2008 Woodie Awards
Protect more than your skin when away on vacation
Theresa Vosilla
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: Features
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If you choose to drink while you are on break you should be aware of how much alcohol you consume, alcohol is involved in the majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, rapes, and deaths suffered by American students on spring break according to Travel.state.gove.com
According to a University of Wisconsin study, 75 percent of college males and 43.6 percent of females reported being intoxicated on a daily basis during spring break. Nearly half of the males and more than 40 percent of the females also reported being drunk to the point of vomiting or passing out at least once during break.
Intoxication on this level can lead to alcohol poisoning, arrests, and other forms of reckless behaviors such as unprotected sex.
You should never leave your drink unattended or accept one from a stranger; this tip could prevent some one from slipping a "rape" drug into your drink while you are not paying attention. Students should also remember that if some one they are traveling with becomes intoxicated they should never leave them alone and should also make sure that they sleep on their side to prevent choking according to colleegesafe.com.
When students go out to party or leave the room for any reason they should use the buddy system. There is safety in numbers and it is best to do things as a group, try to have at least three members with you at all times. Two minds are better than one but a third can usually guarantee a voice of reason. And if one does get into trouble, the second one can stay while the third runs for extra help reported by associatedcontent.com.
"I always bring one person with me any where I go. Too many tragic things have happened to spring breakers, people get drunk and careless, it happens all the time," said, Nicole Ferro, junior, Staten Island, N.Y.
Spring breakers should also make sure that someone at home has all the information about their trip including hotel and room numbers, the friends you are traveling with, and flight reservations. Also a quick call home daily or at least every other day can help ease family members worries.