Sunny and safe

Take precautions during Spring Break

Tomorrow, much of the University's student body will be boarding planes and cruise ships for their well-deserved week of spring break fun. But students also have a tendency to take a vacation from common sense. There are many dangers that exist on the beaches of Cancun and Acapulco, namely blistery sun burns and alcohol poisoning.

The sun is a silent predator that can ruin an otherwise great vacation. It is important to bring sunscreen and leave the baby oil at home. More than 700,000 Americans will develop skin cancer this year. It is the most common form of cancer in the world today.

The University Students Against Cancer has been handing out pamphlets and sunscreen in the diag. They advocate avoiding peak exposure hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and staying in the shade during extreme temperatures. Annual visits to the tanning booth should be avoided because unlike the lay belief - tanning booths are just as dangerous as the sun.

Alcohol is another potential danger. Binge drinking and continuous consumption of margaritas often leads to accidents. Students have fallen off patios and walls when partying too hard. As well as making frequent visits to emergency rooms, in order to get their stomachs pumped because of over-consumption of alcohol. Don't drink on an empty stomach and pace oneself if planning to consume a large amount of alcohol. Heavy consumption of alcohol and other kinds of drugs can leave one out of control and especially vulnerable to sexual predators.

Spring break is supposed to be a time for fun and relaxation. Have a good time, but come back to school safe.