Eager to take a break from tests and winter weather, many Missouri State students are busy making plans for their Spring Break vacations.
This year, Spring Break will take place from Monday, March 9th to Sunday, March 17th and Spring Holiday will occur from March 28- March 31. University offices will remain open to conduct business; however, residence halls (except for Hammons, Hutchens, Sunvilla, and Scholars Houses) will be closed for Spring Break.
While we want students to have a fun and relaxing time during their Spring Break, we also want them to remain healthy and safe. As parents of our students, we hope that you will share with them some tips that can help them do so.
Road Trips
- If your student is traveling in their own vehicle, make sure it has been serviced by a mechanic to ensure it can make a long trip safely.
- Have your student plan a route primarily based on heavily-traveled highways and interstates, and make sure they are familiar with the route before departure. Being lost decreases a person’s vigilance and increases the possibility that he or she could become the victim of a crime.
- Ask your student to inform you of when he or she is leaving, when he or she will return, and the route he or she is traveling. You may also want to know if they will be at different locations during the week (for example, in Orlando, Florida Monday through Wednesday, and Daytona Beach Thursday through Saturday).
- Have your student complete a checklist of things to bring with them or pack in the car. This list might include a health insurance card, a cellular phone, tools, a first aid kit, a flashlight, an AAA card, fire extinguisher, water and snacks.
- Emphasize that students should be alert and aware of situations and people they encounter. They should not pick up hitchhikers, and they should be extremely cautious should they decide to stop for anyone on the side of the road.
Foreign Travel
- Students should research their destination country carefully for information on safety, law enforcement, entry/exit requirements, food/water safety, etc. The U.S. Department of State maintains Consular Information Sheets that provide extensive details about travel in other countries. Travel warnings can also be found on the U.S. Department of State web site.
- In addition to researching your destination, take special care to research your tour group, hotel, side trip companies, and car/recreational equipment companies. If your student is working with a travel agent, have the agent provide your student recommendations on legitimate, safe options.
- Special medical care, special vaccinations or medications to prevent common local diseases, may be needed before traveling to another country. The Center for Disease Control provides comprehensive health and vaccination information by country of destination. The Taylor Health and Wellness Center on campus may be able to provide these services.
- Encourage your student to make copies of all of their identification and plane tickets and store them in the hotel safe, not his or her room safe.
- Make sure you know about your student’s travel itinerary. You might want to know hotel information and transportation information, and you might also want copies of all of his or her important documents (passport, visa, driver’s license, plane tickets, etc.).
Fun and Sun
- Students should wear sunscreen with a “sun protection factor” (SPF) of at least 15 (higher if you burn easily or are taking medications that increase risk of sunburn). Remind them to reapply the sunscreen after swimming, sweating, and after the recommended time on the bottle.
- Sun damage and sunburns can occur even if you are not at the beach. Students should wear sunscreen even if it is cloudy or they are doing any activity around water or snow (skiing, snowboarding, etc.) since they both reflect light.
- They should wear sunglasses that block out harmful UVA and UVB rays, as well as protective clothing and hats.
- Avoiding the mid-day sun is important. The sun’s rays are most intense between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
- Students should also drink lots of water to avoid dehydration if they are in the sun.
Assorted Tips
- Students should make sure their name and address are not highly visible on their luggage so that people who know that you are away from home will not know where you live.
- While traveling, students can put their foot through the strap of a bag or purse to prevent leaving it behind or having it stolen.
- Students should be aware that pickpockets prey on people in crowds. They usually get close and bump into people without them noticing. Pickpockets also work in groups. One will distract while the other slips away with valuables.