careful of people on school property who don’t seem to belong there.  If they appear to be a threat to the safety of the students report it to the principal or someone else of authority in the school.
  •  If you have problems with other students, becoming involved in a physical fight can make the problem worse.  If you feel that your safety is threatened, letting someone know can help the situation.  Telling your parents or even teachers may provide a way to keep you from being harmed.  Don’t let pride get in the way of avoiding intimidating situations.
  • If you are aware of other students bringing weapons to school, report it even if you have to do anonymously to protect your identity.
  • If someone at school makes you feel uncomfortable by: Commenting about your body; Staring at you in an offensive way; inappropriately touching you, or anything similar- that is considered sexual harassment. You should let someone know right away because that is not acceptable behaviour.
  • If you are expected to go straight home from school and you aren’t going to, a call to your parents can’t hurt.  This is to avoid getting in trouble and keeping them from worrying. 
  • When you leave school, take a reliable route to wherever you are going.  For example, don’t take a ride from someone you don’t know that well or travel alone when you aren’t too sure of where you’re going.
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Safety at Home

Being home alone during the day or at night means you are in charge of your house or apartment for the time being.  You need to take extra precaution and be on guard. Stay safe while at home alone through:
  • If you answer the phone and aren’t familiar with the person on the other end, don’t let them know you are home alone.  If someone calls for your parents or siblings say they are busy or they are unable to come to the phone at that time.
  • Don’t reveal personal information about yourself over the phone.  If someone calls doing a survey or selling something, just tell them you are unable to answer their questions.
  • Locking the doors and windows prevents people from entering your house without your permission.
  • At night, to make the outside more visible and to make it known that someone is home, leave your front and back lights on.
  • Know whom you can call for assistance if needed.  For example, your neighbors, friend’s parents or your parents colleague
  • If you have to answer the door, check to see who it is first if you have a peephole or can see outside.  If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t answer the door but if you do answer the door, don’t let them know that you are there by yourself.   
  • Don’t let people you don’t know into the house (even if they say they work for the phone company, hydro or something like that).  Just let your parents know when they get home and they can deal with it.
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Safety on the Internet

The internet can be a way to communicate with friends, do research for school, and lots of other things, it can also be a very dangerous place. Some safety tips for the Internet:
  • Never give out personal information about yourself or your family (address, location, name, age, school, telephone number).
  • When in chat rooms, social networking websites and even instant messaging, remember that not everyone is who they say they are. Predators can post fake names, information and pictures (someone claiming to be a 14 year old boy could be a 47 year old man).
  • Predators will post a fake picture to pretend to be someone else. Therefore, do not plan to personally meet anyone you have met on the internet without first checking with your parents, as you could put yourself in grave danger.
  • If someone harasses you online, walk away from the computer, do not respond. Tell your parents and contact your internet service provider.
  • Predators attempt to lure young people through the use of the internet. This is a danger to your personal safety and precautions should be taken.
There are bullies on the internet just like bullies in the classroom. They are called cyber-bullies. This is a unique form of abuse that occurs online or through cell phones in the form of hate messages, bashing websites, hacking, posting mean comments, posing as someone else in order to receive personal/private information etc.

More information on safety tips while using internet through: http://www.klikdenganbijak.my/Youth.aspx
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