Spring break is right around the corner and several precautions need to be taken to ensure the best experience.
This is the time when young college students flock to places like Miami, FL and Cancun, MX in droves. They are on a mission to soak up some sun, have fun and let their hair down before finals.
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However, what we all know as a generally classic good time with friends can sometimes suddenly have a drastic and scary ending.
Heading out of town for your spring break vacation?
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Here are six precautions you should always stay aware of and how to deal with them as they come:
Alcohol Poisoning/Drug Overdose.
One thing is for certain, you can never be too cautious when it comes to drinking and drugs.
There are so many scenarios that can happen to anyone, at any moment. From drug overdoses and date rape drugs to accidental self-inflicted alcohol poisoning and blacking out, you must always be knowledgeable, aware, cautious of your situation and ready to take action at any time.
Here’s what to do: Call 911 immediately and in the meantime make sure that the individual stays on their side if they’re laying down, NEVER on their backs. This reduces the risk of death from choking on their vomit. Watch their breathing and continue to look after them, but whatever you do, do not leave them alone or unattended until help comes.
Focus on Precautions for Fights during Spring Break.
We’ve all seen them and may have even been a part of one or two in our lifetime.
However, when a fight breaks out, there are serious safety precautions you must take and be ready for.
Here’s what to do: Stay calm, however, make sure to assess the situation quickly. If it seems like a heated verbal argument and no one is intervening in the situation, call the manager over if it’s in an establishment.
If it’s outside, call the police. Are you dealing with a physical fight? NEVER walk towards the scene.
But if you’re close, things can escalate quickly and you’d never want to be caught in the crossfire. Make sure to get to a safe spot first then call 911.
Shootings.
When traveling, you just never know what locals or even other travelers may be equipped to do.
And what’s even worse, most will never see it coming.
From planned mass shootings to escalated arguments gone bad, a shooting can happen at any given moment and a bullet has no one's name on it.
Here’s what to do: Get low to the ground and take cover fast. Go behind the bar, to the restroom, behind a dumpster, the floor of your car – wherever you can seek solace – go for it. If you’re able, call 911 immediately, stay calm, out of sight, and as quiet as possible. If you’re wounded, make sure to hold pressure to the site with a piece of clothing and calmly wait for help to come.
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Theft.
Things happen and getting something stolen during your vacation just comes with the territory.
From lost phones that “never got found”, that $100 bill that disappeared overnight to your luggage looking rummaged through.
Some things are simply out of our control when others are desperate enough. However, there are some precautions you can take and tactics to get your things back in a civil way.
Here’s what to do: After doing your due diligence of retracing your steps and asking around yourself, depending on the establishment that you’re at, contact the manager and explain the situation. If you feel they’re just not going to look into it further, call the police and report the item that is missing.
As a precaution, always check for your phone and wallet before you go and enter every place. Never put your phone or wallet in your back pockets. Always use hotel safety vaults for important items and lock your luggage when traveling.
Sexual Assaults.
The one thing we dread the most is a drunk, creepy person who seems to want your attention. Then, they never leave you alone for the entire night. This can be seen as harmless flirting. But some people just do not know how to take no for an answer.
Here’s what to do: If you find yourself stuck in a sticky situation and you don’t want to come off rude, simply make eye contact with a friend to get them to come over to intervene. If a friend isn’t around, fake a call and head for the door.
If this person is aggressive and you’re alone with them, stay calm. Make an excuse to leave or use the restroom. Act like you have your period or you have to take a tampon out.
Take your phone with you or get to a phone and call 911 immediately. If all else fails, kick, bite, scream and never give up until the person is away from you.
Exercise Precautions with Friendly Strangers during Spring Break.
When we get on vacation we just seem to all turn into social butterflies.
We want to make friends, invite strangers over, and just do things we could never imagine doing in our everyday lives. We simply want to make memories. However, there’s another side to every coin.
Here’s what to do: Never invite any stranger to your room alone. You want to invite a guy or girl over you just met, cool, but make sure you’re not alone. Make it a group thing and you’ll always feel safer. Also, never go off by yourself or drink with someone you don’t know alone. You simply do not know them so you can’t always trust everyone. Again, make it a group instead to take precautions.
