Five Essential Spring Break Safety Tips

Keeping Your Family Safe This Spring Break

The month of March is probably most well-known for being the time of year when schools nationwide are out for spring break. While this is a time for fun in the sun with family and friends, it can also leave many tragedies resulting from motor vehicle accidents, water accidents, and more. As you’re finalizing your spring break plans, keep these five tips in mind to improve your overall safety.

#1 Plan Details In Advance

All spring break activities should be planned out in advance so you can organize the details and avoid mishaps. For example, if you’re planning a road trip, map out the stops along your route before beginning the drive. This not only helps you avoid rushing but having this written down can be useful for when children become stir crazy and need to know the timeline.

#2 Pedestrians Should Be Cautious

If you’re spending spring break in an urban area or beach town, remember that pedestrian safety should be your utmost priority. Far too many accidents occur because of people irresponsibly drinking and unknowingly stepping out into the street or otherwise not respecting the roadways. Pedestrians should be mindful of the increased traffic during this time of year and remain cautious when on or around the roads.

#3. Practice Water Safety

Drowning and other water accidents are unfortunately common during spring break for people of all ages. If you have young children, make sure they understand the importance of water safety and know how to behave when around pools or other bodies of water. Adults should also avoid being in water when intoxicated, as this may increase the risk of drowning.

#4 Be Aware of Your Surroundings on Spring Break

A general safety tip you should be mindful of is to be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas you’re unfamiliar with. Criminals may often target tourists during this time of year and take advantage of the fact that you don’t know your way around. This is why it’s also essential to be careful when sharing details about your vacation with people you don’t know and avoid discussing where you’re staying, how many people you’re traveling with, and what your schedule looks like.

#5 Follow All of The Local Rules & Regulations

It’s important to remember that every state and city may have different laws and customs that should be followed during your stay. Ignorance of driving laws or city ordinances cannot be an excuse to not follow them. In your planning stages, consider doing some research on the areas that you are planning to visit to avoid unnecessary legal troubles.

The Lawyers That Listen at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman PLLC encourage everyone to have a fun and safe spring break with their loved ones. If your vacation results in injury, know that you may be eligible to pursue compensation for damages. Schedule a free consultation by calling (662) 222-0597 to discuss your options with a member of our team.

About the Author
Jefferson D. Gilder is a Partner at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman and was admitted to the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars in 1990. Mr. Gilder is admitted to practice in all courts in Mississippi and Tennessee including Federal Court, the Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Gilder's areas of practice include personal injury, criminal, medical malpractice, civil rights, and product liability. Mr. Gilder spent his first ten years as an attorney practicing with his father, Robert G. Gilder, at Gilder Law Firm in Southaven, Mississippi before forming Gilder, Howell & Assoc., P.A. with Jamie W. Howell, Jr. in June of 2000. This firm although as another legal entity has now combined their resources and experience with Chatham – Pittman, to form Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman. If you have any questions about this article, you can reach Jefferson through our contact page.