Spring Break is about to grace Ball State with its annual presence. Just as quick as the nine classless days come, they are guaranteed to leave us once more. With all the rush, it is easy to get caught up in the hype and forget some of the necessities that keep us all around.
Every year we pause at this time to remind readers of the importance that safety has in their Spring Break travels. This year is no different, but we've narrowed in on a few things we call the "bare essentials."
It all starts with your checkbook (or credit card, as you may prefer). Travelers should not forget their main method of funding while on the road, but the smart traveler will be sure to provide himself with at least one other spending option if the need arises. You never know when your car will break down, your friend will need bail or your flight will leave you stranded overnight. Keep cash on hand, though: Credit cards are not always where you want them to be.
Also keep your main ID around, as well as several alternate forms of it. On the same token, guard it with your life, because all things considered, it is. Indiana State Patrol Public Information Officer Sergeant Rod Russell says he'd be worried the most with identify theft over Spring Break. All the recent advances in technology, aside from good old pickpockets, make it easier than ever to become someone else.
Never sign anything without reading it completely first. If you don't know someone, it's probably not entirely safe to trust them, either. Remember that written documents often hold better in legal situations then verbal thoughts.
Uncharted territory means uncharted problems. Watch your steps in foreign lands and be careful where you go alone. Elementary as it may seem, the buddy system rarely fails.
Cell phones are great and valuable tools -- when they are charged. Be sure to keep at least one cell phone fully powered and ready to last: It could be the call that saves your life.
Wherever your travels may take you, be sure to lock the door behind you. Don't underestimate the dedication of a Spring Break thief looking for her gold mind.
Above everything else, if you find yourself in an emergency situation, do not panic. Those who panic in the worst of survival situations are not able to think as clearly and, in turn, are less likely to survive. Even on a smaller scale, rash judgments are often the ones most regretted.
Sure, the Muncie winter blues might suck, but if safety is not in the forefront of your mind, life can quickly become a whole lot worse.
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