Promoting Health & Safety Abroad: BASIC HEALTH & SAFETY TIPS

Questions you should be able to answer:

1. What specific travel advisories has the Department of State recently issued for the countries to which you will be traveling?
2. What types of crimes are common in the area/city where you will be studying & living abroad?
3. What health recommendations has the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recently made for the countries to which you will be traveling?
4. Are there any immunizations you must get before entering the countries to which you will travel?
5. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, or you need to carry special medications overseas, what should you do before you go abroad?
6. With whom can you leave copies of your important health-related documents?
7. Will your prescription drug(s) be legal and/or available in your host country?
8. What is the generic name for your medication?
9. Does the staff speak English & the foreign country's language(s) fluently to communicate the nature of any medical conditions?
10. Do you have access to adequate medical facilities?
11. What is the cost of typical medical services?
12. Who among the program staff should be informed of your travel plans, or who can serve as an emergency contact for your family back home?
13. Who is your emergency contact in the U.S.? Do they have copies of your important documents? Can they make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself (do they have power of attorney)?
14. If you have to return to the U.S. because of evacuation or medical emergency, will you be refunded for the program fee?
15. What are the general sanitary conditions in your host country? What kinds of precautions are necessary when drinking water or eating local food?
16. Do you have any dietary restrictions? If so, do they pose a problem in your host country?
17. How extensive, safe, & reliable is the public transportation system in your host country or region?
18. How much walking will you be doing in your host country? How can you prepare yourself for higher levels of physical activity?
19. What should you carry in a first aid kit?

The process of wellness starts before you go abroad with a visit to your doctor. You may need to get Inoculations to protect yourself from infectious diseases endemic in the countries you will visit. You will also study some tips to make sure you drink clean water & eat germ-free food.

Know About the countries you are planning to travel:
Learn all you can about the health & safety issues of the countries you plan to visit. This includes understanding the cultural & political climate of those countries, as well as learning about how others view people from your country, race, ethnic group, religion, gender & sexual orientation.

Infectious Diseases & Inoculations:
Get information about the infectious diseases endemic in countries to which you will be traveling, & get the suitable shots & pills, & take the proper medications with you if your general practitioner thinks it's necessary. Find out about any probable side-effects of shots & pills that you may take.

Physicals & Check-ups:
Get a whole physical, eye exam & dental check-up before going in a foreign country.

Can You Drink the Water?
Find out if water is safe & pure to drink in the countries to which you will be traveling. Filter unsafe water before you drink it. Make sure water bottles come sealed when you buy them. Remember that ice can also be unsafe, as well as the water you use to brush your teeth.

Food Safety:
Poor refrigeration, undercooked meat, & roadside/outdoor vendors could pose problems related to food contamination. If you get diarrhea or food poisoning, remember to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. As with any illness, consider seeing a doctor if your condition worsens. Give your body time to adjust to new types of foods you will be eating.

Laws & Codes of Conduct:
Make yourself aware of both the rules & regulations of the study abroad program sponsor, & the local laws & customs of the countries which you will be visiting. Understand that you will not only have to conform to the legal system of the country you will be visiting, but also obey the codes of conduct required of program participants.

Mental & Physical Health:
Consider your own mental & physical health issues when applying for a study abroad program, & make all your necessary health information available to the program's administrators so they can assist you with any special needs, or advise you on the risks you might face. Study abroad may include both physical & mental challenges for students.

Prescriptions:
Get a doctor's signed prescription for any medication you have to bring abroad. Some prescriptions may need to be translated if you wish to fill them abroad. Include your glasses or contact lens prescription. Bring an extra pair of glasses.

First-Aid Kit:
Consider a well-stocked first-aid kit as a first line of defense. Some items to include are: sunscreen, bandages, flashlight, sterile pads, insect repellent, adhesive tape, aspirin, antacid, anti-diarrhea tablets, anti-malarial medication, extra bottled water, feminine protection, condoms, rubber gloves, etc.

Fitness & Exercise:
Try to get fit in the time you have before departing overseas. A healthy body can help you to fight off illness & recover faster if you do get sick. Also, try to stay fit while abroad, even though it may be harder to follow a structured workout routine.

Walking:
Get a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. Without access to a car or public transportation abroad, you may have to do quite a bit of walking. Break in your shoes before you go.

Emergency Contacts: Keep the program staff & an emergency contact at home well informed of your whereabouts & activities & provide these people with copies of your important travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, plane tickets, traveler's checks, & prescriptions).

Air Travel:
When you travel by air, drink a lot of non-alcoholic fluids, stay away from caffeine, eat light, & stretch often to avoid jetlag. A direct flight is usually easier for most travelers, but flights broken up by stops can also lessen jet lag.

Transportation:
Accidents involving in-country travel, whether by air, bus, train, taxi, car, etc., are a major cause of injury to students abroad. It is important to understand what the safe modes of travel are abroad.

Alcohol & Drugs:
Use & abuse of alcohol & drugs abroad can increase the risk of accident and injury. Many study abroad accidents & injury are related to the use & abuse of alcohol & drugs abroad. Violating drug laws abroad may result in very serious consequences. In some countries, being found guilty of violating drug laws can result in consequences as serious as death.

Setting an Example:
Set a good example. Remember you are like an ambassador for your U.S. college or university. Behave in a way that is respectful of others' rights & well-being and encourage others to do the same.