Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

Safety Overview

U.S. State Department Information

Safety Tips for Traveling Abroad

Personal Safety

Securing Property

Additional Safety Tips

High Risk Activities

Alcohol

Illegal Drugs

Criminal Behavior

Emergency Procedures

Medical Emergencies

Fights

Arrests

Political Unrest, Riots, Civil Unrest, Acts of Terrorism and Natural Disasters

Safety Overview

Each student's safety is of particular concern to Summer Abroad. A few former UC study abroad students have been the unfortunate victims of burglaries, muggings, racial or sexual insults, and in rare cases, assaults. After arrival students are on unfamiliar ground both physically and culturally and in some cases, may be communicating in another language.

Familiarize yourself with your new host country and city. Preparation should begin before departure with independent reading about the host country and attendance at the UC Davis orientation sessions where you can talk with your instructor and in some cases, returnees, about their experiences. In addition, you should study guidebooks on the city and information on the public transportation there. Your Program Specific Guide includes websites featuring local news, local transportation, and local events at your destination. Your Lonely Planet guidebook features a helpful section on “dangers and annoyances” for some locations. Once on site, you will have an additional orientation session. Follow the safety guidelines outlined by your instructor at this session.

Your safety while traveling abroad depends not only on taking precautions like obtaining recommended inoculations and drinking only bottled water, but also on using good judgment in your everyday decisions. For example, pedestrians in other nations do not have the same rights or respect that pedestrians in Davis or California do. In fact, the most common cause of injuries and death for students traveling abroad is traffic-related accidents. So, be alert when using public or private transportation—and look both ways before crossing the street.

U.S. State Department Information
Review the safety and travel information provided by the U.S. Department of State’s travel site at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel. We strongly recommend that you study the Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings available on the "Tips for Traveling Abroad" page accessible via the left navigation bar. Summer Abroad does not send programs to destinations with active travel warnings. You should check the U.S. State Department status of any locations you plan to visit outside of the program. From the “Tips” you can also access other very helpful pages such as "Tips for Students" and "A Safe Trip Abroad."

Safety Tips for Traveling Abroad
Being aware of local events and cultural differences can help you avoid misunderstandings and/or confrontations. Be sure to read the section on etiquette and cultural competency that follows below. In addition to the advice below, follow the specific instructions in your PSG, and which your program instructor will share at your on-site orientation.

Personal Safety

• Trust your instincts. If you ever feel uncomfortable remove yourself from the situation, immediately.
• Use common sense!
• Keep a low profile and try not to make yourself conspicuous by dress, speech, or behavior that might identify you as a target.
• Study a map before going out; once on the street, use a pocket-size guidebook to avoid looking like a tourist. The staff at your accommodations can mark any dangerous areas on your map.  If you must ask for directions ask families or women with children.
• Avoid going places alone and never go anywhere alone with a new acquaintance.  If you must go out alone avoid being out after dark and always Leave a Trace.
• Leave a Trace—Leave a note or let someone know where you are going, with whom, when you expect to return, and what you are wearing.
• Look confident, even if you don’t know where you are going.
• Avoid demonstrations, protest groups or other potentially volatile situations.
• Avoid high-risk activities.
• Be wary of suspicious persons loitering around your residence or persons following you.
• Do not allow strangers into your rooms/ buildings.  
• Keep your room locked. 
• Should a car start to follow you, immediately turn and walk the opposite way.
• If attacked, run, fight, and yell as loud as possible.
• Never go out at night alone and do not invite casual acquaintances to your residence.

Securing Property

• Leave expensive items at home, locked up.
• Don’t wear jewelry. If you must travel with expensive items (cameras, laptops) use them discreetly and secure them when you go out.
• Keep an eye on your valuables when traveling on overnight flights, buses, or trains. Put your valuables in a security waist pack (rather than leaving them in your stowed carry on) and wear it while sleeping. When you go to the lavatory, take your purse/valuables with you.
• Keep your handbag and other valuables away from the street side when walking on sidewalks (and on escalators, away from the opposite ramp).
• Carry only enough money on your person for that day's purchases. Keep all other funds in a safe and secure location.
• Do NOT go alone to withdraw money from an ATM or cash traveler’s checks at a bank.
• Be alert when getting off a bus or train, or when riding escalators; that’s when pickpockets tend to strike.
• Don't exit a taxi until you're sure you've arrived at your destination. Pay while still in the car so that you can be sure you've gotten the proper change.
• Carry just one credit card and photocopies of important documents. Divide money for small and larger purchases so you don't have to expose a wad of bills. Become familiar with foreign currency before you need to use it.
• Put your foot through carry-on bags, backpacks or purses you set on the floor of restaurants or other public areas; don't leave it loose.
• For additional protection, purchase a policy to insure your possessions before departure.

Additional Safety Tips
Center for Global Education “Study Abroad Safety Handbook”
The Center for Global Education publishes an online Study Abroad Safety Handbook that provides resources and preparation tips for students considering studying abroad and parents trying to help them. The handbook should help you ask the right questions and find helpful resources for international study and travel” (http://www.studentsabroad.com/).

