Whether you’re a parent of a student or one yourself, these spring break safety tips will help you enjoy your well-earned break with peace of mind

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning your spring getaway, but don’t let travel safety fall down your priority list. Having a great time is the main goal of course, but when you’re at your destination, it only takes one mishap to throw a wrench in your plans. Use the spring break safety tips below to brush up and prepare for your time off so you can focus on having fun.

Study Your Destination Before You Go

You’ve probably done enough studying to last a lifetime, but just a little bit more will ensure that: 1. You’re at least semi-familiar with where you’re going, and 2. You’re ready in case there’s an emergency on your trip.

Take a couple hours to get to know the area you’ll be staying in before you set off. Look for the hospital and emergency shelter nearest to your hotel or Airbnb. Check the weather forecast for the time you’ll be there. And try to find out if there are any areas of town that tourists and springbreakers should steer clear of.

Knowing this info going in will help you respond quickly in a crisis and avoid unnecessary risk. 

Always Share Your Location With Your Travel Buddies & Family Back Home

With modern smartphones, we can track each other’s locations wherever we go. This feature is a must for spring breakers and travelers in general because it not only allows the folks back home to see where you are, but also gives your travel buddies your location at all times. That way, if anyone gets separated or the group splits up, you’ll always know where the others are without having to text or call.

So, make sure you and all your friends are sharing your location with each other before you head out.

Go With Close Friends You Can Trust 

Spending your spring break in a new place with people you don’t fully trust can be risky. It’s crucial to travel with people you can rely on to be responsible and look out for you and the rest of the group if anything goes sideways.

Choose your crew wisely, stick together and always use the buddy system when splitting off from the main group (going to the bathroom, checking out different stores, etc.).

Have a Plan in Case You Get Separated

If you’re about to enter a mall, tourist center, or other heavily populated area, have a quick pow wow with the group and decide on a meeting place if you’re planning on splitting up. Pick a time and a designated spot so everyone knows where to be and when. If anyone’s missing when it’s time to meet up, you can work together to track them down.

Just remember, nobody should be splitting off on their own. The buddy system is always best!

Keep Your Hotel or Airbnb Secure

Some hotels and Airbnbs have additional locks the staff or owners can’t access, but not all of them do. To give yourself, your group, and your belongings an extra layer of protection, bring along a security device or two, like a portable door lock, door stopper alarm, or a personal safety device (pepper spray, stun gun, personal alarm, etc.).

Drink Responsibly & Watch Each Other’s Drinks

When you’re in a new place, it’s always a good idea to be extra careful when drinking. Even with the comfort of a group of friends, you don’t want to let your guard completely down. 

Overindulging can leave you and your travel buddies vulnerable, so drink responsibly, never leave your drinks unattended, and always use a taxi or rideshare service to get around while under the influence.

Regularly Check in With Someone Back Home

Knowing your location is one thing, but knowing you’re safe and comfortable is another thing entirely. 

Whether it’s a loved one or a close friend, establish that you’ll check in with them every day of your trip to let them know you’re okay. If you miss one of your check-ins, they can reach out to one of your travel buddies to make sure you’re alright or respond quickly if there’s been an emergency.

Have an Emergency Lifeline You Can Depend On

These days, the 911 system isn’t the guarantee it used to be. 

A 2023 survey of 911 professionals showed that over 80% of respondents reported their call center was understaffed. Naturally, this not only puts a mountain of additional pressure on the remaining staff, but also reduces the amount of call volume these centers can handle.

For you, that means you could end up being put on hold in a potentially life-threatening crisis. Or, they may not pick up your call at all. On top of these risks, if you do get through to someone you’ll have to spend valuable time explaining where you are and what happened to you in order to get the help you need, because 911 technology isn’t advanced enough to find your exact location.

You need a lifeline you can trust. 

With the Rescu app, you can dispatch police, fire, or ambulance services to your current location anywhere in the US with just two taps on your smartphone. No talking required.

Simply tap on the service you need and then tap Send Alert. In seconds, Rescu’s private monitoring center will:

• Receive your alert, your location info, and your pre-registered medical information
• Send this info to the nearest first-response team 
• Dispatch the team to your current location
• Standby in case you want to call or open a text chat with them through the app (not required if you can’t or don’t want to)

And since Rescu is a private, subscriber-dedicated service, you’ll never have to wonder whether you’ll get the help you need. No matter your emergency, help is always just two taps away. 

If you want to carry peace of mind in your pocket this spring break, download Rescu today for the fastest way to get help in an emergency.