San Diego isn’t necessarily the safest city, and we are well aware of that as students here at San Diego State. Now it’s time to go on spring break—we’ll be traveling to various vacation spots and having fun with our friends. But even though it should be all fun and games, we need to remember that we are in areas we aren’t familiar with and that in itself can be extremely dangerous. So here are the top five ways to stay safe during spring break.

Never walk around by yourself.

I know it’s hard to get someone to walk you everywhere you need to go, but do your best to always have at least one other person with you. There is safety in numbers and criminals are less likely to approach you if you are in a group.

Don’t talk on the phone.

To be safe you need to be aware of your surroundings. By talking on the phone you are making it so that not only you aren’t paying attention to anything but the conversation, but it also makes you an easy target.

Always make sure someone knows where you are.

If worst comes to worst and you need to walk alone, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back. Keep them updated—make sure they know you are going to be alone and that if you don’t text them when you told them you would, they should be worried.

Plan Ahead.

When possible, know when you are going to have to walk at night and call up a friend and ask if they would mind accompanying you. Most don’t want to let their friends put themselves in harm’s way, but if you wait until the last minute to try and find someone, you’ll find that they’re already busy. It’s also very important to have a plan of where you are going. Being prepared is key.

Watch your drinking.
Obviously, everyone is looking to have a good time during spring break, but there is no faster way to kill your fun than by stumbling home in a drunken stupor and getting stopped by the cops, or someone not quite as well-intentioned. Remember to drink responsibly and spring for a cab if walking home is out of the question. There’s no need to let an awesome night take a dangerous turn when there are so many other options available.

Although we may want to be having fun on our vacation, these easy steps can help you minimize the amount of danger you are putting yourself in. By being careful and taking the extra precautions, you are less likely to be in harm’s way.

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