Many college students are going off to spring break starting this weekend. I would like to highlight some safety tips that help you have a memorable spring break without a disaster, broken ankle or arm or conclusion as the memorabilia you return with from this vacation.
The number one conclusion for disaster during spring break is the use of Alcohol.
According to the Center for Disease Control 90% of alcohol consumed by the under 21 years of age group are binge drinkers. Meaning they over consume to the point of getting stupid just because they can. Spring Break vacations seem to be the most active time for this behavior. Binge drinking causes alcohol poisoning, unintended pregnancies, Sexually transmitted diseases, firearm injuries, sexual assaults, car crashes, drowning, just to name a few hazards that follow excessive binge drinking. Now if you are not aware of what constitutes binge drinking let me inform you that most local authorities will consider that anything over 4 drinks of beer in one evening will get you arrested if you are operating a vehicle after said consumption and your license will be taken away form you for about a year. If you should crash into someone and hurt them could mean jail time as well. So you think long and hard while sipping on that beer number 4. Take your time now! Don’t forget to be aware of what you drink and who serves it to you. We have all heard stories about date drugs and slipping drugs into drinks. Don’t be foolish and think it won’t or can’t happen to you.
Stay with the ones you go with.

Never ever leave on your own with someone you just met during spring break. Watch out for each other as you are partying. Especially if you are travelling to a strange city for vacation with friends, remember “All for One and One for All” rule. And this goes for young men and women. No exceptions to this rule.
Respect others’ property and take care of your own.
Remember to protect your passport and other personal belongings like credit cards, cameras etc.. Michael Korrs bags by leaving them in a safe at the hotel. Carry only a one credit card and an old purse with your makeup in it, mirror, perhaps, mace if you have a license for it. Find a clever place on your body for the one credit card and perhaps driver’s license on your body for ID. When at a hotel or bar don’t get stupid and bullish and break furniture in either place. Treat others property as you would want your own apartment treated. Avoid horse playing or wrestling while on other people’s property, like hotel rooms. They are not play pins or wrestling rinks. These kinds of show off activities mixed with alcohol use leads to scenarios that are highly prone to the destruction of property.
Sun Bathing.
Please, please people of all skin coloring should use sun block lotions. You have been indoors for several months now. Your skin is very sensitive to over exposure to the sun which will result in painful sunburns. Drink plenty of water! Let me suggest at least three bottles whether you think you need it or not. To drink water in between beers will help you keep your senses about you. Sun and Sand and Salt water will dehydrate you quickly. If you feel light headed or vision gets blurred while in the sun chances are you are dehydrated. Go to a shaded area and drink a couple of glasses or bottle of water immediately. Stay calm, breath through most anxieties during your vacation and have fun!
By Yovette Mumford

To those who choose to participate in the holiday; safety issues is the biggest, rightfully so, issue. This is a huge holiday where, unfortunately in this country today, parent(s) as well as children of all ages, need to be especially mindful of their personal safety and well-being. We here at www.safetyissues.com, take this topic extremely seriously and are going to address what we believe to be the most important thoughts to keep in mind as Halloween comes upon us further into our blog. As you read them, they might strike you as pure common sense, and many of them are, but as we all know, on holidays we all tend to “let down our guard”, especially children, leading us to horrific consequences that can occur as the result of one overlooked act.

Because of some of these accidents and tragedies that have occurred in the past, some cities throughout the country have actually put into place laws to insure the safety of its citizens. In Port Washington North, New York, an affluent suburb of Long Island known as the Gold Coast, for 20 years now, curfew begins for anyone under the age of 19, at 7 p.m. on October 30th and 31st and does not end until 6 am on November 1st. If anyone this law applies to is found breaking it, they are taken into custody, parent(s) are called and they face a penalty of up to $250 and/or 15 days in jail.

Since this enactment 20 years ago, many, many cities across the country have adopted a similar curfew for anyone under the age of 19.

There is, however, another “side”, if you will, to this issue. Immense denunciation of these curfews by civil right advocates; advocating these laws violate the First Amendment right to free expression, which includes, “the right to travel around freely” is becoming increasingly louder. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, states, “In general, curfews are antithetical to the founding principles of free society, where the freedom to travel about is protected. That also protects children. It is up to parents whether Junior can go out, not the town fathers, any more than town fathers would determine a child’s bedtime.”

The curfew supporters, however, have the lure of the tradition of Halloween on their side. Historically, Halloween mischief, egg throwing, tree toilet paper rolling, shaving cream on cars and teenage mobs rampaging through streets, has given way to include, razors in distributed candy, rapes, kidnappings, poisoned treats and severe property damage. Halloween continues to evoke an allure of danger while at the same time, presenting an innocent holiday for children to dress up and go and retrieve candy, all for the sake of fun.

If you choose to celebrate this traditional American holiday, please pay head to the Halloween Safety Tips listed below:

For Trick-or-Treaters:

• Carry a flashlight
• Stay on sidewalks
• Obey traffic signals
• Walk, don’t run
• Don’t cut across yards or driveways
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods
• Make sure costumes don’t drag on the ground
• Shoes should fit, whether they go with the costume or not
• Avoid wearing masks
• Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props
• If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic
• Wear clothing with reflective markings
• Go only to houses that are lit
• Stay away from any animals you do not know

For Parents:

• Make sure your child eats dinner before heading out
• Children should have either cell phones or coins to use on a pay phone to call home
• Young children should be accompanied by an adult
• If your children go out on their own, make sure they wear a watch that they can see
• If they are wearing a costume, make sure it is flame-retardant and has reflective markings on it
• Older children must know when to be home and how to reach you
• Know where your older children are going
• Tell your children to bring all candy and treats received home before eating
• Any candy that is not wrapped or any that looks suspect, throw it out

For Homeowners:

• Make sure your yard is clear of obstacles and all pets are inside
• Pets get frightened on Halloween. Protect them
• Battery powered pumpkins are preferable to real flame
• If you do use real candles, make sure the pumpkin is well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing
• Healthy treats are a great alternative to candy. Items such as crackers, single serve packages of cereal, packaged fruit rolls and mini boxes of raisins are just a few examples.

Yet still the question remains; do curfews violate the Constitution of this country? Is personal safety an issue that the government, seemingly becoming more and more in control of, should have the right to have control of? Is it not a matter of individual choice how and to what degree we may or may not want to celebrate our holidays, including Halloween?

What is your stance on this issue? Irregardless, we want to hear from you! Simply click our comment tab to leave your thoughts, feelings or any other comments you may have and wish to share on this topic.

Safe Living,

Yovette Mumford

P.S.  The best way to have fun this Halloween is to be safe! Halloween costumes can really be scary if they don’t fit properly, so always make sure your childrens costumes are comfortable and properly sized. Make this Halloween the best ever by reviewing the great safety rules addressed on safteyissues.com, then go out and have a blast Trick or Treating! Happy Halloween!