In module one, we learned that accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, unintentional or accidental injuries remain the leading cause of death among young Americans (with the exception of congenital anomalies for children less than a year old).

Teenagers and young adults often engage in risky activities that have the potential to result in harm to oneself or others. Young people however, may not understand the potential for negative outcomes from their behavior, particularly if it seems exciting or likely to make an impression with their peers. Despite having plenty of information available about what is safe or unsafe, this lack of insight means young people may still engage in a high level of risk taking. Fortunately, the most serious threats to the health and safety of adolescents and adults are preventable.

In the following case assignment, you will identify factors that prompt both teens and adults to take unnecessary risks and discuss some of the costs associated with risky behavior.

Read the following articles on risky behavior among adults and teens:

Readings

Salant, J. (1997).Taxpayers Pay Millions for Rescues. Accessed at http://www.glencoe.com/sec/health/pdf/taxpayers.pdf on August 22, 2016.

Titcomb, J.(2016). Coastguard called out to rescue Pokémon Go players chasing rare creature across lake. Accessed at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/07/19/coastguard-called-out-to-rescue-pokemon-go-players-chasing-rare/ on August 22, 2016.

Allen, A. (2015). Risky behavior in teens can be explained in part by how their brains change. Accessed at https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/risky-behavior-by-teens-can-be-explained-in-part-by-how-their-brains-change/2014/08/29/28405df0-27d2-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html on August 22, 2016.

Optional Reading

Carty, S. (2007). Many teens admit risky driving habits. Accessed at http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-07-09-teens-risky-driving_N.htm on August 22, 2016.

Write a 2- to 3-page paper addressing the following:

1. How much did the US Coast Guard spend on rescue missions in 1997 according to the article by Salant above? Compare the official position of the Coast Guard with that of the National Taxpayers Union with respect to charging risk takers for their own rescues. Which of these positions do you come closest to agreeing with? Explain.

2. Research legislation in your local area related to risky behavior (two examples are below or you can research an example from your local area). Summarize how the legislation is proposed to prevent risky behavior. Do you support this legislation, why or why not?

Examples:

Legislation to Curb Rescue in Flooded Areas

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/stupid-motorist-driver-law-arizona-ohio-water-rescue-flood/53097102

Cell Phone Usage While Driving Legislation

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

1. What are some factors that prompt young people to take unnecessary risks that place their lives in danger? Which of these factors do you think play the biggest role in risks taken by teens as a group?

2. The Pokemón app is being heralded as a game that gets people off the couch, into the real world, but with inadvertent health effects. How is the decision making process in teens different from that of adults? Are teens as a group more in danger from their risk-prone behavior than adults?

3. Using the Spectrum of Prevention model from the module 2 overview as a reference, briefly describe how you would design a program that encouraged young people to engage in less risky behavior when either playing the Pokemón app or learning to drive? (Choose only one. Be sure to use terminology from several levels of the spectrum in your response).

Organize this assignment using subtitles that summarize each question above. For example, to answer Question 1, use a descriptive subtitle like the following: Coast Guard and the National Taxpayers Union: Cost of Rescues. Answer each question under the subtitle using complete sentences that relate back to the question. Use APA formatting to cite any sources used within the text of your essay. Also, be sure to include a reference section at the end of your assignment that lists the sources that you were required to read and any additional resources you used to research your answers. Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for example (Murray, 2014).