PROM Safety
Dr. Safdar Medina
Prom is an emotional milestone for teens and parents alike. Students look forward to celebrating well into the night and making memories to last a lifetime before saying goodbye to friends and heading off to college. Parents cherish seeing how much their child has grown.
With prom come many adult choices for teens, some of which have real effects on their health. Here are some points to discuss with your teen well before the prom.
Exclude tanning beds and use of tanning products from pre-prom preparations. They cause premature skin aging and skin cancer.
Avoid compliments about weight to girls and to boys.
Know your teen’s itinerary for the entire evening and with whom he/she will be with. Decide on an appropriate curfew. Talk with friends’ parents.
Planned post prom celebrations in a controlled environment are the safest way for teens to enjoy the night.
Discuss drugs, marijuana and alcohol with your teen; 42% of youths who talk with parents regularly about substance abuse will just say no.
Know your teen’s mode of transportation. Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for those ages 15-20 years. Have them take a pledge to avoid using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. If they do end up trying substances, tell them you will pick them up, without judgement.
If hosting a pre or post prom party make sure that teens have no access to alcohol or marijuana. Review the expectation that no substances will be allowed.
Talk with your teen about sexual pressures he or she may face well before prom. You can send a text to your teen at some point during the evening, giving them the possibility of an “out” if they need it.
Remember: Let your teens know that if they find themselves in a jam, they will be picked up at any time, anywhere, no questions asked.