Health and Safety Information
Adapted from Going Global Handbook by WPIWhen studying abroad, there are a number of precautions you should follow in order to travel safely:
- Do not leave your bags or belongings unattended at any time. Security in airports and train stations are instructed to remove or destroy any unattended baggage. Do not agree to carry or look after packages or suitcases for individuals you do not know well. If someone approaches you to make such a request, tell security immediately. Make sure that no one puts anything in your luggage without your knowledge. Take all questions from airport personnel seriously and do not make jokes in response to security questions.
- Safeguard your passport! Your passport is the most valuable document you will carry abroad. It is your best form of identification and confirms your citizenship, you must guard it carefully. Do not lend it to anyone or use it as collateral for a loan of any sort. You will need it when you check into hotels, embassies or consulates, or when cashing travelers checks. Some countries require that you carry it with you at all times as a means of identification. When you carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag, bookbag, backpack or in an exposed pocket.
- Never keep all of your documents and money in one place or suitcase. You should make a list of all of your important numbers - your passport information as well as credit cards, travelers’ checks and airline ticket numbers. Leave a copy at home, and carry a copy with you, separate from your valuables.
- Always keep the Study Abroad Office of your host institution informed of your whereabouts. If you plan to travel during the term, you must give them your itinerary in writing. All students need to be accounted for every weekend whether you are traveling or not. Tell them where you are going, with whom and when you will return.
- Notify the Study Abroad Office of your host institution if you are delayed in order to inform them that you are safe.
- Have sufficient funds or a credit card on hand to purchase emergency items such as train or airline tickets.
- Always be careful about traveling alone.
- All SC students who are participating studying abroad are expected to behave in a manner so as to not put themselves at risk.
- All SC students have an obligation to look out for each other and themselves. This means that if one SC student observes another engaging in risky behavior, that student should report the behavior to the Study Abroad Office at the home institution. Repeated behavior identified as risky can result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate dismissal from the program.
- Be as inconspicuous in dress and demeanor as possible. If the host country nationals do not wear baseball caps and sneakers, you will stand out as a foreigner if you do.
- Do not flash money or documents in public places. Be discreet in displaying your passport.
Safety Tips from the US State Department
Crime in many parts of the world seems to be increasing. Visitors should take common sense precautions:
- Safety begins when you pack. Leave expensive jewelry behind. Dress conservatively; a flashy wardrobe or one that is too casual can mark you as a tourist. Use travelers’ checks, not cash. Leave photocopies of your passport personal information page and your airline tickets with someone at home and carry an extra set with you.
- Use a money belt or a concealed money pouch for passports, cash and other valuables.
- In a car, keep doors locked, windows rolled up and valuables out of sight. A common trick is for a thief to reach through a car window and grab a watch from a persons’ wrist or a purse or package from the seat while you are driving slowly or stopped in traffic.
- When you leave your car, try to find a guarded parking lot. Lock the car and keep valuables out of sight.
- When walking, avoid marginal areas of cities, dark alleys and crowds. Do not stop if you are approached on the street by strangers, including street vendors and beggars. Be aware that women and small children, as well as men, can be pickpockets or purse-snatchers. Keep your billfold in an inner front pocket, carry your purse tucked securely under your arm, and wear the shoulder-strap of your camera or bag across your chest. To guard against thieves on motorcycles, walk away from the curb, carrying your purse away from the street.
- Use official taxi stands rather than cruising taxis. Illegal taxis can be decoys for robbers.
- Whenever possible, do not travel alone. If you travel in isolated areas, go with a group or a reputable guide.
- Avoid travel at night.
- Money exchangers on the street pass off counterfeit U.S. dollars and local currency. Credit card fraud is growing.
- Do not take valuables to the mountains or on excursions.
AVOIDING TRAVEL RISKS
Prepared By:
William L. Granahan CIC,LIA,CMC, Senior Consultant
J.H. Albert International Insurance Advisors, Inc.
Two Chestnut Place
72 River Park
Needham Heights, MA 02494-2631
Planning and Preparing:
- Do not display provocative luggage tags, overly patriotic displays or any other indications that you are from the United States;
- Do not pack anything that could be construed as a weapon, including knives, nail files, razors or other sharp instruments;
- Arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance of your flight.
Air and Ground Travel:
- Dress casual and look like a traveler; do not dress like a “flamboyant” US patriot;
- Spend little time in foreign airports or public transportation areas that carry a high risk of or invite terrorist attacks;
- Avoid air, rail and local ground carriers from countries where terrorist groups are based or have grievances;
- Avoid flights or trains with intermediate stops, especially stops in hostile countries, which would allow terrorists to board;
In the Country:
- Avoid countries, areas of countries and regions, even for leisure travel on weekends, that are hostile or likely to be hostile to Americans;
- Study and understand the customs and political environment of the country(s) you are visiting;
- Be prudent in your choice of eating and drinking establishments;
- Avoid political discussions, confrontation and arguments;
- Do not reveal personal information to casual acquaintances;
- Beware of overly friendly or flirtatious persons;
- Always travel in groups of two or more people;
- Should you find yourself present during a coup, uprising or riot, remain in a safe harbor, such as your hotel or residence, that is not apt to be a military target;
- Carry the phone number and address of the American Embassy and local police – and a cell phone if possible;
- Return to your apartment or living quarters at a reasonable, early hour every night.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the SpokesmanFor Immediate Release
February 8, 2002
MEDIA NOTE
State Department Alerts Students To Risks Of Overseas Travel
Each February the Department of State distributes information to over 1,500 college and university newspapers to alert American students traveling abroad during their spring and summer breaks about conditions that may affect their safety and welfare. Students, who can be caught off-guard by differences in local practices and unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes face the risk of arrest in connection with drug and alcohol abuse and can become the victims of crime while traveling in foreign countries.
