A Word From The Publisher

The coming of spring also heralds the beginning of prom season. While we hope everyone has a wonderful time, it is also a time for parents to review some safety tips with our teenagers. We recently came across an article issued by the Teacher's Insurance Plan that included the following tips:

Prom Night Safety Advice

Parents:

- Get involved in planning prom night.

- Talk specifically about what they should say or do in certain high-risk situations.

- Consider having a mutually agreed on "contract" for the night. Set out rules regarding post-prom parties or other activities - with whom they will be, where, for how long and what they will be doing.

- Get the names of other prom-goers and phone numbers of their parents.

- Set a curfew based on past behavior, but be reasonable. This is a special night. Have your teen call if there is a delay.

- Limit the number of passengers in a car.

- Be on call for a ride home or other emergency.

-Have a "no questions asked" policy on getting home safely.

- Join with other parents and rent a limo for them.

- Be the chauffeur for the night, but don't meddle. Rent a vintage car to make it more special.

Teens:

- Make an agreement with parents to not drink and drive, and not to ride with anyone else who is drinking.

- Resist high-risk activities of all types.

- To avoid tampering, do not leave your beverage unattended.

- Check in with your parents during the night. It will go a long way toward reassuring them about how you are doing.

- Always buckle up.

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher