Keeping Union County students safe during Spring Break
By EMILY HRABOVSKY Sentinel Writer

Undoubtedly, it is necessary to take a break from every day life at some point and perhaps no one knows that better than busy college students. In fact, spring break is celebrated by students throughout the world, not just crazy U.S teens. And, like it or not, for many students, that means cutting loose on some sandy party beach with plenty of coed company.

However, safety is a major issue facing today’s spring breakers, as many continually engage in high-risk behaviors at any cost. Not surprisingly, many human service, education and press organizations have issued warnings, asking young people to take their personal safety seriously, as a good portion of teens and young adults are in danger of alcohol poisoning from binge drinking, driving drunk or being hurt by some else driving drunk, contracting a sexually transmitted disease/s, being raped, robbed, drugged, seriously injured, or even dying.

Countless experts point to alcohol as the main culprit in regards to student’s inappropriate and often vulgar behavior. As most people know, alcohol lowers, or in the case of binge drinking eliminates inhibitions and impairs judgment, causing people to engage in behavior that they never would sober. For example, public sex, promiscuity and public nudity are common occurrences at various spring break hot spots. Sadly, according to a University of Wisconsin study, intoxicated spring breakers are unlikely to use condoms while engaging in sexual behaviors.

Even more disturbingly, the University of Pennsylvania reports that 46-75 percent of all date rapes among college students involve alcohol, which is even scarier when you consider that 57 percent of all sexual assaults occur during a date (Koss Study 1990) According to the National Violence Against Women Survey (1998), one in six women (18 percent) reported either an attempted or completed rape at some point in their lifetime. More specifically, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that over 70,000 students between 18 and 24 years of age are victims of sexual assault or date rape in a year and that 100,000 have been too intoxicated to remember if they consented to having sex. Considering the shocking prevalence of this horrible offense, it becomes very clear why personal safety must be a top priority for all persons, especially those surrounded by or engaging in mass consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The shocking statistics do not end there. As reported by Internet sources (Media Central, Inc.), 97 percent of college students are likely to drink over spring break, regardless of age. In addition, the same source indicates that males drink an average of 18 drinks per day, while females drink 10 per day, during their spring break experience. Further, The American Medical Association (AMA) reports that 50 percent of males and 40 percent of females drink until they vomit or pass out at least once during their vacation. In addition, numerous reports indicate that more and more high school juniors and seniors are participating in such spring break activities. As such, the American Medical Association (AMA) has issued repeated warnings to teens, urging them to avoid ending their vacations in tragedies, such as, car crashes, balcony falls, assaults and rape. Per the AMA, half of teen car accidents involve alcohol, making it the leading cause of death among teenagers.

Numerous Internet sources named South Padre Island, Palm Springs, Panama Beach, Miami Beach, Cancun, Jamaica, Acapulco and the Bahamas the most popular spring break hot spots. Stateside, Florida’s Panama Beach is the leading destination, attracting at least 400,000 visitors per year (www.sptimes.com). However, according to travel analysts, the 21-year-old drinking requirement, along with many U.S. communities’ growing intolerance for spring break behavior, has caused many teens and young adults to venture outside the United States for vacation fun.

Cancun is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, foreign spring break sites, with over 170,000 college and high school students choosing this location each year. One major reason for this recent trend is the lower legal drinking age, which is 18 in Cancun and other popular Mexican destinations. Furthermore, many of these locations are known for their lax enforcement of any existing liquor laws. Drugs, including ecstasy and marijuana are readily available and often cost less than they do in the states. According to the U.S. Consulate, many of these party sites “can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals” (http://usatoday.com). In addition, news sources indicate that over 2500 Americans are arrested abroad every year, many for drinking and drug offenses.

Many experts believe that spring break is a huge marketing opportunity for liquor and travel companies, as the methods used to promote such vacations to students often emphasize the “allyou can-drink” spring break package, complete with party passes that allow students to drink at clubs every night for a flat fee. Such promoters also advertise the lowered drinking ages and lack of enforcement in regards to under age drinking (USA Today). In addition, many liquor companies sponsor events at the vacation sites, “where excessive and lewd behavior is highly promoted” (www.herionaddiction. com).

Having reviewed some of the most startling statistics available, it is also important to remember that thousands spring breakers make it home each year, safe and sound. In order to ensure your safe return from your much-deserved break or the safety of your child, take the time to read the safety proposal listed below. The following suggestions were compiled for you convenience, utilizing guidelines presented by Michigan Association of Secondary Principals, The University of Iowa Police, The University of Scranton Department of Public Safety, the Miami Herald, the American Medical Association and the University of Pennsylvania.

For Parents:

Research the Spring Break location that your child will be visiting. Find out what kind of advertising was involved. Ask to see promotional materials. Beware of tour companies that advertise excessive alcohol consumption. If your son/daughter claims the trip is sponsored by the school, check with school officials. Pay particular attention to the legal drinking age, if your child is underage and planning to travel outside the U.S.

Say “no” if you feel uncomfortable with your child’s plan for spring break.

Sit down with your child and help them to research and plan their trip.

Before giving permission, honestly evaluate your child’s maturity and capacity to be responsible. Assess your child’s knowledge of the risks involved with drinking, drugs and unprotected sex.

Talk to your child about dangers, as well as safety tips.

Provide your child (or chaperone) with a health insurance card, as well as a letter giving authorities permission to treat you child in case of emergency (if under 18).

Get the names and numbers of all hotels and the cell phones of friends that will also be attending.

Provide your child with a pre-paid phone card and establish a daily check-in time.

Do not finance your child’s entire trip; encourage them to pay for part of their own vacation.

Offer to finance an “alternative spring break” trip. For example, more and more students are involving themselves in creative learning experiences with humanitarian organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and Break Away, which allows them to get away while gaining important community building and real world experiences.

For Students:

Travel with people that you trust. Make a pact to look out for one another. Never let any member of your party be alone, especially if they are drunk. Never leave with a stranger and never let a friend leave with a stranger. If you are on a date, especially with someone that you do not know, stay sober.

Always use the buddy system.

Never accept an open drink from someone you do not know. Date rape drugs, such as GHB, Ketamine and Rohypnol are undetectable. Never leave your drink unattended.

Be sure to inform members of your travel party, as well as persons back home, as to your whereabouts.

Be sure that you make all sexual decisions and set limits before you start drinking. If you do engage in sexual activities, be sure to use a condom. Though other methods of birth control can protect from pregnancy, they do not prevent the transmission of STDs.

If someone passes out from drinking, turn him or her on his or her side to avoid choking. Be sure to call 911 if the person exhibits low responsiveness.

Do not drive if you have been drinking. Likewise, do not get into a car if the driver has been drinking.

Drink plenty of water. It is very easy to become dehydrated when drinking alcoholic beverages in the hot sun.

Travel in well-lit areas.

Do not carry large amounts of cash and credit cards with you. Do not handle large amounts of cash in front of others. If possible, use Traveler’s Checks.

Do not leave money or credit cards out in the open in your hotel room.

If you are robbed, give up your money and jewelry without protest.

When traveling, lock valuables in the trunk of your vehicle.

Do not climb on balconies, especially if you have been drinking.

Safety pin (or otherwise attach) your hotel and car keys to your clothing or body.

Educate yourself as to the local laws (legal drinking limits and drug policies).

Always carry identification and medical information. Be aware of you surroundings at all times. Know how to escape in case of emergency.

Never open your hotel door to a stranger. Call down to the front desk before opening the door for a hotel employee.