Prom Night Safety Tips For Parents

• Know and discuss the School code of conduct before the prom with your child.
• Does the school code of conduct extend to off-site functions that have been approved by the school?
• Know who your child is attending the prom with and discuss the events for pre and post prom parties with other parents.
• Discuss the dangers of drinking and driving.
• Talk with your child about the dangers of club drugs, warning signs and who to notify for assistance.
• Pre-plan and role-play answers that your child can use to get out of uncomfortable situations. (e.g., offered alcohol, getting a ride from an intoxicated driver, unwanted sexual advances, etc.)
• Discuss guidelines and a curfew. Discuss the consequences of violating these rules.
• Discuss travel plans, use a reputable limousine service that will not allow a person to bring, serve or introduce alcohol into the vehicle.
• Know who is driving to the prom and who will be a passenger. Limit the number of passengers to increase safety and reduce driver distractions.
• Know the location of post prom parties and who is sponsoring them.
• Talk to your teenager about the serious dangers and consequences of underage drinking and driving.
• If your child’s’ plans change, confirm the change with the parents of other children.
• Remind your child that you are there for them, if they need a ride home or to an after prom affair.

Prom Night Tips for Teens

• Alcohol is illegal for persons under the age of twenty-one. Underage drinking can result in arrest, injury, or worse!
• Don’t let friends drink and drive.
• Plan ahead – make sure you have a safe plan for prom night.
• Discuss your plans with your friends, remind each other about responsible decision-making and confronting peer pressure.
• Do not accept any drinks from someone you do not know. If you leave your drink, discard it and get a new one.
• Do not leave your possessions unattended.
• Learn the warning signs for alcohol poisoning and drug intoxication, contact 911 for assistance and immediate treatment.
• Take extra money or have a responsible person available for transportation for a safe ride home or in case an emergency arises.
• Remember to charge you cell phone and have it with you.
• Know where you are and where you are going, keep your parents and friends informed.
• Trust your instincts, if you feel endangered or uncomfortable, leave immediately.
• Intoxication by alcohol or drugs can lead to poor judgment and dangerous situations.
• Remember to contact your parents if your plans change.
• Practice and discuss answers you can use to get out of uncomfortable situations.
• Do not allow anyone in your car or limo that has drugs or weapons. It is dangerous and every one in the car is at risk of getting arrested.
• It is illegal to alter your drivers’ license or any other form of government identification

WHS Principal with WHS student at Preprom Program May 2010

]]> http://www.westonadap.org/2010/04/20/prom-night-safety-tips-for-parents-and-teens/feed/ 0 http://www.westonadap.org/2009/04/28/mt-laurel-dance-party-tips-for-parents/ http://www.westonadap.org/2009/04/28/mt-laurel-dance-party-tips-for-parents/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:51:16 +0000 ADAP http://www.westonadap.org/?p=63 ADAP is opening the Mt. Laurel to all High School students and extending the deadline to May 2nd. All students are invited to attend either with a date, alone, or with friends.

With the Mt. Laurel Dance just around the corner on Saturday May 9, the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program of Weston (ADAP) asks parents for two considerations. First, chaperones are desperately needed. If interested or if you have any questions, please contact Olga Kunevsky at okunevsky@yahoo.com. Secondly, ADAP encourages parents to take this opportunity to discuss expectations, set limits and use some “parenting tools” especially if this is the first high school dance for their son or daughter.

Party Tips for Parents from ADAP and the Weston Police:

• Don’t leave your house unattended the night of the dance. It’s too tempting to become the post-dance party house.
• Know where your children will be before and after the dance. Ask them who they will be with and where they’ll be. Have them call you from a landline instead of a cell phone to be sure of their location.
• Call the host parents of any parties to confirm they are going to be home and that there will be no alcohol allowed. If you can, offer to help chaperone.
• Be careful with large parties. Open invitations are posted on Facebook, leading to huge numbers of invited and uninvited guests. Such events can easily get out of control.
• Look for containers that might contain alcohol. It’s common for teens to bring alcohol in water bottles or other containers, making it difficult for parents to stop alcohol consumption.
• If they do attend a party, make it easy for them to leave if they sense trouble. Tell them they can call you for a ride – no matter how late, no questions asked. Develop a code word that means, “pick me up now” to avoid being embarrassed in front of friends.
• Most importantly, be clear. Tell your teens that you feel alcohol and drug use is unacceptable. Many parents never state this simple fact. It makes a difference.

This is an excellent opportunity to network with other parents about setting limits and rules for the evening. All parents want to trust their children, but they should also be diligent. Remember you’re their parent, not their friend. Trust but verify.

The Mountain Laurel dance will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm at Temple Israel. No one will be admitted after 9:00 pm and no one may leave before 10:30 pm unless arranged in advance. A Breathalyzer test will be given to everyone entering the dance. Additional parenting tips can be found on the ADAP website, at www.westonadap.org.