Most tips for Spring Break are common sense in any situation, but they must be reaffirmed when many are apt to discard their inhibitions in a vacation destination. So here’s some aggregated information to get the conversation going, help you return in one piece, and leave you with stories you want to tell! Further information can be found with the provided links.
1. The floor of your hotel room is important too!
This interesting tip has some great logic behind it: Erin Weed writes on SafeSpringBreak.org to avoid reserving a room above the sixth floor, because they’re sometimes too high for fire ladders to reach, or on the first floor, since they’re most vulnerable to break-ins. On that note, store your valuables away in a room safe (if there is one), and use that peephole! Make sure you know who’s at the door, and know beforehand who can be trusted for entry.
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
2. Careful in the sun, part 1!
Want to come back bronze or boiled-lobster red? Especially for us winter-pale Midwesterners, use and frequently reapply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Particularly pale-skinned partiers are advised to also wear a hat and sunglasses, and as Erin Weed adds, remember that you can burn even when it’s cloudy—to us in Illinois, that’s certainly a crazy concept!
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
3. Careful in the sun! Part 2!
The sun can also exacerbate the effects of drinking. Registered Dietician Alana Gold writes that, “drinking alcohol in [hot] weather can leave you dehydrated, confused and more susceptible to accidents and injuries,” and “one main danger of drinking during [hot] weather is the risk of heat stroke caused by dehydration.” You can read more about the science in the link below. And while it might sound lame, drink plenty of water, at least two to three quarts or more in hot weather, to stay healthy—unless you prefer a hospital bed over your hotel room.
http://truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives12ML3P1A45.html
4. Also with alcohol: Watercraft Dangers!
We all know alcohol impairs balance, so along with the sun it’s also smart to be careful around motorboats and jet-skis. Keep your motor skills intact by knowing your limit, and be careful along the sides of the vessel, since falling and drowning drunk is a dangerous possibility. Always wear a lifejacket as well, because according to the Lifesaving Society, over 90% of drowning victims were without them.
http://truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives12ML3P1A45.html
5. Also with water: Swimming!
Who from Chicago can’t resist a warm water dip after seven months of winter? I sure couldn’t. But while welcome aquatic activity is welcome and exciting, remember that without a lifeguard present, you’re risking a watery grave. And don’t forget mother nature, because even Michael Phelps is no match for an undertow or rip current. If you find yourself being shoved away from shore, do not fight it; you’ll only tire yourself and be in further danger of drowning. Erin Weed advises to swim parallel to the shore until the rip current passes. In any situation, according to Weed, remain within the designated swimming areas, don’t forget the buddy system, and know the flag system for water safety:
-Red Flag: Stay out of the water because of strong undertow and riptides.
-Yellow Flag: Use CAUTION in the water. There are some undertow and riptides possible.
-Blue Flag: Calm water. Swim safely.
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
6. Share responsibility for each other’s well-being!
“Go out with your friends, go home with your friends,” writes Erin Weed. Traveling in groups is especially vital in vacation destinations where provincial predators can prey on tourists. The buddy system also eliminates a lot of bad drama, and ensures you’ll have trusted people to look out for you. Stick together especially at night, and the ATM; at the latter, remember to perform a full 360 degree scan before extracting cash and be discreet about the currency.
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
7. Also with predators: what to remember!
Monitor your beverages in crowded places, and know the signs of predatory drugs like Ambien or Rohypnol (“roofies”). Symptoms typically include extreme wooziness, confusion, difficulty standing, and slurred speech, even with low alcohol consumption. If you see such signs in a friend, it’s time to leave; return to the hotel, or get to a hospital for severe problems.
And be aware of your BAC around strangers, as Coolest SpringBreak.com says, “Last year over 70,000-college women aged 18-24 were raped or sexually assaulted after consuming alcohol. This number is based on reported cases, the experts estimate the number of unreported sexual assaults on college women could be anywhere from three to five times that number.”
http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/stories/12-spring-break-safety-tips
http://www.wcupa.edu/dps/CPE/PDF/Spring%20Break%20Tips.pdf
http://www.coolestspringbreak.com/safe-spring-break-tips.html
8. SEX!
Now that I have your attention, ensure it’s protected. Stock up on prophylactics and contraceptives before you leave, and keep them handy to avoid a compromised situation. Be strong and make sure your partner uses theirs too! For mental fortitude, as Erin Weed writes, “Decide before even going on spring break what you’re willing to do, and then get to work setting your boundaries early and often. If you meet someone and decide to shack up, be up front with them if sex isn’t in the plan” Don’t let yourself be talked into an uncomfortable situation.
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
9. Know what to do in a foreign emergency!
If you’re planning to travel abroad, don’t forget that the emergency phone number is not 9-1-1. As the mother nature network informs us: “A State Department website called Students Abroad provides a list of these numbers along with detailed tips for health emergencies, evacuations, natural disasters, crime victims and assistance to U.S. citizens arrested abroad.”
Also if you’re traveling abroad, sign up online for the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This allows the State Department to contact you in the event of a family emergency, or crisis near your destination. A Smart Traveler iPhone app is also downloadable for more information.
http://www.mnn.com/family/protection-safety/stories/12-spring-break-safety-tips
10. Finally, Don’t Waste Your Time Off!
If you can’t afford a trip to Cancún or Daytona Beach, there’s no time to despair! Take advantage of all the great things our windy urban playground wit daaa big shoulders has to offer! Visit friends that your schedule has temporarily alienated, walk the lake shore (if there’s no freak blizzard), take a sojourn to Art Institute, laugh at an iO show, or throw yourself into anything else that’s local and cheap. Above all, abandon boredom and embrace the world.