For college students as well as families, spring break provides a welcome opportunity to soak up some sun while shedding the responsibilities of work or school for a week. Some choose to spend their time in tropical locations, while others stick closer to home. Wherever you go, it is important to keep safety in mind to prevent accidents and injuries from occurring. The following provides some general information on the types of injuries that can occur as well as a list of spring break safety tips to help protect yourself and others.
Spring Break Safety Tips
Fight Back on Spring Break is a safety project designed by a group of young women from colleges and universities throughout the country. Their aim is to raise awareness of the potential dangers that can occur while traveling spring break and to help prevent accidents and injuries by offering some simple yet smart spring break safety tips. The following are ten ways they recommend to protect yourself over spring break, which are relevant for travelers of all ages:
- Take turns with other licensed drivers on long trips, and use extra caution when driving in crowded or unfamiliar places.
- If you are staying in a hotel or motel, make note of fire escapes and emergency exits.
- If you go to an ATM machine, go in a group and do a 360 degree check for anyone suspicious in the area.
- Use caution when ordering ‘fish bowl’ or other themed drinks, which may have large amounts of alcohol—and never leave your drink unattended.
- Make sure anyone consuming alcohol is of legal drinking age, and do not drink if you plan on driving.
- If you are out in the sun, drink plenty of water, and use sunscreen to avoid getting burned.
- Stick to sidewalks when walking in unfamiliar places, and use handrails when going up or down stairs.
- Be aware of traffic rules and cross streets only at designated pedestrian walkways.
- If you are renting bikes or scooters, familiarize yourself with the steering and braking system before heading into traffic.
- If you participate in recreational activities, such as jet skiing or parasailing, use the proper equipment and make sure you choose a licensed operator.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the U.S., so be particularly cautious on or in the water. Wear a lifejacket when boating, and make sure a lifeguard is on duty when swimming in pools or other bodies of water.
Contact a South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney
If you are injured in an accident over spring break, contact the Anastopoulo Law Firm right away. Our personal injury attorneys can advise you on how to hold responsible parties accountable for the injuries you suffer so that you can get the compensation you need to recover.
