At work, the gym, in shopping centers and even in schools, portable MP3 players are everywhere. With a capacity to store thousands of songs and long battery life, MP3 players provide listeners on the move with hours of entertainment. Portable players provide relaxation, entertainment and motivation; however, there are some safety guidelines to follow when listening to a portable MP3 player:

Don't turn up the volume too loud.
This is the most common danger and probably the easiest to avoid. Overexposing our ears to loud music can cause permanent hearing loss. According to Dangerous Decibels, 5.2 million 6-19 year olds have hearing loss directly related to noise exposure. This number is projected to rise because of the number of teens who listen to loud music.

Exposure to sound levels above 85 decibels for long periods of time poses a significant risk of permanent hearing loss. A good rule of thumb for avoiding this problem is if you can't hear someone speaking in a normal voice, the music is too loud.

Some manufacturers, like Apple, provide a free download on their website that sets a limit on the volume. You can also purchase headphones that limit background noise so you don't have to turn up the music.

Don't wear headphones when running or biking near traffic.
One of the most common times to enjoy music is while exercising. Music makes the miles go by faster, provides motivation and helps you keep a steady pace. Nevertheless, be especially careful when running or biking on the street because loud music can easily drown out an approaching car, an angry dog or a warning honk from a horn.

While running or biking on a road, turn the music down so you can hear traffic and stay alert to your surroundings. Choose a route that avoids busy streets and allows you to run on sidewalks. Run in pairs—one person can listen to the music while the other person stays alert to cars and other hazards. Parks, college campuses early in the morning and trails provide a safe place to run and a change of scenery.

Be cautious when in isolated areas.
Women should be especially careful about listening to loud music in isolated areas, like parking lots and alleyways. The music can be distracting and hinder your hearing. This makes it easy for people to sneak up on you undetected. You can become an easy target for criminals. Avoid these areas, be aware of your surroundings and don't become an easy target.

Be careful while working, recreating or competing.
Our sense of hearing plays a huge role in informing us of our surroundings. Be especially careful in work situations where you depend on your hearing to be aware of your surroundings. Someone could easily enter your workspace undetected or you could miss warning signs of larger problems.

MP3 players have become popular on ski slopes, in skate parks and at other recreational areas. Make sure your music doesn't interfere with your awareness of other skiers or skaters. Speed and dulled senses are not a good combination.

Road Runners Club of America discourages runners from using MP3 players during a race because they aren't able to hear specific race instructions and won't be aware of other racers.

Most important, use common sense when listening to a portable MP3 player.

Works Cited:
(n.d.). from http://www.leeds.ac.uk/safety/headphones/hphindex.htm
Dangerous Decibels |. (2006). Dangerous Decibels: A Public Health Partnership for the Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss . from http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/
MediLexicon International Ltd. (2006). Personal Stereo Systems and the Risk of Hearing Loss. from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=9582