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Safety comes first during prom time

Many area high-schoolers are full of excitement this time of the year.

They are busy preparing and primping for their prom celebrations with the hopes of a night of friends and fun to long remember.

They’ll don formal attire and head off to area auditoriums and gymnasiums, hotel ballrooms and excursion boats with the hopes of creating lasting memories.

For the teens and their parents, many hours have been spent preparing for the annual event. From choosing the perfect gown and matching tuxedo to finalizing hair appointments, plans for the perfect prom have been in the works for several months. But when alcohol and a lack of responsibility are combined with that special night, those memories turn tragic.

The prom should be a time of happiness. That’s why it’s important that parents talk with their teens about the consequences of drinking alcohol, and not just on prom night, but any time.

Teens must know that drinking alcohol during their big night does not make them adults. Parents must be sure their teens know the rules now, before proms are held.

Teens must be sure they know not to get into the car with any driver who has been drinking, and they must know they are responsible for their own actions. If teens truly want to prove what adults they have become, they must show they know how to prove they’re worthy of the responsibility.

Some tips for parents include:

* Curfews should be made clear.

* A parent or other adult friend or relative should be near a phone on prom night in case the teen needs assistance.

* Teens need to know that parents must be kept informed of plans and if the plans change, teens should call home immediately to tell the family just where they’re going and when.

Parents, please don’t let this busy time of the year deter you from being an active part of your teens’ prom. Talk to your children about the importance of them being adults, especially on their prom nights.

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