Travel Resources

Health and Safety Abroad

Health

Make sure you have had a complete medical and dental checkup before you go abroad. If you have any medical condition that needs special attention, such as diabetes, get and plan to wear a MedicAlert bracelet. For information, contact MedicAlert Foundation International, 2323 Colorado Ave., Turlock, CA 95382, or 1-888-633-4298 (toll-free).

Over-the-Counter Medications
For a cold or cough, don’t take any drugs that you would not take at home. Many students find that they are more susceptible to colds at first. We recommend you take your favorite cold remedy with you. You may not be able to find a suitable over-the-counter (OTC) equivalent, nor will you be inclined to venture out if you are not feeling well.

Consider also taking aspirin, or other common (in the U.S.) pain relievers. Many students coming to the United States for the first time are astounded at the variety of medications available in drug stores. You, in contrast, may be surprised by the lack thereof overseas, so be prepared accordingly.

Prescription Medications
If you are taking any prescription medicines, take an adequate supply and a copy of the prescription with you to show to customs officials. Keep all medications, vitamins, etc. in their original containers. If you will need to refill the prescription while abroad, ask your doctor to provide you with a typewritten diagnosis-prescription.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, take an extra pair with you, and the original prescription. Contact-lens wearers may want to consider taking extra bottles of solution as costs for these items overseas can be quite steep.

Your Doc-in-a-Box
When putting together a small kit of health aids, check the trial-size section of your drugstore. It’s a perfect source for these items:
• Band-Aids
• Alcohol wipes
• Sunburn ointment
• Anti-diarrhea medicine
• Gauze and adhesive tape
• Antibacterial ointment
• Pain reliever
• Antihistamines
• Skin moisturizers
• Thermometer
• Mole skin for blisters
• Tweezers
• Depending on the region, include salt tablets, purification tablets, insect repellent and bite relief, and a sting kit if you are allergic to bee stings

Immunizations
No immunizations are required in most European countries. However, a booster for diphtheria and tetanus is recommended if you have not had one in the past 10 years. Be sure that your MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) immunization is current.

When preparing to study/travel to other countries, consult your doctor early. Because some immunizations are done in series, over a period of weeks or months, you must plan ahead to ensure that you receive effective protection. Finally, keep your International Certificate of Vaccination with your passport at all times.

Medical Care Overseas
Remember that medical care varies from country to country. Emergency rooms are used only for immediate, life-threatening incidents, not hay fever attacks, sinus infections, bad sunburns, etc. Payment is often required at time of treatment, so be sure you have adequate funds for such emergencies.

Insurance
Before traveling to some countries, you are required to show proof of insurance before your visa is issued.
• Insurance coverage should include medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
• All students traveling on SPU faculty-led programs will be provided with medical insurance for the duration of the program through HTH Worldwide
• For non-SPU programs, students are advised to check with the program provider and/or your parents’ policies as your time spent abroad may be covered by their insurance company. In many cases, overseas coverage can be added on for an additional fee.
• Most programs, including SPU faculty-led programs, do not include trip interruption or cancellation coverage. This means that if you had to cancel from a program or had to leave early for any reason, your unused trip expenses may not be refundable. We STRONGLY advise students to consider purchasing insurance to cover unexpected cancellations. There are many insurance companies that offer this type of travel insurance. Please contact the study abroad office for more information.

Safety

Use common sense while traveling and don’t do things you wouldn’t do in the United States.

• Don’t walk alone at night.
• Keep people informed of your itinerary when you go somewhere, even if you plan to be away just overnight.
• Register with the local American consulate office.
• Keep a low profile – don’t draw attention to yourself with jewelry, expensive clothes, etc.
• Take precautions – don’t give out your phone number or address to strangers.
• Avoid situations where you might lose all control due to over-consumption of alcohol.
• On trains or metros, select cars or compartments with lots of people. There is safety in numbers. Women may want to select train compartments with older couples.
• Watch out for pickpockets and scam artists. While you may be smarter than they are, they are experienced in scamming tourists, so watch your belongings! Your wallet can disappear before you even realize who bumped into you.

Traveling
We hope that each and every one of you will have at least one opportunity to travel around and see the sites of your host country. We also want you to be safe.
• Use a money belt for anything you wouldn’t want to lose. Sleep with it, even in hostels or hotels. And never leave luggage unattended, even for a moment.
• When taking the train, choose compartments with people in them.
• Note the location of emergency equipment on any sort of vehicle.
• Don’t fall asleep on short trips. You could wind up inadvertently taking a long ride.
• Don’t stand on the edge of a train or metro platform.
• Keep your wallet in a side pocket/keep your purse closed. When in large crowds, carry your backpack in front of you. If you put it down, even for a moment, put your foot through the strap.
• If someone is bothering you, inform the driver or train operator.
• Beware of scams and keep an eye open for potential problems.
• Make use of lockers or safes in hostels/hotels.
• Buy a chain bicycle lock and use it to secure your luggage to racks or poles on trains and buses. Usually the presence of the lock itself will be enough of a deterrent to thieves.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment while overseas is any unwanted sexual advances from anyone with power over any aspect of your stay overseas, including your living arrangements and your educational or work environment.

Sometimes it is difficult to evaluate whether or not you’re being sexually harassed. Americans sometimes react with discomfort to the normal conversational distance between people in a culture they are exploring, and you should be aware of your own feelings within that context. However, no one, male or female, studying abroad should have to suffer from unwelcome sexual pressure. Should it persist, inform the appropriate officials, including your host coordinator, and inform us as soon as possible so that we may intervene on your behalf. (Excerpted from Sexual Harassment, by Joan N. Savitt, Ph.D., and Gloria DeSole, Ph.D.)

Driving
Statistics show that the most dangerous activity for Americans overseas is riding in or driving motor vehicles.
• If you plan to drive overseas, familiarize yourself with the local driving laws, both spoken and unspoken.
• Learn to recognize the international road signs
• You may be required by local laws to obtain a local driver’s license.
• Many countries do not require that you obtain a local driver’s license, but do require that you carry an international diving permit (IDP) in addition to your U.S. driver’s license. (See AAA’s application form for a list of countries in which this is acceptable, and to apply for an IDP.)
• Even though it may not be the local law or custom, wear your seat belt at all times while either riding in or driving a car.

Illegal Drugs
In one word: Don’t! While you may find that illegal drugs are easier to obtain overseas, drug dealers are often paid by police to turn in buyers. Most foreign countries have extremely harsh penalties, including execution, for anyone caught in possession of illegal drugs. If you are caught with drugs, relatives and lawyers may not be permitted access to you.

You are not protected by the U.S. Embassy, Seattle Pacific University, or study abroad program authorities if you break local laws.