Important Tips to Stay Safe on Spring Break

Every year, hundreds of thousands of college students head to the beaches and bars of tropical destinations to party and celebrate graduation and senior week.

Just last month, a 19-year-old woman was raped by four men as she lay unconscious on Florida’s Panama City Beach, while hundreds of partygoers stood just feet away, ignoring the attack.

Two men have since been arrested and charged with the assault, while police are still looking for two other suspects after a video was released showing the attack.

Unfortunately, this is not a standalone occurrence. There were 42 rapes reported in Panama City during spring break between 2007 and 2014.
More than 650 people were arrested during the 2012 season for offenses ranging from public intoxication to drug dealing.

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During the 2015 season, police responded to calls about a man who had been shot in a parking lot and a 21-year-old man who was found dead in his hotel room, among many other incidents.

The party scene appears to have evolved over the past decade, and police are now dealing with major drug problems and increased gun violence.

“My biggest concern now is that we are getting a different culture,” says Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, who is heading up the Panama City gang rape investigation. “We’re getting a culture of cop haters and gun violence.“

So, as we exit spring break season and plan for graduation and senior week trips, what can you do to keep yourself and your friends safe and healthy?

Limit alcohol consumption

You can have fun on vacation, as long as you are careful. (Photo: HOWL/Stocksy)

In a study conducted last year by the American College of Health, the average male reported drinking 18 units per day and the average female reported drinking 10 units per day during spring break holidays — way above what is considered the safe level of consumption.

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Aside from getting alcohol poisoning, a serious and sometimes fatal condition, this level of binge drinking can lead people to place themselves in incredibly dangerous situations. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries. More than 599,000 become injured while under the influence of alcohol. And more than 97,000 students become victim to alcohol-related sexual assault or rape.

If you are going to drink alcohol, be responsible. Know your limits and stick to them. Don’t match your friends drink for drink. Know the liquor laws of the state, county, or country you are staying in. In some places, it is legal to drink alcohol at 18. In others the legal drinking age is 21. In some places, it is illegal to drink alcohol in public. Breaking local laws could get you arrested and thrown in jail.

Always keep your eyes on your drink to ensure there is no chance of it being spiked. If you or one of your friends begin to exhibit signs of being drugged (extreme wooziness, confusion, slurred speech, difficulty walking or standing), get to a safe place ASAP and seek medical help.

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Eat before you drink so you aren’t consuming alcohol on an empty stomach, and drink lots of water between each alcoholic beverage. “And always follow the golden rule when drinking,” says Bree Swartz of Fight Back on Spring Break, a travel safety program aimed at college students. “Come with your friends and leave with your friends.”

“Look out for each other,” Swartz explains. “If you see someone not in your group in a potentially bad situation, look out for them, too. Being an active bystander is the best way we can work together to end violence of all kinds.”

Say “no” to drugs

You can never be sure what you are taking when someone hands you a pill. (Photo: Marageret Vincent/Stocksy)

This year in Panama City, 202 people were arrested on drugs charges during the six-week spring break vacation period. That figure was up from just 43 arrests last year.

All drug use carries serious risks, but purchasing, possessing, selling, and consuming drugs while on vacation carries a whole different set of dangers.

“Every year something changes. We went from marijuana to pills to cocaine to crack to bath salts, to now we are seeing heroin,” Sheriff McKeithen explains. “We seized drugs that were sold as one drug but tested for two different drugs. We have no idea what it is and people are sucking it up their noses and shooting it into their veins.”

In 2011, one student died and 10 more were hospitalized after a mass overdose occurred among students celebrating spring break in Minnesota.

The students had all consumed a synthetic hallucinogenic drug called 2C-E, which had been chemically altered to make it incredibly toxic to humans.

Bad drugs, or drugs that have been altered or mixed with unknown substances, are much more likely to hit the market when demand is incredibly high during traditional holiday party times.

Driving, drunk driving, and taxi safety

By rotating drivers, everyone gets a chance to rest — and play radio DJ. (Photo: RG&B Images/Stocksy)

If you’re driving to your vacation destination with friends, take turns behind the wheel and share the driving responsibility. Passengers should also be responsible for ensuring their driver is alert and driving safely. This is very important on long journeys or when driving at night, when concentration can be harder.

Make sure to always carry your driver’s license, insurance, and registration documents on you when in the vehicle, and do not let anyone drive who isn’t properly licensed or insured.

Know your route. Take a map or GPS system and read up on what areas to avoid. If you are driving overseas, make sure you are familiar with local driving laws and road signs.

