July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Take steps to enjoy break safely

Letters to the Editor

To the editor:
To say that it has been a long, cold winter would be an understatement, and the eagerness for spring break is palpable.
At the risk of eye rolls and a chorus of “I knows,” the members of the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition would like to present the area youth with a few ideas to consider in hopes that you would temper your excitement with a bit of caution.
There is a first time for everything, and that includes actions that become bad habits. Avoid being caught up in the moment, and engaging in activity such as underage alcohol consumption and drug experimentation that may lead to later regrets. Even a juvenile arrest could have unforeseen consequences in your future, not to mention the loss of trust between you and your parents.
Speaking of parents, this is the time for parents to “parent-up.” Furnishing alcohol to minors for a party, even if the party is at your home is not only a crime, but exposes you to a tremendous amount of civil liability in the event of anyone being hurt not only at your house but even after leaving impaired.
If you will be traveling over spring break, here are some safety tips to consider:
•Be sure everyone in the car wears their seatbelt.
•Keep driver distractions to a minimum
•Assign a front-seat passenger to keep the driver alert, especially if driving overnight.
Once you have reached your destination, there are still many things to keep in mind. Spring break hot spots are not only crowded with vacationers, but with the people who wish to prey on them as well.
A good rule is to always leave together and return to your hotel together. It’s best to travel in pairs to places such as ATMs, clubs and the beach. If one of the group leaves with a new acquaintance, you should know who that person is, where they are going and when they are going to be back. Take a cell phone picture of both individuals before they leave in case you need to give a description to police should they not return on time. And only drink from your own beverage container.
So even though advice is seldom welcome, cut this out and stick it on the fridge, place it in your son or daughter’s suitcase or, better yet, talk to them about it tonight. You can always blame your concern on us.
On behalf of all of us at the JCDPC, enjoy the week and be safe.
Rob Bicknell
Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition[[In-content Ad]]
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