Survival Guide/Travel Safety

Spring break is a great time for students to relax, hang out with friends, and enjoy time off from school; but it has also become notorious for traveling to party spots and engaging in risky behaviors.  That said, just because spring break is associated with risky behaviors, it doesn’t mean that you have to put yourself at risk.  You can have just as much fun being safe, and you lessen your chances of ending up in the hospital, jail, or worse.  Below is a guide to help you make safe choices during spring break.

Road Trips 

• Before driving to your destination, have your car checked out by a mechanic to ensure it can make a long trip.
• Always keep your car doors locked and your windows up high enough that no one can reach in.
• Drive on heavily-traveled highways and avoid making your way too far off of the interstate.  Being lost decreases your vigilance and increases the possibility that you could become the victim of a crime.
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers or stop for anyone on the side of the road.  You never know who the person might be or what they are capable of doing if they sense an opportunity for personal gain.
• If you have car trouble, especially if you are driving alone, stay in your car with your doors and windows locked and call police for assistance.  Be wary of individuals who stop to help.
• Do not allow anyone in the car to drink alcohol.  Many states have open container laws that prohibit any person in a car from drinking alcohol.
• If you are tired, trade-off drivers or stop for the night.  A night in a motel is cheaper than the potential costs of falling asleep at the wheel.  You can also stop at a rest stop to nap, but make sure you keep your doors locked.  Rest stops are available on U.S. highways every couple of hours.  Some states may restrict the length of time one can stay at a rest stop.

Alcohol Tips

• Spring break is not an excuse to drink excessively or drink more than you normally would.  Drink no more than one drink per hour and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.  Eat a real meal before drinking and snack throughout the time you are drinking.
• Watch your drink.  Watch your drink being made, do not accept a drink from anyone else, and keep your drink in hand.  If your drink is out of sight for even a moment, throw it out and get a new one.  Keep your hand over your cup or your thumb over the top of your bottle.  Date rape drugs, such as GHB and Rohypnol, could be placed in your drink while you are distracted to facilitate rape or other crimes.
• Use the buddy system.  Watch out for your friends and ask that they watch out for you.  Make it a rule to never leave without anyone you came with.
• Always make sure there is a designated, non-drinking driver if you are drinking.  If your designated driver takes a drink, they are no longer your designated driver.  Call a cab.
• Know the signs of alcohol poisoning.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 5:20 am and is filed under Travel Guide, Health tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.