The multitude of cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages provide the means for many students to travel over spring break. Students tend to think of spring break as the ideal time to visit warm beaches and party till dawn.
Such vacations are not always carefree. In 2010 an American student was found at a Cancun hotel pool unconscious with multiple skull fractures. According to the Cancun police, the hotel never reported the attack.
On February 23rd of this year 22 cruise ship passengers were robbed at gunpoint during a guided nature trail excursion in Puerto Vallarta, a well known tourist haven.
An organization called Fight Back! On Spring Break encourages students to have fun but to remain cautious on spring break, particularly when drinking alcohol. A recent study found that 75 percent of college males and 43 percent of females acknowledged being intoxicated daily while celebrating spring break.
Fight Back! Recommends students do the following to protect themselves when vacationing:
If you are going to drink, be responsible and pace yourself. Avoid hard liquor or other drinks that are powerful and have fast acting effects. Predators view drunks as easy targets.
Know the liquor laws of wherever you are vacationing prior to drinking. Never drink and drive. Plan a way to travel safely before you drink by designating an alcohol free driver, hiring a local driver, or figuring out another mode of transportation.
Visit ATMs in groups and remain safety conscious. ATMs should be accessed only during daylight hours and prior to withdrawing any money you should look completely around you to determine if anyone suspicious is hanging around. When entering your pin number, use your other hand to cover the keypad.
The dumbest assumption a student can make while vacationing is believing that nothing bad will happen to me. Your safety is largely in your hands and depends on the good decisions you make.
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