High Risk Activities
Sometimes students traveling abroad feel inspired to participate in high-risk activities that they wouldn't normally consider at home. High risk activities like skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping—or even body piercing, and tattooing—are not covered under the travel insurance policies put in place by Summer Abroad. In addition, you should keep in mind that safety regulations overseas are not always as strict as they are in the U.S. If any of these activities are appealing, please wait and try them at home.

Alcohol
You should never feel pressured into drinking more than you wish to drink (or engaging in any other potentially dangerous, illegal, or unhealthy personal behavior against your will) because you think you may offend another culture. Instead, find ways to say "no" that are not offensive. Usually a friendly but firm "no thank you" or hand-over-the-glass gesture does the job.
 
If you decide to drink and your drinking becomes disruptive or leads to a violation of your student contract, you can be expelled from the program.

If you drink alcohol while you are overseas, please follow the basic suggestions below to make sure you drink responsibly and don't get yourself in trouble or hurt.

• The best advice is "Everything in moderation, nothing in excess."
• For more information about alcohol and drinking responsibly, visit the UC Davis Cowell Student Health Center’s page on Alcohol Poisoning: http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/topics/alcoholpoisoning.html

Illegal Drugs
Know the laws of your host country. In many other nations, the use of illegal drugs is punishable by severe penalties—including death. Illegal drug use is a violation of your participant contract and can be the cause for your dismissal from the University of California. If you are caught with illegal drugs, you are subject to local (not U.S.) laws. American or foreign citizenship will not help an individual who has been arrested. If you are arrested for illegal drug use, there is nothing that the University of California or the U.S. Embassy can do to get you out of jail.

For more information, read the U.S. Department of State's Travel webpage on Drugs Abroad   

• http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/living/drugs/drugs_1237.html.

Criminal Behavior
Remember, you are subject to the laws of your host country. In many locations, you do not have the right of "innocence until proven guilty." Also, you may not have the right to bail and you may be detained without formal charges against you. Ignorance of local laws and foreign customs are not considered valid reasons for dismissal of criminal charges.

The best advice we can give is to know local laws and not assume that activities that are legal in the United States are also legal abroad. See the U.S. State Department Website for more information (www.travel.state.gov). As with illegal drug use, if you are arrested for criminal activities, there is nothing the University of California or the American Embassy can do to get you out of jail. However, for U.S. citizens the U.S. Embassy may be able to provide the names of competent attorneys and doctors.

Emergency Procedures

UC Davis Emergency Hotline
While on the program, should you find yourself in trouble or in need of assistance, your first point of contact is the program instructor. However, if you or a classmate requires immediate medical attention, contact the emergency paramedic services first; then inform the program instructor of the events leading to the emergency. Local emergency numbers for your site are available on the emergency card included in your orientation packet and at the back of your Program Specific Guide.

If the program instructor is unavailable or incapacitated, then an appointed student leader should contact the UC Davis Campus Dispatch Hotline (530) 752-1230. You may also call the Summer Abroad office collect during normal business hours (530-757-8308). Instructions for calling the U.S. from your destination appear in your Program Specific Guide and on your emergency card.

Medical Emergencies
In cases that require immediate medical attention, have someone call the paramedics right away. The local number appears on your emergency card and in the Program Specific Guide. Carry these numbers with you. If you are not with the program instructor, contact him/her as soon as possible. Give the health care provider the information from your HTH insurance card provided by Summer Abroad. You will be responsible for paying for treatment at the time of service; you will submit the claim to the insurance provider upon return.

Fights
The best prevention is to avoid the fight. If you have to, run away as fast as your feet can carry you! If you have been in a fight, follow these guidelines.

• Have a friend call the police.
• Once the police arrive, report the incident in a calm manner. Expressing anger towards the local police will not help.
• Take stock of any injuries and have your injuries treated.
• Inform the program instructor of the situation that led to the confrontation. If the incident occurred in an area well known for brawls, steer clear of the location in the future.

Arrests
Summer Abroad won't be able to get you out of jail. However, do contact your program instructor so that Summer Abroad can contact your emergency contact and inform them of your situation. Citizens of the U.S. can contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a list of lawyers. Citizens of other countries should contact their Embassy or consulate for possible assistance.

Political Unrest, Riots, Civil Unrest, Acts of Terrorism and Natural Disasters
UC Davis Summer Abroad follows U.S. State Department Public Announcements and Travel Warnings and uses this information when making programming decisions. Should the political situation in your host country become volatile, we may cancel the program and ask everyone to return to the U.S. as quickly as possible.

If you are suddenly in or near a volatile situation (i.e. riot)—or caught in severe environmental conditions (hurricane, earthquake, flood, etc.),

• Get to a safe location as quickly as possible.
• If possible, treat any injuries—or seek treatment for any injuries.
• Follow instructions given by emergency personnel.
• Count your party and take note of any missing members.
• If possible, contact the program instructor and report your location, all parties accounted and unaccounted for, and the health conditions of everyone in the party.
• If you cannot contact the program instructor, please contact Summer Abroad. You may make a collect call; we will accept the charges. We will inform your emergency contact person(s) of your condition and any other available information.

{Next: Go to Chapter Eight}

{Return to SASH table of contents}