You're probably awaiting your flight to Cancun or Miami, or maybe you're already on the beach right now. You can feel the hot sun, smell the sunscreen and hear laughing and awesome music. If you're of age, you have a drink in your hand, and you're thinking about what your next order will be (from the cute bartender who's just a few feet away).

Spring break is supposed to be fun, relaxing and a time to remember. Unfortunately, it can go bad, and quickly. This year, about 1.5 million students will travel for a spring break vacation. The average student will consume 10 alcoholic beverages per day, compared to six drinks per week during the school year. Half of the sexual encounters will be unplanned and unprotected (Didi's World).

Planning ahead, playing it safe and pacing yourself is the best way to avoid becoming a statistic. No matter where your vacation takes you, always know your travel plans and have back up ones! Branching off of this, always have money in the bank, cash in your pocket and a stash hidden somewhere in your wallet/purse. You'd be surprised how much that could come in handy, especially for last minute cab fare. When traveling, always know your surroundings. Airport security is super tight now, but having your eyes up, off of your phone or laptop and your music low, will only help a potentially bad situation. Pay attention, stay alert and protect yourself first!

When at the bar, watch the bartenders when they're making your drink. Never leave your drink unattended, and if you do, get a new one! Make sure you've eaten before you start drinking, and make sure you know how to get back to where you're staying. When going out, always have a charged phone and the numbers of all the people you are with. Nightlife gets crowded, and plans change fast, so don't set yourself up to be alone.

If you have too much to drink, try to make smart decisions! Meet new people, but don't make new decisions that aren't like you, that you may regret. If in the event that the inevitable one night stand occurs, use protection! As mentioned before, half of the sexual encounters are unplanned and unprotected.

All of these tips were probably told to the following people, who went missing while on their spring break vacations:

Natalee Holloway (missing since 2005)
Britanee Drexel (missing since 2009)
AJ Hadsell (missing since 2015; found dead)
Jordan Britten (missing since 2015; found dead)

All of these cases were ruled accidents or mysteries, but they all resulted from careless behavior while on spring break. This can happen to anyone, including you and I. This spring break, don't become a statistic. Be knowledgeable, know your surroundings and make smart choices. Drink smartly and safely, know your limits and stay in a group. But above all else, have fun!