The information is provided as part of the Department’s effort to inform as many Americans as possible of hazards they may encounter outside the U.S. We endeavor to achieve as wide a distribution as possible to some of our most vulnerable travelers—young people going abroad, some of them for the first time. The State Department urges college and university newspapers to use the information in the attached “Fact Sheet” on Travel Safety Information for Students. We encourage students and to consult the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site, http://travel.state.gov, for the latest travel safety information.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular AffairsFebruary 8, 2002
FACT SHEET
Travel Safety Information for Students
As the time approaches for spring or summer breaks, many college students are getting ready for that much anticipated trip abroad. Most will have a safe and enjoyable adventure, but for some, the trip will become a nightmare. A number of ruined vacations are caused by one or more of the following: drugs, alcohol and disorderly behavior.
Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad—about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances. A drug that may be legal in one country may not be legal in a neighboring nation. Some young people are victimized because they may be unaware of the laws, customs, or standards of the country they are visiting. Besides drugs, alcohol can also get U.S. citizens in trouble abroad. Students have been arrested for being intoxicated in public areas, for underage drinking, and for drunk driving. Some young Americans go abroad assuming that local authorities will overlook such conduct. Many believe that they are immune from prosecution in foreign countries because they are American citizens. The truth is that Americans are expected to obey all of the laws of the countries they visit, and those who break these laws sometimes face severe penalties, including prison sentences.
Disorderly or reckless behavior is also to be avoided. In many countries, conduct that would not result in an arrest here in the U.S. constitutes a violation of local law. It is crucial that young Americans be aware of this risk as they are enjoying their time abroad.
Being arrested is not the only thing that can happen on a foreign vacation. Young Americans have suffered injury or even death from automobile accidents, drowning, and falls, in addition to other mishaps. While these accidents are sometimes chance occurrences, many are caused by alcohol or drug abuse. Sadly, other Americans have been raped or robbed because they have found themselves in unfamiliar locales or are incapable of exercising prudent judgment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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 become familiar with the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to visit before you travel. To obtain more information about traveling abroad, check the Department of State’s web site at http://travel.state.gov.Safety If You Rent a Car
- As SC students studying abroad, you are strongly discouraged from renting a car during your time in the program.
- Known risks include road safety, familiarity with road conditions, condition of the vehicles available for rent and the possibility of identifying yourself as a tourist.
- If you choose to rent a car, you do so at your own risk.
- When you rent a car, don’t go for the exotic; choose a type commonly available locally.
- Where possible, ask that markings that identify it as a rental car be removed. Make certain it is in good repair. If available, choose a car with universal door locks and power windows, features that give the driver better control of access to the car. An air conditioner, when available, is also a safety feature, allowing you to drive with windows closed. Thieves can and do snatch purses through open windows of moving cars.
- Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear seat belts.
- As much as possible, avoid driving at night.
- Do not leave valuables in the car. If you must carry things with you, keep them out of sight locked in the trunk.
- Do not park your car on the street overnight. If the hotel or municipality does not have a parking garage or other secure area, select a well-lit area.
- Never pick up hitchhikers.
- Do not get out of the car if there are suspicious looking individuals nearby. Drive away.
Patterns Of Crime Against Motorists
In many places frequented by tourists, including areas of Europe, victimization of motorists has been refined to an art. Where it is a problem, U.S. embassies are aware of it and consular officers try to work with local authorities to warn the public about the dangers. In some locations, these efforts at public awareness have paid off, reducing the frequency of incidents. You may also wish to ask your rental car agency for advice on avoiding robbery while visiting tourist destinations.Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway. Be suspicious of anyone who hails you or tries to get your attention when you are in or near your car.
Criminals use ingenious ploys. They may masquerade as good Samaritans, offering help for tires that they claim are flat or that they have made flat. Or they may flag down a motorist, ask for assistance, and then steal the rescuer’s luggage or car. Usually they work in groups, one person carrying on the pretense while the others rob you. Other criminals get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road, or causing an “accident” by rear-ending you or creating a “fender bender.” In some urban areas, thieves don’t waste time on ploys, they simply smash car windows at traffic lights, grab your valuables or your car and get away. In cities around the world, “defensive driving” has come to mean more than avoiding auto accidents; it means keeping an eye out for potentially criminal pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders.
