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Safety Abroad

 
General Safety Tips:
 
  • Make sure to know your host country’s emergency procedures.
  • Learn the emergency number for your host country.
  • Know where the nearest U.S. Embassy is located.
  • Avoid going to protests, even if peaceful.
  • Know the local laws and follow them. Many things that are legal in the United States may not be legal in other countries. 
  • Do not be overly trusting or curious.
  • Exercise caution and discernment while abroad.
Transportation Safety

According to a study cited by the University of Denver, the greatest cause of death or serious injury abroad is road/transportation accidents. The U.S. Department of State suggests that travelers minimize the risk from transportation by selecting the safest form of transportation in the area (regulated and properly licensed). Students can educate themselves on transportation in their host country by visiting the U.S. Department of State Country Information page, "Driving and Road Safety Abroad" section, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Crime & Safety Reports and Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT). Students and families should understand that traffic and transportation overseas is very different from in the United States. Here are some precautions students can take:
 
  • Avoid nighttime road travel in countries with poor safety records and/or mountainous terrain
  • Avoid riding with a driver who appears intoxicated, irrational, or over-tired
  • Understand how seasonal hazards affect road conditions and take hazards into account when deciding whether to travel
  • Remember that most road fatalities are pedestrians
  • Choose walking routes based on safety and not convenience
  • Wear reflective clothing if jogging at dusk or dawn (especially in locales where jogging may be uncommon)
  • Be especially alert at intersections
  • Wear seltbelts
  • Do not participate in risky transportation options like hitchhiking, motorbikes, or riding in the back of a pick-up truck
  • Research the Local Laws and Safety Considerations for Your Destination
Alcohol and Drug Use

Students accepted/approved for study abroad, international internships, and other global programs must abide by the California Baptist University policy regarding alcohol and drug consumption as is detailed in the CBU Student Handbook. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not permitted on University Premises or at University-sponsored or supervised activities, regardless of a Student’s age. Study abroad is considered to be part of a university-sponsored program and these rules follow students anywhere they go in the world. Any violation of these standards will be reported to the Office of Student Services and could result in judicial sanctions upon your return, including dismissal from the study abroad program at the expense of the participant. 

There are also a number of reasons related to student safety abroad that pertain to drug and alcohol use. Nine out of ten times when an incident or crime occurs related to Americans overseas, it is alcohol or drug-related. Alcohol or drug use abroad makes students vulnerable and puts them at risk. There are also social and cultural consequences to consider. One of the most persistent stereotypes people from other countries have of young Americans is that they abuse alcohol and drugs. Alcohol has a different place in most cultures than it does in ours, and drinking and public drunkenness carry far greater stigmas abroad than in the U.S. You may see what you do as harmless fun, but realize how boorish behavior may be perceived—and think about whether that’s how you want to be seen by prospective new friends. Here are some other things to consider:
 
  • When you are in another country, you are subject to its laws which can be very different from the United States. You can be arrested while abroad for actions that may be allowed in the United States. What is considered acceptable in the United States may vary widely from country to country, along with the penalties.
  • Being caught with drugs in many countries can carry severe consequences that include imprisonment, harsh sentences, and even in extreme cases, penalty of death. 
  • Alcohol is strictly prohibited in most Muslim-majority countries and in some other parts of the world. American students have even been detained for having alcohol in their luggage in certain countries.
  • Do not accept packages or gifts from anyone while abroad - they could contain drugs which will carry severe punishment, regardless of whether you knew or not.
Walking Alone at Night

Students should avoid walking alone at night - students, both male and female, have been the victim of crime, including assault and theft quite often while walking alone at night while on study abroad. Students who would never walk alone in certain neighborhoods or situations in the United States, have done so abroad, thinking wrongly that they can read the danger signals in the same way that locals can. Students should realize that even when you see other people walking alone, they probably do not offer as inviting a target to thieves or violent criminals as you would as a lone foreigner. If going out at night, students should always use the buddy system.
Attending Political Demonstrations

While overseas, students should avoid participating or attending political demonstrations. Political demonstrations can turn violent rapidly and put students at risk.
Develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

The State Department recommends travelers prepare themselves for a potential crisis. Whether studying abroad or traveling overseas as part of an academic group trip, it is important for students and families to create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). An EAP is a planning strategy in the case of an emergency, allowing you to make the best and most knowledgeable answers in the face of disaster.

Transportation: Where should you go first in an emergency, and what method of transportation will you use to get there?
  • Be aware of all your emergency transportation options. Know the numbers and locations/addresses for the following:
    • Airport, Train Station, Rent-A-Car, Bus Station, Metro Station, Boat/Ferry/Port Authority
Emergency Contact Information: In addition to your personal emergency contacts, we also recommend you look up/ask for the numbers for the following individuals and agencies nearest to your study abroad and/or travel location(s):
  • City or host country's 911 equivalent, U.S. Consulate/Embassy in host country, Fire Services, Police, Hospital (with Western level care), Translator Service, Red Cross, Post Office, Lawyer/Attorney, Local Government/Visa Office, 24-Hour Assist/Insurance Hotline
  • Who will you call first, second, third, etc. in an emergency?
  • Do your emergency contacts have each others' phone numbers so they can communicate and relay information about you to each other?
  • What are some alternate ways of communicating with your emergency contacts? (cell phone/text message, Whatsapp/Skype, Email/Internet)
  • Who would you like those assisting you to contact in the event of your illness, injury, incarceration, kidnapping, etc.?
  • Do all of your emergency contacts know what your wishes are in the event of your serious injury or death?
  • Where does your nearest emergency contact live, and how fast can you get to him/her?
Back-up Plan/Special Conditions
  • If the situation does not permit you to follow the original emergency plan, what is the back-up plan (Plan B)?
  • Are there any other special conditions to consider which are unique to your situation (i.e. weather conditions/hazards in your region of study/travel, a personal physical handicap, poor public transportation or phone service in your area...)?
Emergency Kit/Money
  • Which items do you still need to add to your emergency first aid kit before it is fully stocked and ready?
  • Do you have emergency cash reserves, travelers' checks, credit cards, etc. on-hand, in case you can't count on banks/ATMs, or get to a bank/ATM?
  • Using the emergency supplies and reserve money you have set aside, for how many days would you be able to sustain yourself and what would you use each day?
Alert Traveler

California Baptist University provides students traveling abroad as part of academic programs free access to the AlertTraveler system to help keep you safe while traveling. This system will keep you informed of critical events that may impact you while abroad and will allow CBU to better assist you in the event of an emergency. Click here to find instructions on how to access, download and activate the AlertTraveler app.
Safety Resources

State Department Travel Advisories: Lists of current travel alerts, warnings, and consular messages

Before You Go: US State Department pre-travel resources

U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center
From overseas +1 202-501-4444
Calling from the US 1-888-407-4747

US Embassy List