Safety Tips for Your Graduation Trip

Graduation trips are a rite of passage for many high school and college graduates, often providing fun memories to last for years to come. And now that pandemic travel restrictions have loosened, this year’s graduates may be even more excited to celebrate with a long–awaited celebratory vacation with friends. Our New Orleans accident lawyers offer the following safety tips for graduates to help keep an epic adventure from becoming memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Check for COVID-19 Restrictions

Depending on your mode of travel and your final destination, you may need to provide proof that you’ve been jabbed for your COVID-19 shots or proof that you’ve recently tested negative for COVID-19. Your destination spot may also require facemasks. You’ll also want to pack hand sanitizer, or at least constantly wash your hands and avoid large group indoor activities. 

Commit to Staying in Touch

Give parents / guardians a quick call or text at least once a day—or better yet, once in the morning and once at night—just to let them know you’re OK. That way, if anything goes wrong, they’ll be aware of it.

Stay Together

There’s safety in numbers, so make sure you stay with your group of friends. Don’t wander off alone or leave to go anywhere else with someone who’s not a part of your group.

Watch Your Drinks

Always get your own drink, and never leave it unattended. And refuse let a stranger buy you a Always get your own drink, never leave it unattended, and avoid drinking after or sharing your drink with anyone else. You should also refuse to let a stranger buy you a drink.

Limit Your Alcohol Consumption

Even if you’re of legal drinking age, it makes sense to responsibly limit your alcohol consumption on your graduation trip. Too much alcohol can lead you to make uncharacteristically bad—and often dangerous—decisions like drunk driving. You also don’t want to miss out on any part of your trip because you are too hungover to leave your hotel accommodations.

Carry Only What You Need

Leave your passport, extra cash, and credit or debit cards locked in your hotel safe. When you leave your room each day, take only what you’ll need in your wallet so you won’t lose everything if it’s lost or stolen.

Keep Your Information Private

Don’t give personal information to people outside your group. Also, keep the hotel you’re staying at, or where you’re planning to go, private from people you’ve just met.

Trust Your Instincts

If you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, seek out a different place. Cross the street to go into a store or another safe, public place, or leave the party, club, or restaurant that you’re at. Just make sure to stick with your group and don’t go off alone.

Research Your Destination

The safety of international destinations can change because of rapidly changing events, such as war, COVID-19 restrictions, or a natural disaster. Check with the State Department’s website for travel warnings and make note of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s international safety suggestions.

Learn Local Customs and Laws

If you’re traveling abroad, our New Orleans accident lawyers recommend researching local laws and customs that could affect you on your trip. Make sure you understand the laws, including the drinking age, etiquette, and any local customs regarding how you dress or other behaviors. Other countries may have stricter customs than you’re used to, and you don’t want to become a target or run into legal trouble, especially when you’re out of the country. Again, make sure that you know their current COVID-19 restrictions.

Think About How You’ll Communicate

If you’re going to a country where you don’t speak the language, prepare by having a list of phrases or using a smartphone app like TripLingo. It can be helpful to know a few basics that can help you catch a bus, find a hospital, or find your way back to your hotel.

Getting Help from New Orleans Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been injured on a graduation trip or other vacation while in the state of Louisiana, call the New Orleans accident lawyers at Mike Brandner Law today. We’re here when you need us—in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., by phone 24/7, and also anytime via our LiveChat online. Our firm also offers free consultations, so you won’t pay us a fee unless we win your case.