Spring Break Safety - 2008

By Sergeant Eugene V. Mejia, University of Arizona Police Department

Now that students have settled back into focusing on academics they must think hard about our next break. "Spring Break" will occur this year between March 15th and 23rd this year. Many students will not think about safety primarily when planning activities and normally point to how much fun a certain place or activity brings rather than how safe they will be or how safe is their participation. The UAPD works closely with many departments and student groups on campus to organize our annual Spring Break Safety Fair scheduled for March 10th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the UA mall.

We invite all of our students, parents and staff to stop by and participate in our distribution of safety information and partake in our fun events that focus on exposing spring break travelers to safety and crime prevention education. The UAPD, The U.S. Mexican Consulate, Arizona Border Law Enforcement including Home Land Security, formerly U.S. Customs officers, along with UA campus departments are present to speak with traveling students.

Remember to have a Safe and Fun Spring Break! Remember that SAFETY is a shared responsibility! For those of you who cannot make it to the safety fair follow some no nonsense safety tips:

• Remember Safety First
• Research locations, check travel restrictions, customs, laws, drinking age, government, hospitals, police, embassy locations and contact numbers
• For consular contacts and information check: http://travel.state.gov/
• Pack for the occasion, pack light, pack small
• Confirm flight, travel and stay reservations (car rental, hotel, etc.)
• Passports are necessary when going out of country
• Carry copies of your identification, passports, insurance cards and emergency contact information with you
• Check in with Campus Health for immunization requirements and precautions
• Only carry small amounts of cash and secure a debit or credit card for larger purchases
• Utilize hotel safes and deposit boxes for valuables if you must travel with them
• When planning site seeing trips carry maps, study travel routes
• Keep your hotel doors and windows locked,
• In the United States legal drinking age is 21 years
• Remain in groups and account for each other
• Designate a sober driver and companion for every event
• Have limits! Drinking, partying, risk
• Know where to go and who to contact in emergency situations IE; police & fire departments and hospitals
• Please check in regularly with your parents or family
• Have designated return dates and times so someone may alert authorities if you do not arrive

Sgt. Eugene Mejia can be contacted via email at mejia@uapd.arizona.edu.