As spring break rapidly approaches, many students can think about only one thing — spring break. Safety, however, has taken a front seat, especially this year, as students are urged to avoid going to Mexico, a typical hot spot for spring break.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced March 4 that it is telling students not to visit Mexican border cities because they are too dangerous, according to a CNN report.
Wayne State University Police Department’s Lt. David Scott echoed those comments.
“Seriously reconsider your plans,” he said. “There’s a lot of violence down there. A lot of Americans are not being targeted specifically, but literally in the crossfire between the run-and-gun mills with the drug cartel members, and the police and military down there trying to curtail it.”
Since December 2006, when Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, declared war on the drug cartels, more than 16,000 have died.
Personal safety was also at the top of Scott’s e-mailed list of spring break suggestions, which included topics such as drinking, hotel rooms and water safety.
According to a University of Wisconsin study, 75 percent of college males and 43.6 percent of females drank alcohol daily during spring break. Almost 50 percent of males and more than 40 percent of females reported they drank so much on at least one occasion that they vomited or passed out.
According to Scott’s tip list, students (who are of age to drink) should decide beforehand how much they plan drinking, how they are going to refuse drinks after reaching their limit and know what will happen if you violate laws in the particular state or locality. Most importantly, drinking and driving should never be an option.
In addition, the more alcohol a person has in his or her system, the more likely he or she can be the victim of a crime.
Shannon Montgomery, a senior media arts and studies major, said she went to Myrtle Beach last year for spring break and was very conscious of her surroundings.
“We chose not to go out to nightclubs and hung out amongst our group in the hotel room,” she said.
Montgomery said she knew of a couple of people who, on vacation, had their wallets stolen, but weren’t the victims of any more serious crimes.
Lastly, water safety can be one of the more overlooked safety issues. Rip currents can be fatal, and swimmers should always swim parallel to the shore until the current passes, according to Scott’s list. Swimmers should also be aware of dangerous waves and sea life, such as jellyfish and even sharks.
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