Spring Break Safety!
As parents and grandparents we are so proud of our independent young adult children and grandchildren, yet we can't help but worry when they are on their own, especially in new situations.
Adulting has many 'rights of passage' and at this time of year young adult college students can think of only one thing - SPRING BREAK!
For many college students this year will be the first time they travel without family members. Who's going to protect them from illness or injury? YOU ARE!!
Here are some guidelines for the "Protect Yourself" talk you will have with them:
General Housekeeping - Know their itinerary for the break, map out the closest urgent care and hospital, make sure their Advance Directive is current and each of you has a copy, get phone numbers of all travel companions.
Travel Medications - If traveling out of country make sure all vaccines are completed well before traveling. The CDC does a great job of walking you through travel meds. Whether near or far prepare your personal travel medication bag including: prescriptions, pain reliever, antidiarrheal, electrolyte packets, anti-nausea and aloe vera gel.
HAVING FUN IS DEPENDENT ON STAYING HYDRATED!
Emphasize this statement! Dehydration is one of the top reasons people end up in urgent care or the ER during Spring Break.
Top causes of dehydration during Spring Break include...
Sunburn - keep applying sunscreen, drink water!
Heat exhaustion - heat pulls water out of the body, drink water!
Alcohol consumption - alcohol is a diuretic, removing water from the body, drink water!
Good Rule of Thumb - Drink one bottle of water for every non-water drink consumed and add those electrolyte packets from their personal medication bag!
And REMEMBER, whether near or far, drink bottled water if at all possible. Not all water is safe to drink (they don't want to use the antidiarrheal if they don't have to)!
Parents/grandparents, if you have questions on how to talk to your adult kids about Spring Break safety, call me! I'd be happy to walk you through it.