The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducts the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey of about 15,000 U.S. high school students every two years. Dangerous behavior continues to drop in many key areas, but it is up in some others.

The percentage of high school students who…

• Never or rarely wore a seatbelt declined from 26% to 8% from 1991 to 2011.
• Rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the past 30 days declined from 40% to 24% from 1991 to 2011.
• Had driven a car during the past 30 days after drinking alcohol decreased from 17% in 1997 to 8% in 2011.

Alcohol remains the most commonly used drug among high school students.

• 1 in 3 high school students reported drinking alcohol in 2011
• 1 in 5 reported binge drinking in 2011
• And yet, both groups have decreased by over ten percent since the late 1990s.

Marijuana use has…

• Decreased slightly from 27% in 1999 to 23% in 2011.
• Become more common than cigarette use (18%).

The use of technology among youth has resulted in new risks…

• 1 in 3 high school students had texted or e-mailed while driving a car or other vehicle during the past 30 days.
• 1 in 6 had been bullied through email, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites, or texting during the past 12 months.

Read analysis and explore the data from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Summertime can bring a range of weather challenges and potential dangers. Some of these threats can occur with little warning, so do what you can to prepare by assembling an emergency kit and forming a plan of action.

Find out what you should do if faced with the following weather dangers:

Lightning

In the U.S., lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance and should seek shelter in an enclosed building or vehicle. While indoors, don’t use a corded phone, a computer or other electrical appliances; and avoid contact with plumbing (don’t shower, wash hands, do laundry, etc.). Learn more about lightning safety and get tips on what to do if you’re outdoors during a thunderstorm.

Floods

If you have time, move essential items to an upper floor. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. Do not walk through moving water that is six inches or higher. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a flood.

Hurricanes

If you can’t evacuate, get inside and secure external and internal doors. Stay away from windows and doors and take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.

Tornadoes

Storm cellars and basements are the safest locations, but if they aren’t available, go to an interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Stay away from windows, doors, outside walls, and corners. If you are in a trailer or mobile home, go to a sturdy, nearby building. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a tornado.

Extreme Heat

Stay indoors as much as possible. Consider spending the hottest part of the day in an air-conditioned public building, such as a library or shopping mall. Never leave children or pets alone in vehicles. Learn more about what to do in extreme heat.

Wildfires

If your home is threatened by a wildfire, you must evacuate. If you have time, bring an emergency kit that includes copies of important documents. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire.

Earthquakes

If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls and get under a sturdy table or desk. If you are outside, keep away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. If you’re in a moving vehicle, safely stop the vehicle in an open area and stay inside. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

Whether you plan to swim at a pool, the beach, or a lake or river, know how to stay safe in the water.

Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., and many of these victims are children under the age of 15. Review some tips to help you and your family stay safe in the water.

Find additional information about water safety:

• Pool and Hot Tub Safety
• Beach Safety
• Video on How to Escape a Rip Current
• Preventing Recreational Water Illness

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) rated 200 popular beaches across the United States on a 5 star scale. Criteria for the NRDC’s rating scale include testing the water weekly, notifying the public promptly when tests reveal unsafe bacteria levels, and posting closings and advisories both online and at the beach.

Beaches that achieved 5 stars had exceptionally low violation rates and strong testing and safety practices. Of the 200 beaches, only 13 were given the highest possible rating of 5 stars.

Visit NRDC to see the full ratings report and to search for beaches near you.

Make sure you have bottled water on hand for an emergency, and know how to make water safe to drink if you run out.