Health and Safety

Health, Safety, and Security Abroad
Here are the following general guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

o Be sure to check with a healthcare provider to make sure you are up to date with all routine vaccinations (i.e., measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and polio). Diseases such as measles and mumps remain common in many parts of the world, including some developed countries.

o See a healthcare provider or a travel medicine specialist (ideally 4-6 weeks before travel) to get any additional vaccinations, medications, or information you may need to stay healthy. If it is less than 4 weeks before travel, a healthcare provider should still be consulted, as there may be some vaccinations, medications, or prevention information that could be beneficial to you. To locate a travel medicine specialist, see http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentTravelClinics.aspx

o Students with complicated travel itineraries (e.g., travel to rural areas of developing countries) or who have medical problems that will need to be managed while abroad are especially advised to consult a healthcare provider who specializes in travel medicine.

o Visit CDC's Travelers' Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel to educate yourself about any disease risks and preventive measures for the countries where you plan to study. Students visiting developing countries are at greater risk for illness or injury than those who travel to developed countries (e.g., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Western Europe), where the health risks are compatible to those found in the United States.

o Prepare a travel health kit that includes an ample supply of your prescribed medications in their original containers; an anti-diarrheal medication; alcohol-based hand gel (containing at least 60% alcohol); an antibiotic for self-treatment of most causes of acute bacterial illness; a thermometer; insect repellent containing at least 30% DEET if you plan to study in or visit a tropical or subtropical area; the name and telephone number of your primary healthcare provider; and a copy of your vaccination record.

o Familiarize yourself with basic first aid so you can self-treat minor injuries should they occur. Learn how to swim if you are inexperienced and plan to participate in recreational water activities while abroad.

o Consider a health insurance plan or additional insurance that covers medical evacuation in case you become sick or injured, if your plan does not already offer this service. Information about medical evacuation services is provided on the U.S. Department of State web page, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html 

o Identify in-country healthcare resources in advance of your trip in case of a medical emergency. This is especially important if you have a pre-existing medical condition. The U.S. Department of State has a List of Doctors/Hospitals Abroad. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your travel destination may also be able to assist in locating these resources. Several private travel medicine organizations provide assistance in locating medical care abroad; see Seeking Health Care Abroad in Health Information for International Travel.

Other tips prepared by the Office of Overseas Services to help keep you prepared and safe. (http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/studying/studying_1238.html)

o Although most trips abroad are trouble free, being prepared will go a long way to avoiding the possibility of serious trouble.

o Become familiar with the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to visit before you travel.

o Remember: Reckless behavior while in another country can do more than ruin your vacation; it can land you in a foreign jail or worse! To have a safe trip, avoid risky behavior and plan ahead.

o Read the Consular Information Sheet.

Consular Information Sheets provide up-to-date travel information on any country in the world that you plan to visit. They cover topics such as entry regulations, the crime and security situation, drug penalties, road conditions, and the location of the U.S. embassy, consulates, and consular agencies.

o Check for Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings recommend U.S. citizens defer travel to a country because of dangerous conditions. Public Announcements provide fast-breaking information about relatively short-term conditions that may pose risks to the security of travelers.

To Reduce your Risk of Illness

o In developing areas, boil your water or drink only bottled water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks from cans or bottles with intact seals. Do not drink tap water or fountain drinks or add ice to beverages. Avoid eating salads, fresh vegetables and fruits you cannot peel yourself, and unpasteurized dairy products.

o Eat only food that has been fully cooked and served hot, and avoid food from street vendors. If living with a host family, discuss any food allergies or dietary preferences in advance.

o Do not touch animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (i.e., rabies and plague). If you are bitten or scratched by any animal, get medical attention right away, and clean the wound well with large amounts of soap and water and a povidone-iodine solution, such as Betadine®, if available.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before meals and after going to the bathroom. If soap and water are not available and your hands are not visibly dirty, use an alcohol-based hand gel (containing at least 60% alcohol) to clean your hands. Cleaning your hands often with soap and water removes potentially infectious material from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.

o If visiting an area which has risk of malaria, use insect repellent and a mosquito net for sleeping, wear long sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors between dusk and dawn, and make sure to take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after your trip, as directed.

o In areas with avian influenza (bird flu), avoid poultry farms, bird markets, and other places where live poultry is raised or kept. For more information, see the Outbreak Notice: Guidelines and Recommendations, Interim Guidance about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad.

o Be aware that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS, are among the most common infections worldwide. The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual activity or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and who you know is uninfected. The proper, consistent use of latex or polyurethane condoms when engaging in sexual activity can greatly reduce a person’s risk of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.

