Hazard, risk and a safety mindset
A hazard is anything that can cause harm: a wet floor, a hot pan, fast traffic, a stranger's threat. Risk is how big the danger really is.
Risk = likelihood × harm. Score each from 1 (low) to 5 (high). A score above 12 means act now.
- Babies and old people face different hazards (falls, choking, medicines) than teens (roads, sports, online life).
- New hazards appear as society changes: e-scooters, online scams, deepfakes, heat waves.
- Good habit: spot the hazard, stop or reduce it, plan what to do if it goes wrong.
Building and home safety
Most home injuries come from falls, fire, electricity, gas and poisons.
- Fire: smoke alarms, never leave cooking alone, keep exits clear. If there is smoke, crawl low, feel doors before opening, use stairs not lifts, meet outside and call the fire service (101 in India, 112 in Europe).
- Electricity and gas: dry hands, no overloaded plugs, turn off the gas valve; if you smell gas, do not switch lights on or off, open windows and leave.
- Earthquake: DROP, COVER, HOLD ON under a strong table.
- Living alone: lock doors, do not open to strangers, keep emergency numbers and a first-aid kit, store cleaning chemicals away from food.
Road, traffic and travel safety
Road crashes are a leading cause of death for young people worldwide.
- Walk on the footpath, cross at zebra crossings, stop, look right-left-right, and never use the phone while crossing.
- Cyclists and riders: helmet always, lights at night, no riding in drivers' blind spots.
- In a car: seat belt in every seat; children in child seats.
- Speed matters: stopping distance grows fast with speed, so a car at 60 km/h needs about twice the distance of one at 40 km/h.
- Travel: share your plan, keep valuables close, use licensed transport, know the local emergency number, carry water and a charged phone.
Health safety and preventing violence
Health safety: wash hands for 20 seconds, cover coughs, stay home when ill, store food cold, take medicine only as the label or doctor says, never share prescription medicine.
Violence can be physical, emotional, sexual or online, and can happen at home (domestic violence) or by people you know.
- Consent must be free, clear and can be taken back any time.
- Warning signs: secrets, threats, gifts with strings, control of your phone or money.
- Act: say NO, GO away, TELL a trusted adult or call a helpline (1098 Childline in India, 112 in emergencies). It is never the victim's fault.
- Bystanders help by checking on the person and getting help, not by filming.
Try it: home safety check
Walk through your home with an adult. List 5 hazards. Score each for likelihood and harm (1–5) and multiply. Fix the highest score first (for example a loose wire or medicines within a toddler's reach). Then make a fire escape plan with two ways out and one meeting point.
Key formulas and definitions
- Risk = likelihood × harm (each 1–5; above 12 = act now)
- Fire: crawl low, feel the door, stairs not lift, meet outside, call
- Road: stop, look right-left-right, cross at the zebra
- Earthquake: DROP, COVER, HOLD ON
- Hand washing: soap + 20 seconds
- Unsafe person: NO, GO, TELL
Worked examples
1. A loose wire hangs near a kitchen sink. Likelihood 4, harm 5. What is the risk score and what should you do?
Risk = 4 × 5 = 20, which is high. Switch off the power at the main switch, keep everyone away and ask an electrician to fix it before anyone uses the sink.
2. You smell gas when you come home. List your first 3 steps.
1) Do not touch any switch or flame. 2) Open doors and windows. 3) Leave, then call the gas emergency line from outside.
3. A friend says her uncle hits her and tells her to keep it secret. What can you do?
Believe her, tell her it is not her fault, and help her tell a trusted adult such as a teacher or counsellor, or call a child helpline. Do not promise to keep it secret, because unsafe secrets must be told.
Common mistakes
- Thinking low-likelihood means safe. A rare event with huge harm (like a gas leak) can still be a high risk.
- Using a lift during a fire. Lifts can stop or open onto smoke; always take the stairs.
- Looking only at the traffic light. Some drivers jump the signal, so always look both ways.
- Believing abuse comes only from strangers. Most of it comes from people the victim knows.