Vacation tips to keep you safe
Brett Mooney

Nicole Rolfe

It is the time of the year when all the hard-working students find that extra thousand dollars from OSAP, Mommy and Daddy, or maybe even from their bank account to flee the country for a well-deserved vacation on Reading Week. Parents just don’t understand the hardship and trauma that five and a half months of school can have on a young, spirited individual without a vacation. The Health and Fitness Committee just wants to give you a few pointers that you can keep in mind when you’re travelling down south and enjoying the Tropics.

Sun

As everyone knows, the sun is much more intense closer to the earth’s equator and therefore extra precaution should be taken. Although there are negative side effects from tanning beds, we recommend that if you are going to be frequenting areas as far south as Mexico, that you visit a tanning salon before you depart.

A few ‘fake-n-bakes’ before you go will provide your skin with a base, which will allow you to enhance your overall tan and prevent severe burns that are the primary causes of skin cancer. Oh wait, the tanning booths cause cancer too.

If you are a fair-skinned individual, this is especially important if you plan to lie beside the pool or on the beach all day. Secondly, you should bring sunscreen, higher numbers for initial days and then as the week goes on, begin to use lower protection levels.

For anybody who has been to Mexico and has seen the locals on the beach offering cheap sun tan lotion, try to stay away from this ‘motor oil,’ as it may be suitable for darker-skinned people, such as the natives of the country, but is equivalent to rubbing on baby oil.

Sex

On the beach… every girl’s dream? Well, we’re supposed to say we don’t think so, even though I firmly believe it is. However, Nicole chooses to protest otherwise.

Many people enjoy venturing to various destinations to meet new people, see new things and perhaps even perform new feats. This is all fine to the Health and Fitness Committee, but try to keep in mind the whole idea of safety. Although safety is probably the last thing on your mind down in the Tropics after a few dozen daquiries, try to remember what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.

Booze

This aspect might very well be the whole reason for your trip, which again the Health and Fitness Committee can sympathize with.

Many of the all-inclusive resorts lead to short-lived memories of the trip activities due to excessive alcohol intake. What is excessive? As long as you can walk you are still doing fine. Although it is difficult to remember and sometimes even to stomach, drinking water when you arrive home at night will decrease the severity of your hang-over and allow you to enjoy the following day.

During the day, try to consume water frequently to prevent dehydration.

However, we do caution you on the water you drink, as many of the local sources have bacteria that our bodies cannot digest.

Needless to say, we do not have to continue explaining the problems that may arise. Has anybody ever heard of Montezuma’s Revenge?

So remember, watch out for the sun, look out for the opposite sex and tip the glass to a week that you will probably never forget.