Spring Break Safety Tips

For students Spring Break is one of the most exciting times of the year. For parents it means worrying about what your kids are up to. If your kids are heading off for vacation, whether it's their Senior Trip, a college Spring Break or on a trip with family friends, here are a few things you can remind them do to protect them while they're away.

• Get the address and contact information for the place where your kid will be staying. You may even wish to contact the place in advance to verify reservations or accommodation details.
• Become Familiar with the Destination: Spend some time online learning about the area, potential hazards, and specific places to avoid and share your findings with your kid before they go.
• If your child is traveling with a group of friends, request the contact info of the other parents and create a phone list and share it so parents can get in touch with each other in case of an emergency.
• Stick to the buddy system. Yes, you've been telling them this since they were little, but remind them not to go out alone, regardless of the time of day. They're on Spring Break to spend time with their friends so this is not a tall order.
• Before they go make sure they have all their emergency contact info programmed into their phone or safely placed in their wallet or purse. Also, go online and find contact info for emergency services in the immediate area for where they will be staying.
• To put your mind at ease set a time everyday, while they're gone, that they will call or text to check in with you. If nothing else, this will make you sleep better while they're gone knowing what they are .
• Talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol. In addition to reminding them of the obvious health hazards of alcohol abuse, take the opportunity to discuss how alcohol can impair judgment and potentially put them in dangerous situations. If they are going to be drinking, instruct them to never leave their drink unattended around people they are not familiar with. Bars and environments where your child is exposed to strangers are common places where predators may have the opportunity to slip harmful substances into their drink.
• Encourage your kids to use debit or credit cards instead of carrying around large amounts of cash. Not only will they get the best exchange rate if they happen to be visiting a foreign country, but they could also avoid potentially dangerous situations that may arise if bystanders observe your son or daughter's wallet or purse full of cash. If it is necessary to carry cash, instruct them to only carry what they need and keep the rest in a safe place.

As a parent you will never stop worrying but at a certain point reminding your kids to be responsible and aware of their surroundings is important. So relax a little more this Spring Break and give them the guidance and tools they need to stay safe.

Do you have any tips you'd like to share about keeping safe this Spring Break?