Part 1: Safety Abroad

Safety Abroad: Types of Risk

Participating in a study abroad program (like just

about everything else in life) involves risk.

Fortunately, a little bit of common sense and

preparation can go a long way in minimizing that risk.

St. John’s University Office of Global Studies is

here to help!

The next few slides will break down the two major

types of risks you need to be aware of (those you

can prevent and those you cannot). Once we get that

out of the way, we’ll focus on tips to help you avoid

risk and maximize your safety abroad!

Inherent Risks

Inherent Risks: In your day-to-day life, there will always be some things that are

out of your control - risks that you can prepare for, but not necessarily prevent.

Living abroad is no different, and many of the inherent risks you’ll encounter in

your host country are the very same ones that you deal with on a daily basis in big

cities like New York. Just like you do when you’re at home, it’s important to know

what risks you might encounter and think ahead of time about how you’d deal with

them.

Inherent risks are those that are unavoidable and outside of your control.

Examples include:

• Illness

• Traffic accidents

• Inclement weather/natural disasters

Avoidable Risks

Just as studying abroad carries with it the same inherent risks you’re used to at

home, it also presents avoidable risks: the kinds of risks that you can keep

yourself from ever having to deal with just by using common sense and taking the

appropriate precautions. A lot of these are the same ones that also apply at home --

but some will require a different understanding of cultural norms and/or a greater

sense of awareness of your surroundings; it’s easy to be distracted in an unfamiliar

environment!

Avoidable Risks are the ones that you can drastically reduce or even eliminate

entirely just by using your head and taking the right measures.

Examples include:

• Alcohol/Drug-related incidents. The vast majority of student incidents

abroad involve drugs or alcohol in some way!

• Illegal Cabs: Similar to big cities in the U.S., you’ll want to watch out for

unlicensed taxi drivers who may try to rip you off. Know which ones are

safe and reputable and which ones to stay away from in each city.

• Pick pocketing/Muggings

• Scams

Rule # 1 - Keep a Low Profile

Keep a Low Profile – and attract less unwanted attention

So how do you avoid risky situations? One of the best ways is to blend in with the

crowd. As a study abroad student, it can be difficult to travel to different countries

without drawing attention to yourself. By following the advice below, you’ll be able to

attract less attention, which means you’ll be less of a target for pick pockets, petty

crime, scams, etc.

• Try to blend in. The style of dress for many Americans is

quite casual and there are certain clothing items that make it

easier to pick you out of a crowd (flip-flops, sweatpants,

baseball caps, etc). We’re not saying you should buy a

completely new wardrobe, just try not to wear things that scream USA!

• Don’t flaunt expensive items (e.g., digital cameras, iPhones, laptops, jewelry)

• Don’t be the “annoying American,” known for being loud and obnoxious. This tips

you off as a tourist right away, and is sure to draw the attention of anyone looking to

prey on people who don’t know the lay of the land.

Rule # 2 - Be aware of your surroundings

• Be wary of unsolicited help and overly friendly strangers -- it may be a scam

• Beware of people bumping and pushing you (a common pickpocket

scheme)

• Always check to make sure you have all of your belongings before leaving

anywhere (e.g., cab, bus, train, restaurant, etc)

• Pay attention to what people around you are saying and doing; if all of the

locals are doing something (or not doing something), there’s probably a

good reason. In this case, it really does pay to “do as the Romans do.”

Always be aware of your surroundings!

The best way to be safe in an unfamiliar environment is to keep your eyes open

and your wits about you – the same common sense that you use in New York

(or wherever you call home) will serve you well while you’re studying abroad:

Rule #3 – Take precautions

Take Precautions – it’s always better to be prepared than to be sorry

• Don’t bring or carry unnecessary items that can be stolen. If it’s irreplaceable or you would be lost without it, don’t bring it.

• Make copies of all important documents before you travel (passport, visa, credit cards, etc.) and email them to yourself and a loved one. Your efforts will assist with the replacement process if these items are lost/stolen.

• Never keep all your documents and money in one place or in one suitcase. Keep a spare (emergency use only) credit card in a separate location.

• Wear a money belt inside your clothing to carry your passport and a spare credit card. Carry all other items in your front pockets (not rear pockets), or in a bag/purse that’s easy to close, and secure it to your person. Never leave your bag/purse unattended at tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes or night life locations!

• You will very rarely need to carry your passport – almost always carrying a copy of your passport will be enough.

• Don’t carry a lot of cash – use credit cards as much as possible. Don’t flash money or documents in public places. Try to use small bills to pay for things.

• Avoid dark, unsafe places and walking alone.

• Find out which areas of the city are less safe than others.

Rule #4 – Protect your friends

Protect your friends – use the buddy system!

• Always keep an eye on each other and on each other’s beverages, especially in unfamiliar settings; date rape drugs are a reality for women and men.

