Got a college kid headed for spring break? Anyone who's watched MTV's Spring Break bacchanals knows, anything can and does happen when spring breakers congregate on tropical beaches. Your child's safety may rest on his or her ability to think clearly when danger looms, so sit down well beforehand and talk about these four major safety tips:
- Expectations: In the same way you sat your kids down and discussed expectations about school, summer camp and sleepover behavior when they were young, spring break is another important time to talk frankly about expectations and pitfalls. Your child is infinitely more responsible now than when he was little, but the consequences of misbehavior, particularly for anyone over 18, are considerably more life altering now too. So have a frank discussion about the basics – be wary of strangers, don’t carry valuables, stick with a buddy. Make sure your child understands that if he or she breaks the law in another country, he will be punished there.
- Communication: Make sure you know where your child is staying, how to reach him in the event of an emergency – hotel numbers and/or cell - and when you expect to hear from him: every day, every other day, upon arrival, or whatever you agree upon. Not all cell phones work in foreign countries. Register your child's trip with the U.S. State Department, if that gives you peace of mind, but understand that the U.S. Embassy will not be watching out for your little darling. It may make it slightly easier to track down your child in the event of an emergency, in that you conveyed all the information you had long before you were panic-stricken, but that's about it. The main benefit is that registering forces you, the parent, to get the particulars. While you’re at it, have your child scan his passport and e-mail it to himself. That way if he loses his passport while abroad, he can access a copy at the Embassy, which will significantly speed the process of getting a duplicate issued.
- Travel warnings: If your child will be traveling to another country, keep an eye on the U.S. State Department’s country alerts. In 2009, for example, the State Dept. issued warnings to U.S. travelers headed for Mexican border towns, including Tijuana and Juarez, because of escalating drug cartel violence.
- Exit plan: Have your child and his or her friends plan an exit strategy, just in case. Make sure they know they can call you, day or night. Discuss group safety – no one gets left behind, ever. Develop a code word – a word or gesture they can use in uncomfortable or dangerous circumstances to signal that they need help. Emphasize that alcohol and drugs cloud judgment and decrease an individual's ability to make good, even potentially life saving decisions. And make sure your child carries not just ID, but copies of his health insurance card, passport and your contact information with him.
