Health & Safety Tips


Sponsored Articles:

Phoning Home: How to make calls while you are abroad (article provided by Telestial—Wireless Solutions for Travelers)

Health & Safety

Whether you are taking a package safari to Africa, volunteering in South America or backpacking through Europe, it is important that you inform yourself of the health and safety risks of international travel.
No one likes to think that something bad will happen during his or her perfectly planned trip abroad. But the truth is that accidents and illnesses do happen. No one keeps official statistics on the number of American tourists killed or injured while traveling abroad, but, according to the U.S. State Department, an average of 6,000 private American citizens die overseas every year. Many more are involved in traffic accidents or minor illnesses that cut their holidays short. Often these incidents could have been prevented with proper planning and information about health and safety risks in the destination country.

A higher proportion of accidents and illnesses do occur in destinations off the beaten path, but that does not mean you should avoid travel to those areas. Rather, the more informed you are, the more adventurous you can be, because you will know what to avoid and how to get help if you need it.

—By Heather O'Connor
»Continue reading Heather's article on health and safety issues


Assess your health and identify your needs

Study abroad is not a magic cure for concerns and problems that you may be having at home. Emotional, psychological, and physical problems will indeed follow you wherever you go, so it is essential to consider honestly your health issues and needs before you go abroad. Contrary to popular belief, travel does not minimize these problems; rather, it often can exacerbate them to the point of crisis if you are not careful. Be clear and honest about your health needs when applying for a study abroad program and when making your housing arrangements. This includes issues such as medical needs, allergies, psychological treatments, dietary requirements, and disabilities. Services for people with disabilities vary widely around the world; if you have questions or concerns about these issues, please feel free to discuss them with your study abroad advisers or refer to The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange. If you have any kind of mental health problems or eating disorders (or if you have had in the past), think carefully about your decision to study abroad, and please discuss these issues with your physician and with your mental health practitioner.

See your health care practitioners: Before you go abroad, it is a good idea to visit your family physician, dentist, gynecologist, and any other health care practitioners that you see regularly. Make sure your health records are up-to-date and that you discuss any medical issues you have that may affect your experience abroad. You should take copies of your medical records with you abroad, especially if you have specific medical conditions or if you expect to need medical care abroad. Also, be sure you have an adequate supply of any prescription medications (in their original containers) with you, if they are not available in your host country. You will need a physician's prescription (in generic form) for medication and medical supplies to pass through customs in your host country.

Questions to Ask

» Are there illnesses that are endemic to the region?
» What medications should you take to prevent these illnesses?
» What is the quality of water in your host country, and what precautions, if any, do you need to take with your drinking water and food preparation?
» What precautions are recommended for safe sexual practices?
» What are the customs, beliefs, and laws in your host country regarding sexual behavior and the use of alcohol and drugs?
» What are the laws in your host country regarding bringing in medications, medical supplies, and contraceptives?
» What kind of medical insurance do you need (see Medical Insurance section for more information)?

Immunizations

Some countries require specific immunizations in order to enter the country, and there are also immunizations recommended for travel to specific areas of the world. Be sure to check this out well in advance of your departure, as some immunizations require a series of inoculations starting many months before your scheduled travel. Check with health care providers or your own records to ensure that your immunizations (e.g., tetanus and polio) are up-to-date. Under the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Organization, a country may require International Certificates of Vaccination against yellow fever, and a cholera immunization may be required if you are traveling from an infected area. Prophylactic medication for malaria and certain other preventive measures are advisable for travel to some countries. No immunizations are required to return to the United States.

An increasing number of countries have established regulations regarding AIDS testing, particularly for long-term visitors. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit to verify if this is a requirement for entry. Detailed health information can be obtained from your local Public Health Department, your physician, or by contacting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (phone 888-232-3228 or 877-FYI-TRIP). It is very important to discuss these health guidelines and recommendations with your own physician.

Medical Insurance

You must be sure that you have adequate health insurance coverage abroad. Check your policy to see what coverage it provides for medical services abroad. Also, check to see if your policy pays the provider in your host country directly, or if you must pay yourself and later be reimbursed. Be sure to take your insurance card with you abroad, as well as any claim forms you will need.

Be sure you have coverage for medical evacuation, in the rare case that you would have to be flown back to the U.S. (or to a different country) for medical treatment, and for repatriation of remains. Also, check to be sure that your policy covers any continuing treatment you may need for newly acquired medical conditions after you return home. The International Student Identity Card (see www.statravel.com or www.myisic.com )provides some medical evacuation and repatriation and basic accident and sickness insurance, but you should supplement this with additional coverage. A list of insurance providers may be found at: www.studyabroad.com/marketplace/insurance.htm

Regardless of the type of insurance you purchase, doctors and hospitals require payment at the time of the visit. You can seek reimbursement from your insurance company only after you have paid the bill and can produce the receipt. Some of these services will take credit cards as payment. You should also have access to emergency funds in case of hospitalization or other emergency medical care. In general, you will find medical care, particularly in the public sector, somewhat less expensive than in the U.S.

Foreign health insurance coverage should be considered complementary to, rather than a substitute for, a U.S. policy. Moreover, such insurance does not guarantee access to a public hospital, where there can be long waiting lists for all but major or emergency ailments, and private hospitals and clinics can be as expensive as their American counterparts. If you intend to travel outside of your host country, please remember that most local health insurance policies will be accepted only within the issuing country’s borders.

When You Arrive in Your Host Country

Because of cultural differences, travel, and other adjustment concerns, you will need to continue to pay attention to your health (both physical and mental) when you arrive and throughout your program. Be sure you know how to get medical help should you need it, including routine healthcare, as well as emergencies. Make sure you make your medical needs known to anyone in your host country who can be of assistance. Most importantly, give yourself time to adjust to the new culture, and be attentive to your personal well-being—make sure you eat healthy foods and get regular sleep and exercise.

Suggested Publications

Some students have found that bringing a small medical reference book along was not only reassuring, but therapeutic. Suggested publications include:


  1. » The Pocket Doctor, by Stephen Bezruchka, M.D. Published by The Mountaineers, Seattle, Washington, 3rd edition 1999. (128 pages, literally pocket size, $6.95.) To order: 1-800-553-4453
    » Self Care: Relief for Common Symptoms, by Krames Communications, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066
    »
  2. Symptoms, by Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D. Published by Bantam Books
    » The Best Treatment    , by Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D. Published by Bantam Books

Recommended Websites

The go-to websites for health and safety information are:

» The Center for Global Education Study Abroad Student's Handbook for Health and Safety:
http://www.studentsabroad.com/contents.html#healthandsafety
» Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Health Check for Study, Work and Travel Abroad:
http://www.ciee.org/health_safety.aspx
» Transitions Abroad's Best Health and Safety Articles and Resources
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/navpages/links/besthealthandsafety.shtml
» The University of Michigan International Center's Health and Medical Section:
http://www.internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/travel/healthmed.html

Health Resources
» American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Travel Clinic Directory
http://www.astmh.org
» Center for Disease Control (CDC) Traveler's Health Information
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
» International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM):
http://www.istm.org
» Travel Health Online
https://www.tripprep.com
» U.S. State Department Medical Information for Americans Abroad
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html

Safety Resources
» Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT)
www.asirt.org
» NAFSA's Health, Safety, & Security: Resources for Monitoring Conditions Abroad
» U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
http://travel.state.gov/index.html