By John Plue
Spring break is coming up and many have plans to travel, party, stay at home, or anything in between. Something to keep in mind while trying to have fun and relax that is safety should always be on the mind and that school does return in a week.
 If traveling is in the future it is good to keep in mind that not everyone is friendly and that things happen. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while traveling. Pack things you need, not just the things you want. Sunscreen, bug spray, and aloe are always a good starting point. If you can bring it with you a small first aid kit is always useful.
Know the location. Try to do some research before leaving. Not only will it give you a chance to plan out a few things by seeing what’s in the area, but you can also learn about the area and any potential problems you may come into. Have a few things planned out ahead of time but remember that you don’t have to do it. It doesn’t need to be a set plan, just something to keep you on track. Even if your plan is to head to the beach every day.
  Another safety tip is when you get to your hotel locate the closest exit. Accidents happen, even while on vacation. It’s best to have two payment methods, whether it be cash or card, relying on one can turn for the worse if something were to happen. The same goes for identification, especially if you are traveling abroad. Take one of each and separate them. Don’t keep the two forms of payment together and don’t keep the IDs together. If your bag is stolen or you left it behind somewhere by accident and both IDs and money are in it then you are left without anything. If you keep one in your pocket and one in your bag, or any combination you can think of, there is a higher chance of keeping one pair.
Don’t travel alone either. Always have someone you know with you. If you get lost at least you won’t be alone, and you will always have a second pair of eyes to keep watch for anything that might go wrong.
If old enough, remember to always drink responsibly. A week of no responsibilities seems like a good time to let loose and relax but there is a fine line between relaxing and not remembering. While out with friends make sure you have a designated driver. If going on multiple trips throughout the week change the designated driver for each time. If you’re not old enough to drink, then it’s best you don’t. Being arrested can stop spring break quite quickly. It has been said before, whether you are over 21 or not, always keep an eye on your drink. If you need to take a taxi make sure you know the way back to your hotel or house so you can tell if the driver is taking you the right way or not.
One problem with spring break is that sometimes it isn’t always a break. Some have to work and there is always the homework professors supply students with.
If work gets in the way and you cannot travel or take time off it is not the end of spring break. Take the days you normally have off and do something that you wouldn’t normally do. Take the time to read a book, play a video game, get friends together and play board games, or go out and explore your town or towns nearby. Visit a museum, find an arcade, go anywhere. Even if it’s just for a few hours. If you’re not at home but still have homework try to set aside some time to do it. Even a little bit can help. It won’t leave you totally behind when you get home.
There isn’t always something bad lurking around the corner, but it is always good to be safe. Remember, pack the essentials, know where you’re going and try to have a loose plan, nothing has to be set in stone, drink responsibly, don’t forget your homework, and as always have fun.