Once January rolls around, most students are over the cold weather and setting their sights on the sunny days and cool breezes of the spring. Week after week of lectures, tests and that part-time job working your last nerve calls for a brief hiatus to decompress, unwind and let loose. Spring Break is the time that college students look to doing just that!
When you’re planning your vacation and packing your bag, there are a couple of things that you don’t even consider. However, these five items are definitely needed to ensure a safe and healthy time – with no disruptions to your mischief and fun!
Sunscreen
You really should be wearing sunscreen every day (even in the winter), but the spring and summer is when you’re directly out in the sun for extended periods of time. Overexposure to the sun causes sunburn, premature aging of the skin, wrinkling, and skin cancer, including melanoma, according to this site.
Pack some sunscreen that protects against UV-A and UV-B rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15; and slather it on 30 minutes before heading to the beach.
Condoms
For some, Spring Break is a time to let loose in more ways than one. Drunken filled nights with friends and strangers make for outrageous Spring Break stories. If you’re single, hooking up with people is fine, as long as you are safely doing it.
Sexually transmitted infections and diseases can spread through sexual contact, including oral sex and even kissing (but I’ll let you be the judge on that). Half of sexual encounters are unplanned (blame it on the a-a-a-alcohol) and half happen without protection (yikes!) Your best protection is a condom, so before you get down make sure he wraps it up.
Shower Shoes
If money is tight and you’re not staying at a nice hotel, then make sure you bring along some flip flops that you can trash after your trip. I’ve been in a couple of situations where I have had to run out and buy some for peace of mind. They can protect your feet from bacteria and foot infections.
Portable Charger
We live in a culture where people are attached to their cell phones. While it’s easy to find a plug and charge up somewhere, being on the beach or making multiple moves in a night can make it more difficult. Also, there are some places that don’t have outlets (when I went to New York, I couldn’t find any public outlets). So, just in case you get lost or stuck somewhere, make sure you have a portable charger and to keep your phone charged.
A Good Book
Now, this is in case that portable charger runs out and you’re bored on the way to your destination! It’s also just a good idea to bring one to the beach. Believe me, pack a good read and you will be glad you did.