Spring break comes but once a year—and with it, a rebirth of warm weather and a week dedicated to enjoying the change. No one knows how to savor this mid-march hiatus better than college students. Thanks to MTV, we all know what a typical collegiate spring break involves: debauchery, bikinis, an abundance of alcohol and millions of co-eds flocking to the nearest beach to perfect their tans and forget all their academic responsibilities. If you’re one of these lucky students, go as crazy as you want, but don’t neglect the biggest responsibility you have to yourself—your safety. Here’s how to stay safe this spring break:
Create a code word
Establish a code word or signal with your friends that will let them know when they need to intervene. Spring breakers tend to be pretty rowdy, so if you need a guy to back off or you’re just not feeling well, do something that will let your friends know you need to be removed from the situation. Make your signal or word something that you wouldn’t do or say in a normal setting—throw up a peace sign or yell the word “foliage” and your friends will come running. In the same vein, keep your cell phone fully charged and with you whenever you can, always arrive and leave together and secure a meeting place if you’re ever separated.
Practice safe drinking
Don’t ever leave your drink unattended, alternate alcoholic beverages with water and never accept a drink from someone you don’t know and trust. The main thing here is to be smart and use your common sense—you know your limits best.
Tan smartly
Sure we all want that sun-kissed glow, but don’t go to extreme measures to get it. Invest in a spray tan before your trip so you feel less pressure to speed up the tanning process with dangerous measures. Also be sure to wear sunscreen whenever you’re in the sun and reapply every two hours. If you must involve tanning oil, use it sparingly and put it on over your sunscreen. And remember that your lips can be sunburned just like the rest of your body, so wear a lip balm with SPF.
Protect your location on social media sites
Over-sharing information about your location on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Foursquare may endanger your safety. Change your privacy settings and use good judgement when checking in on your social media. Avoid revealing personal information and location through status updates or posts.
