Health and safety

Get a good night’s sleep for several nights before your departure. Go to bed a little earlier and get up a little earlier than usual to help prepare your internal clock for the time change.

• Drink lots of water on the plane. Buy a big bottle of water after you get through security. Drink 2-3 liters of water on a travel day. Avoid caffeine, soft drinks, and alcohol (they dehydrate you).
• On arrival day, do not take a nap. Exercise and natural light help overcome jetlag.
• Power through the day and go to sleep at about 10:00 pm.
• Don’t drink alcohol! Re-hydrate from the long flight with lots of water.

You should realize that anytime you travel abroad there is potential for danger due to crime, political unrest, unforeseen "Acts of God," strikes that will delay your travel plans, etc. Therefore, we recommend that, if you have any concerns about traveling to a particular place, check the US Government Travel Advisory. This can be found on the Internet at: http://www.state.gov. You should also register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://step.state.gov/step/.

• Familiarize yourself with the State Department’s travel site and recommendations: travel.state.gov.
•  Make sure you have a working cell phone for your entire time abroad and share your number with the program administration.
•  Beware of becoming intoxicated and do not get involved in drugs.
•  Buddy system – stay together, travel in SMALL groups.
•  Be cautious when you meet new people and NEVER bring them into your accommodations - even while travelling on holidays.
•  Blend in: Be mindful of appearance and behavior. Don’t be loud and obnoxious. Avoid expensive accessories when traveling.  Don’t flash money/passport.
•  Be aware of your surroundings: “If you see something suspicious, say something.”
•  Know the local emergency numbers.
•  Remain up-to-date on current events – at your destination and at home.
•  Photocopy important travel documents – leave a copy at home.
•  Report any unusual activity or suspicious persons to the home institution administration.
•  Be aware of the political situation wherever you are. Stay away from places that are experiencing political unrest.
•  Keep away from areas known to have large concentrations of residents aligned with interests unfriendly to the United States.
•  Avoid events with large crowds, such as concerts, sporting matches, or demonstrations of any sort.
•  Avoid the media and don't feel like you have to comment or give an interview.

• Let program administrators and your family know where you are going.
• Make sure your cell phone is working while you are travelling (charger, credit, not airplane mode).
•  Avoid events with large crowds, such as concerts, sporting matches, or demonstrations of any sort.
•  Keep your passport safe! Don’t keep all your travel documents and money in one place.
•  Inform yourself about the local U.S. embassies and consulates.
•  Don’t leave your bags or belongings unattended at any time.
•  Don’t let anyone give you anything to carry when traveling.
•  Have sufficient funds and/or a credit card on hand to purchase emergency items such as transportation tickets.
•  Don’t flash your money and be discreet when showing your passport.
• These are just a few general rules you should be aware of. Most often, common sense will tell you what to do. Therefore, it is imperative that you avoid a situation in which common sense does not prevail--being intoxicated and using drugs.

In study abroad, as in other settings, participants can have a major impact on their own health and safety through the decisions they make before and during their program and by their day-to-day choices and behaviors.

Participants Should:

• Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.
• Read and carefully consider all materials issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies).
• Conduct their own research on the country(ies) they plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as the social, cultural, and political situations.
• Consider their physical and mental health, and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to the sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.
• Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.
• Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of their whereabouts and activities.
• Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.
• Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health and safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program.
• Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions.
• Obey host-country laws.
• Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.
• Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
• Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of their whereabouts and well-being.
• Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in the host country.

In study abroad, as in other settings, parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas:

Parents/guardians/families should:

• Be informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to enroll in a particular program.
• Obtain and carefully evaluate participant program materials, as well as related health, safety, and security information.
• Discuss with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.
• Engage the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.
• Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding the participant.
• Keep in touch with the participant.
• Be aware that the participant rather than the program administration may most appropriately provide some information.