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Health and Safety While Abroad Need to Know Information Familiarize yourself with conditions at your destination that could affect your health (high altitude or pollution, types of medical facilities, required immunizations, availability of required pharmaceuticals, etc.). The key resource for health information is the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. The CDC website also provides general guidance on health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect-bite protection. The CDC also maintains an international travelers' hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or, by fax, at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299). See this website for more resources https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html For a full list of health issues to consider, visit Students Abroad Handbook at http://www.studentsabroad.com/handbook/basic-health-and-safety.php?country=General#section3 For country specific information, visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html Before You Depart You should go for a physical and a dental checkup before you depart, especially if your time abroad will coincide with when you would normally schedule these appointments and/or the program is in a developing country. This will give you an opportunity to talk with familiar health care professionals about any general health precautions that are necessary, such as vaccines. Bringing Medication Abroad What medication can I bring abroad? Some medications that are quite common in the U.S. could be illegal in some countries. In some countries, even over-the-counter medications are prohibited. While enforcement may be inconsistent, you certainly do not want to take the risk that your medication is confiscated at customs. Prescriptions and Letters If you take prescription medications regularly, you should bring a supply to last throughout your time abroad, if possible. It would be wise to also carry with you a letter from your home physician or pharmacist at the customs inspection when entering a country describing your medicines, their dosage, generic names, and the condition(s) being treated. This letter could be helpful at border crossings or in an emergency. Make sure all drugs are in the original pharmacy containers and are clearly labeled. Narcotic Medication Travelers should check with the foreign embassy of the country they are visiting to make sure any required medications are not considered to be illegal narcotics. (A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at https://www.state.gov/s/cpr/32122.htm. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.) In the case of narcotic medicines, it may not be prudent to carry additional supplies because of possible customs difficulties. In that case, bring a prescription with the drug's generic name. Foreign drugs are not necessarily closely related to those in the U.S., even if they have the same chemical formula. They may be marketed under different names and may not be available in the strengths you desire. More information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#medications Academic and Physical Accommodations Bring along letters from the UMaine Office of Disability Support Services if you need academic or physical accommodations for your program. Remember, study abroad is hard work and not therapy. For more information, visit Students Accessibility Services. Mental Health Emotionally and mentally, international living can be stressful. Most travelers will experience a degree of culture shock during the normal adjustment period. Culture shock causes feelings of disorientation and unease, which can be intensified for students dealing with ongoing unresolved emotional or medical issues. It is thus very important that students with such problems discuss these with their study abroad advisors, mental health providers, or other trained medical personnel before leaving. Check with the program to see what psychological counseling is available, should the student need it. Helpful Links How to Register for “STEP” All UMaine students are REQUIRED to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) prior to departure at https://step.state.gov/step/. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist you in an emergency. STEP also allows Americans residing abroad to get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Your UMaine Contact The UMaine Police (1-207-581-4040) is your first point of contact at UMaine in case of a non-life threatening emergency. They can give you tools and advice as well as connect you to appropriate resources during and after business hours. Watch the Culture of Safety video. Travel Safety Orientation Program - hands on tips and tools for students going abroad. See a full list of tips below. How to Find Out if it is Safe to Go Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, either transnational or within a particular country, that pose significant risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert. Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. The countries listed below meet those criteria. In Case of Emergency
Family Emergencies: Discuss with your family what you will do in the event of a family emergency, illness or death. It is much easier to have these conversations around the kitchen table prior to your departure than on Skype or on an intercontinental phone call in the midst of a crisis. How to Create a Data File All students should create a data file to leave with a trusted person (parent) who will assist the traveling student if any documents are lost or stolen. Gather all of the information and documents you and you family might need while you are away; leave with your parent/guardian or trusted friend:
How Foreign Laws Apply Not knowing local laws can get you into serious trouble. Just because something is legal in the United States doesn't mean it is legal in the country of your choice. Most students who study abroad do not break the law on purpose; instead, they end up doing something illegal without knowing it. Even as a foreigner, you must obey all a citizen of the country of your choice laws and the laws of other countries to which you are traveling. If you break local laws while in the country of your choice, the U.S. government can do very little to help you. You are granted no special privileges or rights, and will be dealt with according to standard procedure of the legal system of the country of your choice. The U.S. and a citizen of the country of your choice governments encourage all visitors to the country of your choice to become familiar with local laws before they visit. Upon arrival in the country of your choice, you may also wish to ask your Resident Director on-site during orientation about local laws and procedures. Remember, most students who study abroad wind up breaking the law unintentionally, and alcohol or drug use has been associated with law–breaking in many cases.
Safety Tips from the UMaine Police Department 1-207-581-4040 (24 hours) While you are abroad, you must exercise the same safety precautions you would at home. Don't take the attitude that you are protected and safe because you are anonymous and no one knows you. Don't travel with anything you are not prepared to lose. Use your common sense, avoid confrontations, try to blend in as much as possible, try to familiarize yourself with the area, ask the locals where the safe part of town is, and if you feel insecure in a certain place, don't go there. Do not expose yourself to unnecessarily dangerous situations. It will be difficult to fully hide the fact that you're a foreigner. That may make you more vulnerable to theft and crime. While you can't control everything that happens to you at home or abroad, you can sway the odds. Some practical suggestions include:
Did You Know:
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