| RETURNED
STUDENTS' SAFETY AND HEALTH TIPS |
| Prepare
Before you Go • Practice
Common Sense • Take
Personal Responsibility |
| PREPARE
BEFORE YOU GO: |
| |
READ
ABOUT SAFETY & HEALTH CONDITIONS IN COUNTRIES
IN WHICH YOU WILL TRAVEL |
• Read
about potential safety and health issues for
no only your country of study, but other countries
you may visit. "I had no problems in Spain, but
had stomach problems from an excursion in Morocco
for which I had not prepared."
|
| |
TAKE
CARE OF ESSENTIAL MEDICAL MATTERS |
Immunizations & Prescriptions: • If
taking prescription medicines, check with your
doctor before you leave about any vitamins or
non-prescription items you definitely should
not mix. • Make sure you are up to date
on your immunizations prior to leavings. • Remember
what foods you are allergic to, even if just
mild, and avoid drinking or eating anything related
to this. Ask what is in the food and drinks.
Health Exams: • Try
to get your health examinations BEFORE
you go (that means chest x-rays).
Preventative
Medicines: • Prepare
to take prescription or over the counter
medication, especially
if difficult
to
get abroad. "It
is always a good idea to include some
pepto-bismo tablets (not the liquid because
the plane has a funny effect on it)."
"Sleeping pills my also help to insure
a good night's
sleep the first couple of days due to
time change differences.""Might
be wise to bring along stomach medicine
and hand sanitizer."
Medical Resources: • Take
a medical dictionary.
|
| |
KNOW
ABOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE AND AVAILABILITY OF
HEALTH FACILITIES ABROAD |
• Be
informed where to seek medical attention for
emergencies and regular care. • Don't
leave home without insurance, and make sure
you know
who to contact to submit claims. • Learn
where English speaking doctors and hospitals
are early on in the trip.
|
| |
KNOW
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WHILE ABROAD |
• ...have
emergency numbers handy, as well as numbers
of doctors approved by insurance. • Look
into a cell phone for emergencies.
|
| PRACTICE
SAME COMMON SENSE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS USED AT
HOME (RETURN TO TOP) |
| • Don't
be stupid. If you should not do it in the states,
don't do it in a foreign country |
| TAKE
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: (RETURN
TO TOP) |
| |
FOR
STAYING HEALTHY |
• Know
your limits as far as heat, cold, wet, etc. • Get
enough sleep so your immune system doesn't crash.• Stay
active to keep healthy. • Drink enough
water each day to keep hydrated. • Eat
healthy and don't over indulge. • ...wash
or sanitize your hands often. • Take hydrogen
peroxide for cuts that are common. • Don't
drink too much <alcohol>. • Smoking,
drinking in excess, partying all the time will
depress your immune system and ruin the experience. • Rinse
shared cooking supplies before use. • Keep
healthy in terms of smoking and so on.
|
| |
FOR
STAYING SAFE |
• Be
smart."2 a.m. is 2 a.m. no matter
where you are so use your head about staying
out late." • Make sure you always
have a ride home if you'll be drinking. • Don't
do anything you don't feel safe doing. • Staying
in groups makes things a little easier until
you get to know the area better. • It is
a good ideas to find a buddy to do things with. • Try
to blend in for safety; do not flash money. • Be
careful at bars. • Don't go home alone
or let friends go home alone (take a reliable
taxi) "You
aren't in Disney World, but a foreign country." |
| |
FOR
PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY |
| • Keep
belongings close to you at all times. • Never
set a purse down; keep it on your body. Do not
bring or wear any expensive watches or jewelry. • Be
careful on the amount of spending money you take
out with you at night. • Do not carry laptop
computer in laptop case; get one of those computer
back packs. • Lock up
everything. |
| |
FOR
KNOWING YOUR LOCAL SURROUNDINGS |
• Consult
with school and host families about customs regarding
dress and places to avoid. • If you are not
familiar to a place/city you would like to visit,
even though you might go in a group sometimes it’s
more fun, more relaxing and a lot easier going
in a tour group. |
| |
FOR
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR HOSTS AND OTHER KEY LOCALS |
| • Always
take phone numbers with you of host family, residence,
school, police. "Always
take phone numbers with you of the Tica family
and the police."
"Don't
go out with people you barely know and if you
do make sure to tell comeone in your program
or building where you are going and with whom,
or better yet, take a friend along. |
| |
FOR
DEALING WITH GENDER ISSUES |
| • The
men are very different in other countries. You
can't act the same around them as you would in
the US. "People are friendly and flattering,
but be guarded around the men who try to befriend
females because they think American women are easy." |
| |
FOR
DEALING WITH LOCAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION (RETURN
TO TOP) |
| • Drivers
in many countries do not respect the right away
of pedestrians. "Watch
out for crazy drivers." |
