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Community Corner

Homecoming Safety for Teens and their Parents

This weekend marked the beginning of a series of high school homecoming events in the White Plains area.

Homecoming’s a wonderful time that, every Fall, brings students, alumni, and their families together for an fun-filled weekend. School pride and community are the order of the day. It’s great fun for everyone – but, for our teens, the excitement can be a bit overwhelming and can lead to lapses in better judgment.

The party atmosphere and ever-present opportunities to party with friends provide many temptations for our teenagers.   There’s the big football game and then all the additional festivities such as bonfires, parades, pep rallies, and gym dances. More often than not, there’s also a post-homecoming party that’s usually held off campus – and can run into the wee hours.

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As we know, such activities can lead to underage drinking – and driving – which can, in turn, lead to dangerous circumstances.

16-20 year olds have the highest risk of being in a fatal traffic crash of any age group, according to the U. S. Department of Transportation. Responding to this, local police forces step-up their DWI patrols during homecoming events - and are on special lookout for underage drinkers.

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Here are a few simple actions we can take to keep our kids safer – and actually help them have a better night in the long run:

Have a Talk With Your Kids: Talk about the homecoming events. Set a curfew time, and let your child know that you're there for them, no matter the circumstances. 

Avoid a "Pre-Game": Try to prevent activities that your child might be planning before homecoming events. Parties beforehand only create more time and unsupervised opportunities for your child to find themselves in a situation they might regret later.

Safe Transportation: Everyone wants to show up to their big night in a limousine, just make sure that the limousine driver will not tolerate underage drinking in their vehicle. Look for a reputable company, like Luxor Limousines,  that are happy to provide references.  Also, encourage your child and their friends not to drive to the limousine pick up location. If there is a chance that they drink, make sure there's no chance that they drive; offer to drive them and their friends.

Homecoming fosters a unique synthesis of alumni camaraderie, professional networking and community pride.  Let’s make sure everyone walks away from the experience proudly and safely.


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