and forget about exams for a few days, but unfortunately, focusing too
much on fun and not enough on personal safety can have tragic
consequences.
To help college students stay safe while on Spring Break, Marcia Peot,
full time police officer and Chief Safety Officer at StreetSafe,
offers the following safety reminders:
• Don't let your guard down. Being on vacation is not an excuse to
throw caution to the wind and do something you wouldn't normally do or
put yourself in an unsafe situation.
• Research the place you are visiting before you go, especially if
it's a foreign country. Find out if there are dangerous areas you
should avoid, familiarize yourself with local laws and customs, and
know where to go and what to do in case of an emergency.
• Stay in groups or use the buddy system. You are more of a target
when you are by yourself.
• A stranger is still a stranger, even on vacation. Do not accept a
ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don't know.
• Do not drink excessively. When you are intoxicated, your physical
reflexes, awareness of your surroundings, and ability to make
decisions become impaired, making you an easy target.
• Never leave your drink unattended and do not accept beverages from
anyone other than the bartender or waiter.
• The beaten path is the better path. Stick to populated and well-
lit areas, don't take short cuts, and familiarize yourself with the
area before heading out.
• Make sure your hotel room is locked at all times. Do not advertise
your room number, open the door for anyone you are not expecting, or
bring strangers back to your room.
• Upgrade your personal security. StreetSafe http://
www.streetsafe.com/ is a new mobile personal security system that
uses your smart phone's GPS technology to instantly connect to help
before a situation turns into an emergency. Street Safe's "Walk with
Me" service offers a live connection to a professional Safety Advisor
to keep you safe when walking in unfamiliar or threatening
surroundings and instant access to 911 if needed.
