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By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
May 13, 2019 (San Diego) -- Prom and graduation season is here again – You want to make sure you graduate "with" your class!
Unfortunately, these happy occasions sometimes involve underage drinking which can result in tragedy reminds. It is therefore critical that parents keep the lines of communication open when it comes to talking to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving.
Follow these safety tips:
- Know who’s driving all evening: Are your kids or a friend driving, is there a designated driver, or will they be renting a limo, cab or rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft?
- Make sure your teen has a way of contacting you and you can contact your teen; warn them of the dangers of talking or texting while driving.
- Get the evening’s itinerary as well as a list of names and phone numbers of each person with your teen.
- Make sure your teen knows how to handle difficult situations such as avoiding accepting a ride from a drunk driver, rejecting offers of alcohol or legal and illegal drugs, or not succumbing to pressure to engage in sexual activity.
- Insist that no changes be made to the evening itinerary unless you grant permission. Know who is supervising all events in which your teen is participating.
- Make sure your teen has money to cover alternative transportation costs, if necessary.
And parents, the same lesson here goes for you. Set an example of responsibility and accountability to your children!
For additional prom and graduation safety, talk to school administrators.
*Note: The information in this article was compiled from various sources. These suggestions are not a complete list of every preventative or loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace additional safety manuals or the advice of another qualified professional(s). We make no guarantee of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions.
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