For many area schools, this week serves as Spring Break and gives teachers and students a chance to take a quick break from being in the classroom.

Many will use the time to flock to the beach to enjoy the sunshine or will go somewhere else on vacation. Unfortunately, many dangers arise during spring break, with many of them being alcohol related.

According to the Center for Disease Control, a motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injures someone every two minutes. It’s extremely important not to drink and drive any time, but it’s so important this time of the year to keep reminding everyone.

The CDC also recommends being prepared. For some, the idea of a vacation without any concrete plans is perfect, while others like to plan out every single second.

A happy medium is probably somewhere in between those two extremes.

It’s important to have a plan when traveling. Think ahead of time about where to meet up if something goes wrong and if members of the group venture off individually, make sure to check in with them every few hours.

The most popular destination spot every year is the beach. We all love to lay on the sand and to get into the salty water, but that environment has its own dangers.

Don’t forget sunscreen. Experts recommend going to the beach in the morning hours and later in the afternoon to avoid the heat of the day and the brunt of the sun’s rays. It’s also important to keep an eye on family members or friends that go in the water at the beach to make sure they aren’t getting swept under by the waves.

It’s always better to be overly cautious than to under prepare. We wish everyone safe travels on their spring break trips this week.