• Be conscious of each other’s actions.

• Don’t leave friends alone in strange places, even if they’ve made new friends.

• Know who’s in your group, and stick together! If you go out with five friends, make sure you come home with the same five friends! Make sure to travel home on a safe mode of transportation: walking or public transport (at safe hours) or a registered taxi. Do not accept rides from strangers – particularly if the driver has been drinking!

• Notify the on-site staff or program leader if you are concerned about another program participant’s whereabouts.

Rule # 5 – Know the customs of the host country

Know the cultural norms and customs of your host country

It can go a long way toward keeping you safe – and it’s a big part of being

a gracious guest! You’ll get more details upon your arrival but for now,

here’s what you should know:

• Be sure to learn at least the key phrases in the local language; “hello,”

“goodbye,” “please,” ‘”thank you” and “do you speak English” should be enough

to help you get by, and make locals more willing to go out of their way to help

you.

• Be prepared for everything from food to social interactions to be different from

what you’re used to – and remember, different doesn’t mean worse!

• When all else fails, just pay attention to what everyone else is doing; it

shouldn’t take long to pick up the local customs. Be polite, be attentive and

make an effort to do as the locals do, and you’re likely to find your hosts

friendly and accommodating.

Rule # 6 – Do your research!

Do Your Research

• Consult reliable resources to learn more on the countries you’ll be living in and travelling to. These websites will also identify general security and natural/weather risks that may affect your destination.

studentsabroad.state.gov

travel.state.gov

www.osac.gov

www.cdc.gov

• Be sure to also check out and bookmark the Student Guide and Study Abroad Handbook on the Global Studies website! It has important travel and living-abroad research collected from the students who have studied abroad before you!

http://www.stjohns.edu/global/study-abroad/students/student-guide

Registration of Your Time Abroad with U.S. (or home country government)

• Anyone studying abroad as part of a Global Studies program is registered with the U.S. Department of State so they are aware of your presence abroad.

• All non U.S. citizens should register their presence in the country with their Consulate e.g. a Chinese national studying in Australia should register with the Chinese Consulate in Australia, or China’s equivalent of the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/step.html

Safety Abroad: Real vs. Perceived Emergencies

Real Emergencies

• Pose a genuine and immediate risk

• Have already disturbed the safety and/or well being of others

• Examples:

– Natural or manmade disasters

– Serious physical or emotional illness

– Disappearances or kidnapping

– Terrorist threats and attacks

Perceived Emergencies

• Do not pose an immediate risk to the safety or well being of others but may seem

threatening to family, friends or staff in the U.S.

• Example:

– Sensationalized reporting of an event abroad

– Distortion of information provided to family, friends or SJU staff

Often, things that wouldn’t be a big deal at home seem a lot more serious when they

happen abroad. Of course, it is possible that you’ll encounter a real emergency

while traveling. It’s also important to know the difference and share it with your

parents.

Safety Abroad: Emergency Response

FIRST: Contact the on-site exchange program staff

• This should always be your first step, because on-site staff are in the best position

to help you solve a problem in the country where you are studying abroad!

• Local emergency numbers should be provided to you during on-site orientations, if

not, be sure to ask for them!

If you can’t reach someone locally, call the Office of Public Safety in New York

• Available 24/7 at +1-718-990-5252

• Remember that you can always call collect!

Someone from the Office of Global Studies in New York will always be on call in

the event of an emergency.

For medical emergencies, refer to your emergency contact card. In addition to the

on-site exchange program staff, call the appropriate emergency services

number for your country and/or the CISI (insurance company) hotline.

So what steps should you take if an emergency does arise? First, remain calm.

OGS staff is on-call 24/7 to help you deal with anything you might encounter while

you’re abroad.

Safety Abroad: What would you do?

Here’s a “what would you do” scenario that we’d like you to consider in the

unfortunate event something similar happens to you.

You get off the bus and realize that your wallet, containing all your credit cards and

personal information, as well as your passport, has been stolen.

• What would you do? (Our recommendations are on the next slide…)

Safety Abroad: What would you do?

1. Notify Local Staff. They know what the appropriate next step procedures should be and help you file a police report and replace your passport if need be.

2. Notify your bank and credit card companies of stolen/lost cards.

3. Notify the U.S. Consulate if your passport is stolen/lost. U.S. Consulates abroad can expedite the replacement of a lost or stolen passport. Having a copy of the passport helps facilitate this process even more. You must notify the on-site staff if your passport is stolen, so that they can work with the OGS team in NY to explore options for securing a new visa.

4. Before you depart:

• You should notify your bank and credit card companies of your study abroad plans and the countries you plan on visiting, including your dates of travel.

• Write down the toll-free numbers located on the backs of all your credit cards and email them to yourself. It is also a good idea to leave these numbers with your parents or someone you trust.

• Clean out your wallet before you depart and take out all non-essential items.