Teen Safety Tips for Vacationing Without Parents
Let your children know that there are bad people who do bad things

Soon many high school seniors will be turning their tassels and tossing those caps. Some of these new graduates will be heading to the beach for their first vacation without their parents.

Our very own Cheryl Bassler recently talked with WTAJ to provide information on how to talk to young adults about the possible dangers while vacationing alone.

Listed below are some basic teen safety tips for vacationing without parents:

• Take a cell phone on the trip
• Drink responsibly
• Never accept a drink from a stranger
• Never put your drink down
• Always make sure your drinks are not open
• Always go with the person who is buying you a drink
• It is very easy for someone to tamper with a drink
• Know your limits
• Always go and stay with your group
• Never leave a friend behind
• If a friend is acting out of character – take them to a safe place
• If you are to meet with your friend at a designated time and they are more than 5 minutes late, notify the person in charge
• If you feel someone is following you turn and look them in the eye
• Make sure if you are taking a taxi with a driver that has his ID visible and make sure it’s a legitimate company
• Travel with small amounts of cash on hand
• Carry a whistle or pepper spray in case of an emergency
• Walk with a key(s) or mace in your hand
• Create a safety plan before leaving for the trip
• Trust your gut feeling - if it feels bad - it is bad!
  

Tips for Parents:

• Have all contact information: names and numbers of where they are staying and their friends and their families
• Have GPS on phones turned on
• Have your child call before and after they go anywhere
• Have current photos of your child
• Talk to your children about what to do if they feel unsafe
• Talk to your child about drinking responsibly
• Have a DNA kit done
• Let your child know that there are bad people who do bad things