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Work Safely Advice for Teens from the American Academy of Family Physicians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 01, 2002

Contact:
Adam Lee
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237 Ext. 5221
alee@aafp.org

LEAWOOD, Kan. — Summer-time means summer jobs for teens. Every year about 70 teens in the United States die as a result of work-place injuries. Another 70,000 teens are hurt on the job and have to go to the hospital or emergency room for their injuries. Teens are often injured on the job because of unsafe equipment, they were working too fast or working under stress, or they didn’t have proper safety training or supervision.

Different jobs pose different safety risks. In the food service industry, individuals should be aware of slippery floors; hot pans, stoves and grills; and sharp objects. In retail or sales positions, teens should watch out for violent crimes such as robberies, and should be careful lifting heavy objects. With janitorial positions, teens should be familiar with the chemicals they are using and use caution around toxic cleaning supplies, and blood on discarded needles. In an office setting, teens should recognize signs of stress, or harassment, and poor computer work-station design which could cause repetitive movement problems.

To work safely, everybody should follow all safety rules, report any health or safety hazards to their supervisor, and use safety equipment and wear protective clothing when needed. They should also keep their work areas clean and neat and should know what to do in an emergency. All teens should take a first-aid or basic lifesaving course.

Summer should be a safe and fun time of year. All teens should be cautious in the workplace and be aware of potential hazards.

Please visit familydoctor.org for more information about workplace safety for teens and other public health topics.

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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 94,700 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 208 million office visits each year - nearly 83 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.

To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit aafp.org.

For more information about the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care and downloadable multi-media on family medicine and health care, visit the AAFP Media Center.

For more information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please visit familydoctor.org.