Survey responses from 8,634 seventh, eighth, and ninth graders in Pennsylvania (65%) found that 22% currently smoke; smokers are more likely to dislike school, have lower grades, think it acceptable to sell tobacco to minors, and be likely to smoke as adults; and nonsmokers were more likely to plan on college and believe second-hand smoke is…

General guidelines for running a safe tennis program include establishing an appropriate camper/teacher ratio, having clear expectations of a drill or activity, not allowing campers to jump the net, clearing the court of all balls during running drills, and suspending activity during inclement weather. Includes specific guidelines for practicing…

A study of behavior patterns, actions, and habits that contribute to older adults falling in public places identified such factors as lack of familiarity, health, overexertion, environmental influences/hazards, eyesight and mobility behaviors, and pace. Prevention interventions should employ strategies that actively engage adults in critical…

In this article, the author addresses the state of the art issues relating to suicide theory, assessment; risk factors; intervention, prevention, and postvention; and training. Specifically, a recent article published in "The Counseling Psychologist" (J. S. Westefeld et al., 2000) is reviewed. Implications for counselors, counselor educators, and…

Examines student perceptions about dropping out of school through single-session interviews with four former students, one female and three males. Includes brief profiles of each student, a summary of their school records, and reports of extensive interviews with the four students. Draws implications for dropout-prevention policy and practice.…

Discusses affordable and practical security solutions, such as networked video systems, that are available to meet schools' needs for highly functional, low-cost surveillance. (EV)

Describes the facility planning process for ensuring school security, addressing influences on security planning, site-specific issues, and necessary knowledge and communication. (EV)

Examined the effects of training community leaders in prevention science in the context of the Communities That Care (CTC) model fo community empowerment. Data from an evaluation of CTC in 21 Pennsylvania communities and interviews with 203 community leaders show that training is positively, although modestly, associated with participant attitudes…

Discusses strategies for managing health and safety within science departments. Emphasizes the importance of risk assessment for both pupil activities and those carried out by technicians. Stresses the role of training and the need for security. (MM)

Nurses, physicians, and nursing and medical students (n=291) were surveyed about their awareness of chemical and biological terrorism. Infection control personnel and nurse educators (n=24) were surveyed about terrorism preparation. Fewer than one-quarter of questions were answered correctly, and only about 23% reported confidence in the ability…

Discusses how comprehensive site surveys can help schools identify security deficiencies and develop a security plan. (EV)

Provides an overview of the epidemiology of falls among older adults, describes current prevention strategies, and highlights key areas that need to be addressed, including risk assessments, exercise, and environmental changes. (Contains 50 references.) (JOW)

Reviews types of school violence students confront, including a frequent precursor thereto: bullying. Discusses positive and negative aspects of current approach to school violence prevention such as surveillance, zero-tolerance policies, anti-bullying programs. Describes components of model school violence-prevention program. (Contains 38…

Elementary principal describes experience working with violent-prone children. Describes steps in dealing with violence-prone children: Create a support team, schedule a transition meeting, evaluate risk factors, prepare a transition plan, notify staff members, and create a behavior plan, the components of which include behavior, levels plan,…

Reviews risk factors for adolescent and young adult substance use as a framework for examining race differences in exposure and/or vulnerability. Concludes that the assumption that African American and white youth are equally exposed and vulnerable to the same risk factors is incorrect. Finds that youth differed significantly in their exposure to…