Back in the ’70s, kids were out there riding bikes without helmets, climbing trees without any safety nets, and taking car rides without seatbelts. Well, seatbelts were more of a suggestion than a rule. The safety standards we take for granted today simply didn’t exist back then.
In fact, child mortality rates have dropped dramatically since then, with unintentional injuries falling by nearly 50% between 1960 and 1990! Despite the progress, accidents were still the leading cause of death for kids in that era.
Today, things are way safer, but there are still some everyday hazards to watch out for, just like in the good old days!
Bikes and no helmets: a wild ride
Remember how every kid in the ’70s had a bike, but no one wore helmets? Yeah, that was a thing. Back then, it was more about speed and stunts than safety. We’d zoom down hills without a care in the world, sometimes ending up with scraped knees or worse, but hey, that’s just how we learned, right? No helmets, knee pads, or elbow guards. Just a free-spirited ride into the unknown.
Helmet use is now promoted by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This emphasizes that while no helmet is concussion-proof, wearing one correctly and consistently can significantly reduce the risk of severe brain or head injuries.
Climbing trees like pros
Ah, the mighty tree. If you weren’t climbing a tree in the ’70s, were you even a kid? We all dreamed of becoming tree-climbing pros, but we often didn’t stop to think about the risks. The branches were thin, the bark was slippery, and there was always that one “not-so-stable” branch.
But we still did it. Kids today probably wouldn’t dare to scale a tree without some sort of safety harness. What happened to the days of full-on tree-climbing adventures? Fyi, it was dangerous but oddly thrilling.
Playing in the street, no problem
The concept of “street games” was big back then. We’d play hide and seek, kickball, or tag in the middle of the road—without a second thought. Forget crosswalks or traffic lights. It was basically a game of chicken with the oncoming cars.
I can’t believe my parents didn’t lose their minds watching us dart across busy streets without looking both ways. Kids today would be in helmets and knee pads even just walking on the sidewalk. Crazy, right?
No seatbelts, just “holding on”
Ah, the family car trips. Back in the ’70s, seatbelts weren’t mandatory. You’d find kids bouncing around in the backseat like it was a roller coaster. No one thought twice about safety on road trips.
CDC reports in 2021, motor vehicle crashes killed more than 26,000 people in passenger vehicles, and about half of those who died were not wearing seat belts. A fact that makes those ’70s road trips look pretty reckless in hindsight.
We’d be squished between siblings or sometimes sitting on the floor with no seatbelt in sight. If you were lucky, you got to ride in the front seat with your parents, but only if you were “grown up enough.” Ever think about the crazy stunts we got away with?
The horror of the playground equipment
Playgrounds in the ’70s were like something out of a horror movie. The swings were made of metal, the slides were steep as mountains, and let’s not even talk about the merry-go-rounds. Some of us have memories of being flung off those spinning contraptions.
They were awesome, sure, but now they look like a lawsuit waiting to happen. And don’t get me started on the monkey bars—those things were basically designed to give you an impromptu visit to the ER. What were they thinking, right?
The dangers of the family pool
Having a pool in the ’70s was basically the pinnacle of luxury. But safety? Not so much. Pool safety wasn’t a priority back then. Sure, there might’ve been a flimsy fence, but kids often played unsupervised — or worse —without any swimming lessons at all. Kids would dive in without a second thought, sometimes in deep water, and nobody really talked about things like pool covers or life vests.
It’s a miracle so many of us made it through those hot summer days unscathed. Ever notice how much more attention is paid to pool safety these days? Pool safety today is a whole different ball game.
Latchkey kids and unsupervised adventures
Being a “latchkey kid” was the norm for many of us. We’d come home from school and wander around the neighborhood with little to no adult supervision. The idea of “stranger danger” was just beginning to be recognized, but it didn’t stop kids from heading out on their own to explore.
No phones, no check-ins. Sometimes, we’d even stay out until the streetlights came on, totally oblivious to the risks. Ever think about how much freedom we had (and how lucky we were that we didn’t end up in too much trouble)?
Chemical hazards everywhere
If you grew up in the ’70s, you’ve probably got some crazy memories of playing with toys and chemicals that would raise major red flags today. I mean, the number of kids who got their hands on stuff like lead-based paint, super-toxic cleaning products, or even just raw dirt wasn’t even funny.
The concept of childproofing didn’t really exist, and chemicals were stored in places where kids could easily reach them. But hey, it’s a miracle we survived it all, right? It’s a little scary to think about now.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
7 Morning Rituals Women Swear By for More Energy and Confidence
7 Morning Rituals Women Swear By for More Energy and Confidence
Morning rituals don’t have to be complicated. A glass of water, a quick stretch, five minutes with your journal — these small things stack up to create significant change. Women who build these habits aren’t just “morning people”; they’re people who decided to take charge of their first hour of the day.
6 gas station chains with food so good it’s worth driving out of your way for
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hot dogs of indeterminate age and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it becomes part of a routine or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need.
Let’s look at six gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat.
