David Wang CMN 101 1. Introduction a. Attention getter i. How many of you crossed at a crosswalk this past week?

Congratulations, you are all more likely to die. (AA) b. Thesis i. Today I will tell you about the theory of Risk Compensation, and provide examples of its role in real life. c. Benefits i. While safety measures are important, it is important to acknowledge various risk behind them. Just simply knowing the theory of Risk compensation will greatly help to mitigate possible injuries. 2. Definition a. So what exactly is risk Compensation? i. Risk Compensation is essentially spending risk you dont have, due to an increased perception in safety. (DEF) ii. Essentially, because we THINK we are safer due to an added safety measure, we take more risks that we would not normally take. Transition-Before I begin the rest of my speech, Id like to offer a little disclaimer. 3. Disclaimer a. Do not get me wrong, my point here is not to take away from the safety benefits of helmets, or seatbelts and the like. b. What I want to do, however, is to make you more aware of the possibility risk compensation that can come with such safety equipment. c. In fact, in the examples that I will present to you today, Risk compensation is not an issue in general. It does still happen, though, and can be easily prevented through mere acknowledgement of the possibility of Risk Compensation. Transition-Now, I will begin to address three different examples in which risk compensation is a possibility 4. Cause-Safety Equipment and other various Safety Devices a. In an attempt to increase safety and mitigate injuries, more Safety equipment and procedures have been implemented in recent years b. Today, in order to help further your understanding, I want to give you three examples in which risk compensation might be a possibility. i. Ski Helmets 1. Ski Helmets are one such example. In recent years, snowboard helmets have become more popular and used across the world. 2. However, right alongside with the growth of helmets is the growth of controversy. Many people have begun to think that helmets are increasing risky behaviors, according to Accident Analysis and Prevention, published on Jan 28, 2012, leaving possibility for risk compensation. ii. HIV vaccine

David Wang CMN 101 1. Furthermore, while not as apparent, risk compensation could have a role in why you and I have not been hearing much of any HIV vaccine recently. (AA) 2. However, at the same time, articles like the Social Science and Medicine, published on October 13, 2013, serve to show that an HIV vaccine does exist, but there is enough of a concern for an experiment on risk compensation. iii. Bicycle Helmets 1. Lastly, perhaps the most applicable to all of us-Bicycle Helmets. Our parents have been asking to wear these since day one. Yet, who knew, that things we learned in our very own childhood could come back to actually increase injury? (AA) 2. Recently, a study in Norway has brought up the issue of having increased helmet legislation has not decreased injury rates. Perhaps this is due to risk compensation as well, as brought up Transportation Research, published on June 18, 2012 (EX) Transition-Now that we have three examples, lets examine the effects of risk compensation on each safety measure. 5. Effecta. Snowboard Helmets i. In the previously mentioned Accident Analysis article on snowboarders and skiers , 24.7% of helmet users thought that they snowboarded more dangerously because of the, falling right into the theory of risk compensation. This statistic is even more astounding, as it is self-reported, which means multiple people may have suffered from risk compensation but did not know about it. (ST) b. HIV Vaccine i. As I had alluded to before, because Risk Compensation is such a worry, a beneficial HIV vaccine is being impeded in its implementation, which could then delay us from getting the vaccine (AA) ii. In fact, according to an article by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Published on December 24, 2013, this is already happening. Multiple healthcare companies have been showing an unwillingness to pick up an HIV vaccine simply because of the possibility of risk compensation. c. Bicycle Helmets i. Last but not least, according to the same Transportation Research Article as before, risk compensation does have a place within bicycle. The study essentially found that the use of helmets did make bikers more likely to bike faster and take greater risks. This just further lends to the effect of risk compensation, where even mandatory legislation for safety has, in essence, done nothing. 6. Conclusion

David Wang CMN 101 a. Ultimately, today Ive given you glimpse at the theory of risk compensation and its application within our life. b. Hopefully, the next time you wear a bicycle helmet, or get a vaccine, you wont become just another statistic

David Wang CMN 101

Works Cited Fyhri, Aslak, Torkel Bjrnskau, and Agathe Backer-Grndahl. "Bicycle Helmets A Case Of Risk Compensation?." Transportation Research: Part F 15.5 (2012): 612-624.Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Ruedl, Gerhard, et al. "Self Reported Risk Taking And Risk Compensation In Skiers And Snowboarders Are Associated With Sensation Seeking." Accident Analysis & Prevention 48.(2012): 292-296. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Underhill, Kristen. "Study designs for identifying risk compensation behavior among users of biomedical HIV prevention technologies: Balancing methodological rigor and research ethics." Social Science & Medicine Oct. 2013: 115+. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Underhill Kristen. "The Impact of Patient Race on Clinical Decisions Related to Prescribing HIV PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.