The U.S. Department of State recommends using only licensed and regulated taxis, whether on home soil or abroad. “Some illegitimate taxi drivers are sometimes, in fact, criminals in search of victims,” it warns.

“Some passengers of unlicensed taxis have been robbed, kidnapped and/or raped. When in doubt, ask the hotel, club, or restaurant staff to call a legitimate taxi for you.”

Use Lyft or Uber where available, as these journeys are logged with the companies via GPS, and make sure to double-check the information about the car and driver on the phone app before getting in the vehicle.

This might be an obvious point, but DON’T drink and drive — EVER. An alcohol-related motor crash kills someone every 31 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And driving while impaired doesn’t just put you at risk; it also puts your passengers and innocent bystanders in harm’s way.

If a friend has been drinking and is trying to drive, say something. Always refuse to be a passenger in a car where the driver has been drinking, and urge others to make the same choice.

Sex, STDs, and sexual assault

The choice to have sex, whether on vacation or not, is yours and yours alone. (Photo: Mattia Pellizzari/Stocksy)

Do not let anyone persuade, coerce, or force you into doing anything you don’t want to do.

When it comes to consensual sex, or sexual activity, be sure to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The only 100 percent sure way of doing this is to not have sex. But if you are planning on having sex, use condoms. 

Frighteningly, college students are at the highest risk of any group for being sexually assaulted according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

“While there is no surefire way to prevent a perpetrator from committing an act of sexual violence, there are some simple steps students can take to make sure their spring break is both fun and safe,” explains Katherine Hull, spokesperson for RAINN. “It is important for students to be aware of possible risks, and know where to get help if needed.”

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Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or like something doesn’t feel right, go with your gut. Leave and head to a safe place immediately. Don’t let your guard down, either. Being on vacation creates a false sense of security that makes you vulnerable. Do not assume that other spring breakers will have your best interests at heart.

Be careful what you post on social media. Giving away your location can put you at risk. Know the local area and keep important numbers on hand— police, your hotel, and a legitimate cab company.

Look out for your friends and stick together. Make a plan for where to meet should you get separated, and stick to it.

Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum and know your limits. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and can, when consumed in large quantities, incapacitate you, making you extremely vulnerable to assault.

In the event of a sexual assault during spring break, seek immediate medical attention. In the U.S., call 911 for emergency help or the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) for advice and support.

If you are traveling internationally, contact the Department of State or the American embassy in the country to be connected with special services for American victims of crime abroad.

General security tips

Use common sense when taking money out of an ATM. (Photo: Dimitrije Tanaskovic/Stocksy)

When it comes to basic security, use common sense. Lock and check all hotel or apartment windows and doors before you leave the room. Use the safe provided and place all valuables (money, passports, iPods, cell phones, extra cash) inside when you are not in your room.

Use the “do not disturb” sign to stop housekeeping from entering the room. This can give access to not only them, but other people, too.

Do not leave valuables in your car. Keep the amount of cash you carry to a minimum, and avoid flashing cash or valuable jewelry in public.

When using an ATM, do so in a well-lit, public area and keep your pin number as shielded as possible. 

If you can, choose to stay on the second floor or above. First-floor rooms are much easier to break into.

Take extra precautions when overseas 

(Photo: Mauro Grigollo/Stocksy)

Things are more complicated if you are spending your vacation overseas. Popular foreign break destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean have additional safety and legal risks for partygoers, and you should educate yourself about local laws and customs as much as possible before heading off on your trip.

Get to know the local area you are traveling to. You should be familiar with the geography, some language basics, emergency numbers, where you can access cash, and where to go in case of emergency, such as a consulate or hospital.

Make yourself aware of local security warnings or alerts issued by the U.S. government for the area, such an an increased terrorism threat or a specific threat to tourists. For example, since 2012, the Department of State has recommended that Americans avoid travel to 14 of the 31 Mexican states. 

Be aware of local scam artists and educate yourself on any common scams ahead of time.

Breaking foreign laws of any kind can land you in hot water, even for violations that wouldn’t be as serious in the U.S.

“Many countries impose harsh penalties for violations that would be considered minor in the United States,” the Department of State says. “If you find yourself in a legal jam, contact the closest U.S. consulate, U.S. consular agency, of the U.S. embassy for assistance.”

Keep your family and friends at home fully informed of all your travel plans and be sure to check in at set times. Copy your ID and passport and leave the copies at home in case your originals are lost or stolen.

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