General Safety in Public Places

You will soon be entering a city and culture that are probably new and unfamiliar to you.  Because of this, you may miss some of the signals that a local person would take into consideration.  A little common sense can go a long way.

Do not leave your bags or belongings unattended at any time.  Security staffs in airports or train stations are instructed to remove or destroy any unattended luggage.  Do not agree to carry or look after packages or suitcases for anyone.  Make sure no one has placed anything in your luggage.

When you travel, use a money belt or waist pouch to carry your passport, credit cards, and traveler’s checks.  Wear the pouch under your clothes.  Keep a separate record or your traveler’s checks and a photo copy of your passport in another part of your belongings so that you will have a record if they are lost or stolen.

Be as inconspicuous in dress and demeanor as possible. Downplay those elements of your appearance and manner that broadcast that you are American. Here are some “tip-offs” to avoid if you don’t want to be pegged quickly as an American:

o Wearing U.S. college or university insignia clothing or heavily patriotic American clothing
o Wearing baseball caps or U.S. sports teams shirts or jackets
o Talking loudly with a group of friends. Try to speak the local language in public, even with other Americans. Even if you have a heavy accent you will not attract as much attention, particularly if you take a cue from the locals and speak quietly.

Use the buddy (or in the evening, small group) system, especially in the first few weeks of your stay. Walking with someone else helps deflect approaches by would-be harassers.
Be careful how late you come home at night. Try to get home while public transportation is still running or plan on taking a taxi.

Be careful to observe traffic lights. Stay on sidewalks away from the curb, and walk facing oncoming traffic whenever possible. Drivers in large cities can be aggressive, and often erratic. Never assume a care will stop for you or steer out of your way. For those of you in countries where drivers drive on the left-hand side of the road, you will have to make an extra effort to check before crossing the street.

Local Transportation and Travel

While abroad, you should remember that public transportation is the way the great majority of local residents get around their town and country, so it should be a part of your experience as well.  For that reason, and for reasons of economy, we strongly discourage students from renting automobiles or other motorized vehicles while abroad.

If someone leaves a package unattended on a seat near you in any crowded public place (i.e. airports, train stations, metro stations, or on a bus or other public transportation), notify the driver or other authority and get away from it as quickly as possible.

Be careful with whom you ride in a car.

General Travel during Weekends and Breaks

Do not travel alone.  Always try to travel with at least one other person.
 
Be careful who you allow to join your group.  Make sure that anyone who joins your group is known well by someone you know.

Update yourself on your destination and consider postponing visits to a place if there have been any problems there recently.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  Knowledge of current events is important.  Read the paper and watch the news to stay informed. You can access travel advisories on the U.S. Department of State’s website: http://travel.state.gov.

Have sufficient funds or a credit card on hand to purchase emergency items, such as a train or airline tickets, or to fund hospital stays.

In Times of Political Conflict

Keep abreast of the current political situation by listening daily to the television or radio, and keep reading the newspaper.  In the event of an emergency, advisories may be made to the general public through the media.  In case of an emergency, remain in contact with the on-site staff or the American Consulate nearest you.

When in large cities or other popular tourist destinations, avoid or spend as little time as possible in potential target areas for terrorist activities, especially places frequented by American citizens: bars, discos, U.S. fast food restaurants, branches of American banks, American churches, and American consulates and embassies.

Keep away from political demonstrations, which can easily result in clashes between demonstrators and authorities, particularly those authorities seen as aligned with the United States.  If you see a situation developing, resist your curiosity.  Walk the other way.  Go home and watch it on television.

Going Out of Town?

Keep the program director(s) informed of your whereabouts.  You must let the director(s) and/or your host family or roommate know of any traveling you plan to do.  This is so we can contact you in case of emergency.

Advice for Women

What may be appropriate of friendly behavior at home may bring you unwanted, even dangerous, attention in other cultures.  Try not to take offense of whistles and/or other gestures, regardless of if they are invitations or insults.  Realize that these gestures may be as much a part of the culture as its food, history, and language, but if your intuition tells you a situation is dangerous, then act as if it is, and try to avoid conflict.  Be extra careful with giving your trust.  This applies generally, but is especially important when traveling alone.

Use Common Sense

A general rule of thumb is to use common sense and be as cautious as you would in any large city in the United States.  Be aware of your surroundings.  If you want to visit a new neighborhood, try to go during the day first.  Look at a map before you leave, and note the nearest metro stops and bus/trolley routes. You may walk at your own pace, but look alert and purposeful.  If you find yourself in uncomfortable surroundings, act as if you know what you are doing and where you are going, and move to a place where you are comfortable