Transcript How to Have a Healthy & Safe International Trip

How to Have a
Healthy and
Safe International
Experience
University of New Mexico
Global Education Office
Preparing to Study Abroad
 Visit the UNM Travel Clinic or your doctor for a health
consultation and evaluation
 Prepare and take an up-to-date vaccination report
with you
 Make sure you are current with routine vaccinations:
Measles, polio, tetanus (DPT), hepatitis A&B
 Make sure you have any required vaccinations for all
regions you plan to visit—CDC website
More Preparations
 Deal with health problems before you leave, e.g. wounds,
skin problems, sexually transmitted diseases, anxiety,
depression, eating disorders, drug or alcohol issues, etc.
 Talk with your doctor about contraceptives and birth
control options
 Ask your doctor about how to maintain your supply of
prescription drugs
 Carry copies of your prescriptions, and make sure bottles
have the original labels
Before you Leave
 Make copies of your important documents
like passport, credit cards, birth certificate,
and leave a set with your family
 E-mail a copy to yourself, and carry an
extra set in your checked luggage
 Give parents or a trusted friend a “Power
of Attorney” form specifying what you are
authorizing them to do
 Take an extra pair of glasses or contact
lenses and a copy of your vision
prescription
Culture Shock and Homesickness
 These happen to everyone who travels;
know what to expect
 Read and talk with others who have
traveled about dealing with culture
shock and homesickness
 Think about the strategies you already use to deal
with stress in your life
 Talk with friends and family about how to stay in
touch
Before you leave
 Exercise, get in better physical shape
 Pack a small first aid kit
 Learn first aid, CPR, and learn to swim
 Read about the risks in the places your are
going using the State Dept. travel guides
and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
websites
http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm
If you have any serious or potential
medical conditions
 Tell your group leader or a trusted friend about
your condition or essential medications you take
 Carry a doctor’s letter or description of your issues,
and the telephone number of your doctor
 Plan what you will need to do if you have an
episode or medical reaction
 Seek medical or mental health care from a
recommended provider if you experience any
serious problems
While you are Studying
Abroad
 Make sure you know about the
safety of local foods and water
wherever you go
 Limit intake of raw or undercooked
food
 Wash your hands
 Get rest and exercise
 Stay hydrated
 Take care of wounds or insect bites
You are what you eat
Check periodically: How am I Feeling?
 Having digestive problems?
 Have a fever?
 How are you sleeping at night?
 Any wounds or insect bites?
 Are you especially tired or stressed?
If any of these gets worse, see a
doctor
Mental Health Check
 Are you experiencing serious
culture
shock,
homesickness,
loneliness, or depression?
 Are you withdrawing or avoiding
contact with other people?
 Are you having trouble working and studying?
 If so, who can you talk to about it?
Your friends, fellow students, international student
advisors, counselors, your family
Environmental Hazards
 Prepare to deal with and dress for weather and climate -sun, heat, cold, wind, altitude, challenging outdoor
activities
 Remember that dogs, bats and other mammals can carry
rabies
 Learn about local hazards: spiders, snakes, insects, plants
 Learn the local laws and customs for pedestrians, bikes and
driving
Insect Borne Diseases
Malaria
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Consult your doctor about
prescription medications to prevent
exposure
Dengue, Lyme disease, tick-borne
encephalitis, West Nile virus, etc.
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Insect repellent with DEET 30-50% or
Picaridin 20% is most effective
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Use Permethrin spray for clothing
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Use a mosquito net for sleeping
Learn Causes, Symptoms and Treatment for
Diseases you may Encounter
For symptoms of any of these, seek medical help
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Malaria
Typhoid
Yellow Fever
Dengue Fever
Cholera
Rabies
 Tick-borne
diseases
 Gonorrhea
 Herpes
 Altitude
Sickness
 HIV/AIDS
 Measles
The most common cause of injuries and
death while abroad is:
ACCIDENTS -- automobile, bike, pedestrian, sports, swimming,
ESPECIALLY WHEN MIXED
WITH ALCOHOL
Safety
 Talk to knowledgeable locals about safety and listen to
their advice
 Be responsible for your peers and keep your group
together
 Let friends know where you are going and when you plan
to be back
 No student should be on the street alone late at night
 Stay in well-lit areas where there are other people after
dark
 Keep valuables out of sight—cameras, jewelry, watches,
I-Pods
Safety
 Keep valuables protected from
pickpockets
 Avoid demonstrations, civil disturbances
and large crowds
 Do not discuss travel plans in front of
strangers
 Buy and carry a cell phone
 If confronted do not argue or fight back
unless you are attacked. Give up valuables
if robbed.
Safety
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Use only official taxis and discuss the fare before getting into the vehicle
Always demand the driver use a meter
Don’t accept food or drink from strangers
Do not use ATM machines at night or in isolated places. Those inside
banks are best.
 As much as possible avoid dress and behavior that identifies you as a
foreigner
Sexual Harassment
 Learn to recognize the forms it takes
 Talk about it with your peers
 Report it if you see it or feel it
 It can be direct or subtle, and come from
strangers or someone you trust
 It is not acceptable from group leaders,
students, teachers, locals, strangers,
relatives or anyone else
Sexual Harassment
 Street harassment of women and men is common in
many parts of the world
 If possible ignore it and walk away. Engaging will
encourage the perpetrator
 If it becomes more threatening, try to get away,
shout and seek help from others
 Fight back if you have to in order to get away
 Report it to police whenever you can
Using Alcohol Responsibly
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Never binge drink
Know and respect your limits
Don’t go to bars alone
Stay with your group
Protect your drinks at all times
If you are drunk, you are vulnerable
Never drink and drive
Illegal Drugs:
Zero Tolerance
Water Recreation
 Alcohol and swimming never mix
 No one goes swimming alone
 Find out how who in your group
can swim
 Find out who has lifeguard training
 No diving in lakes, oceans or rivers
 Always use life vests in boats
Extreme Sports
 Don’t engage in activities you have not been trained in, e.g.
scuba diving, rock climbing, motorcycling, etc.
 Don’t do any sports while drinking or using drugs
 Remember that some insurance policies will not cover
injuries from sports or activities like bungee jumping, sky
diving, scuba, boxing or running with bulls
Sexual Health and
Safety
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Always use condoms
Avoid high risk sexual behavior
Don’t go home with strangers
Do not go with anyone if you are
drunk or on drugs
 Protect your drink at all times
 Know and abide by local age of
consent laws
Sexual and Emotional Relationships
 Remember that sexual and other relationships involve responsibilities
and reciprocity
 Respect your partner’s feelings and values (and your own)
 Do not put others at risk by your behavior
 Do not encourage emotional involvement if you are not serious about a
relationship
 Understand cultural differences in dating, relationships and sexuality in
other societies
Post-Travel
 Seek medical attention for any post- travel
medical concerns
 Get a tuberculosis (TB) test
 If you have been to regions with special risks
like malaria, disclose it before donating blood
 Complete UNM program evaluations to help
future students
 Pay attention to “Reverse Culture Shock”
Have a Great
International
Experience!