Suns out buns out! It’s time to take a break from the books and enjoy some fun under the sun. Although we all want to have a good time, with all the fun comes many health and safety risks. Unfortunately, many college students don’t take the dangers of spring break seriously, and underestimating these hazards could prove to be deadly.
“Spring break is the time to take a break and not really worry about the worries of the world, it’s more about the fun aspect.” said Tanisha Hardy, a senior Florida A&M University psychology student.
As students, we must be more concerned with our safety and not so oblivious to the spring break hype. According to the Student City website, over 400 colleges and universities will be on spring break during Mar. 12 -17. This means more people and even more craziness.
Florida A&M University Department of Campus Safety and Security encourages students to take a few precautions as they prepare for their spring break travels:
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Drive safely and avoid driving at night to your spring break destination
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Protect your location at all times. Sharing too much of your location on social media can endanger your safety.
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Carry cash and phone numbers just in case your wallet gets stolen
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Create a code word or signal if you’re uncomfortable at all and need a friend to intervene
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Practice safe drinking if you are the legal age of 21
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If you need help ask for it
“We picked them because they go hand in hand and we want students to be aware of their surroundings,” said Terence Calloway, Chief of Police and assistant Vice President of Safety for FAMU Police Department.
Although students may not be on university grounds, any illegal behavior could potentially cause them to face not only consequences from law enforcement, but also from the university.
Whether you are enjoying the liveliness of South Florida, walking down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles or curling your toes in the sands of Cancun, take a look at some do’s and don’ts to ensure you have a safe and successful spring break.
Do’s:
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Have a Budget: Set an overall budget for the whole spring break trip. Budget how much you plan to spend for travel, hotels, drinks, souvenirs, and club’s events things tend to add up quickly. Stick to your budget to ensure you don’t spend too much.
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Buddy System: Never leave a friend behind! At all times, you should always be with at least one friend. Anything could happen especially in a city you are visiting for the first time, so be mindful.
“Stay alert and have your friends share their locations,” said Jamal Collins II, a third-year FAMU environmental science student.
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Order Tickets in Advance: You don’t want to purchase tickets at the door and spend double or even triple what the regular price was. Or maybe even miss out on the event due to it being sold out.
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Pack Wisely: Please pack more the beach wear folks. Make sure to bring extra clothing for the night life as well as daily excursion.
Don’ts:
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Post Everything: Be mindful of what you post. Yes, it’s spring break but we don’t want to see the videos and pictures of you and your friends under the influence—or acting belligerent. Keep it cute!
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Forget to Stay Hydrated: It’s very hot and sunny on the beach people and passing out of heat stroke on the beach is not the look anyone is going for. So, while you all are sipping on your Fat Tuesday cups remember to keep a water bottle handy.
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Do anything you wouldn’t do on Campus: Act according during spring break especially if you are in an unfamiliar area. We have jobs, internships and responsibilities to get back to and you don’t want spring break slip-ups to jeopardize it.
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DRINK and DRIVE: Period! It’s pretty self-explanatory. The last thing you want is to head back to school with ticket for driving under the influence and a record. Take an Uber or a Lyft.
To the 2018 spring breakers: take this all-in! Remember to have fun, but be safe and create great memories and enjoy it while it lasts.