If you find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, you can use a risk assessment to determine if it is dangerous. However, one of the best ways to protect yourself from dangerous situations is to avoid them completely. Below is a list of tips you can use to help you avoid dangerous situations.

 

 

Tell a friend/parent where you will be - You should never go anywhere without letting someone know first. Even if you are just going for a walk, you should always let your parents or a trusted friend know where you will be. If they tell you that the situation is dangerous, trust them.

 

 

Safety in numbers - This is an old saying, but it is still true. The chances of physical or sexual assault are much less in groups of people. Don’t let your friends go to parties alone. Don’t take long walks by yourself. You may feel safe with a cell phone, but calling the police won’t always be able to prevent assaults from occurring.

 

 

Avoid drugs/alcohol - Although drugs and alcohol are not the cause of physical and sexual violence, they can make it much worse. You should always avoid situations where you know drugs and/or alcohol will be consumed.

 

 

Be safe online - Practicing safety online is another great way to avoid getting into dangerous situations. Many social media websites track your location and whom you are with. This information can be used by predators quite easily. Also, be mindful of what you post online. Emails, pictures, texts, and other types of digital information are all extremely difficult to erase. Keep your personal information personal.

 

 

Use a risk assessment - A situation can be safe at the start, and then turn dangerous. You might be at a birthday party in a public location when, all of a sudden, everyone has left and you are alone with a predator. You should be constantly Looking, Thinking, and Feeling to determine how much risk is in a situation. If the situation is dangerous, try to avoid it. If you find yourself in one, get out of it as quickly as possible and tell a trusted adult.

 

 

Despite all that you have learned, it is impossible to avoid every risky situation. However, you should not feel afraid to leave your house. You can have fun while still being alert and careful. Use common sense and make smart choices to reduce your chance of being a victim. Unfortunately, even by following all of these guidelines, you could be the victim of sexual or physical assault. If that happens, remember that it is never your fault. Tell a trusted adult so that you can get help.

 

 

Admitting that you are in an abusive relationship, or have been the victim of sexual assault, can be challenging. You may not want to talk about it and instead deny that the relationship is unhealthy, or that you have been a victim of assault. You also may feel scared that your partner will get into trouble. Unfortunately, ignoring the problem will only make it worse. If you feel that you are in danger, you should tell a parent, teacher, counselor, or other trusted adult to get help immediately. They will do so without making you feel bad about asking for help. Your safety is the highest priority.

 

 

If you or anyone you know has experience with these or other difficult situations, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Talking to a parent, teacher, counselor, family member, or other trusted adult can help you to resolve the situation before things become too difficult to control.