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Page last updated by CRT on 20 March 2024
🛟 Basic Safety Tips
🛟 Basic Safety Tips
Most of the places to which you will travel are relatively safe and most of the people you will meet will be fine.
However, there are dangerous places and people, and one must be careful, especially at night.
Do not assume that you can handle every situation just because you have never had trouble taking care of yourself at home or in Hanover.
Keep your wits about you, pay attention and take care of your friends and fellow students.
Being situationally aware and being relaxed at the same time is a skill that requires practice.
Being situationally aware and being relaxed at the same time is a skill that requires practice.
Here are some basic safety tips to keep in mind:
📱 Communication
📱 Communication
Indicate your emergency contacts on your phone (on iPhones, emergency contacts are indicated by big red asterisk to the right of the contact’s name).
Share your location with a trusted source when you're going somewhere new— iPhone users can use Find My Friends.
Keep identification on you (i.e., a photocopy of your passport or a non-passport government-issued ID).
Keep identification on you (i.e., a photocopy of your passport or a non-passport government-issued ID).
Always be able to communicate. Make sure you have your charged cellphone with you with all emergency numbers. Keep your cellphone in a safe place.
Know local emergency info and how to use a pay telephone and have the proper change (local currency) on hand.
Use smart digital habits; avoid using public wi-fi (as you would in the US).
🧳 Travel
🧳 Travel
When you travel, to the extent possible, you should avoid drawing attention to yourself as a foreigner.
Don't leave a friend behind, even if they say it’s okay.
Do not travel alone at night unless it is unavoidable.
Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers.
Make and stick to your plans.
Wear helmets when applicable and seatbelts always
👔 Behavior & Attire
👔 Behavior & Attire
Keep a low profile. Don’t dress or act in a way that makes you stand out as a foreign student.
Be mindful of espousing strong opinions in situations where offense could result in violence.
Cooperate with local authorities.
Be cautious with how you display valuables, including jewelry or electronics.
Avoid using your back pocket for storing valuables as it becomes easier for pickpockets
Avoid using your back pocket for storing valuables as it becomes easier for pickpockets
💵 Money
💵 Money
Make sure to have some cash (local currency) in case you need to take a taxi home.
Keep money in two or more places so you have a backup in case you lose your wallet or it is stolen.
Keep money in two or more places so you have a backup in case you lose your wallet or it is stolen.
⚠️ Stay Alert
⚠️ Stay Alert
Stay alert, don’t let your guard down, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, unsafe, or wrong, listen to that and find an alternative.
Stay alert, don’t let your guard down, and trust your instincts. If something feels off, unsafe, or wrong, listen to that and find an alternative.
Be aware of travel scams and research common scams in your destination country beforehand.
If being robbed, don’t fight back, give up your valuables; they can likely be replaced but you can’t.
Be aware of your surroundings. Know your exits so you can get out in an emergency.
Look for unfamiliar individuals “hanging around” your building or for any other strange activity nearby.
Avoid public demonstrations and other disturbances.
☀️ Sun Safety
☀️ Sun Safety
It may seem trivial but be sure to pack and wear sunscreen/sunblock and clothing items that offer sun protection for your eyes and skin (including your scalp).
It may seem trivial but be sure to pack and wear sunscreen/sunblock and clothing items that offer sun protection for your eyes and skin (including your scalp).
Depending on where you’re traveling, the sun can be a lot stronger than you’re used to.
Additionally, the sunblock/sunscreen might not be available or could have different regulations rendering it less effective.
🐕 Animals, Pets, & Insects
🐕 Animals, Pets, & Insects
In many countries, rabies is a very common disease carried by domesticated animals, household pets, strays, and wild animals alike. Research health issues in country; the CDC provides a useful resource about safety around animals while abroad.
It is especially important that students bring and use bug spray with DEET when applicable. Mosquitos all over the world can carry deadly illnesses so it’s also important to be vaccinated against these mosquito-borne illnesses before you leave.
You may want to record exposure should you begin to have signs of infection or disease.
🥗 Food & Water Safety
🥗 Food & Water Safety
Different locations often have different standards and issues in sanitation and your digestive system might not be used to the contents or local flora within the food or water of a different country.
In general, street food is not recommended since the environment of production is unknown (sanitation, source of water, allergens, content).
In general, street food is not recommended since the environment of production is unknown (sanitation, source of water, allergens, content).
No matter the location of your food or water intake, be sure to take appropriate precautions.
The CDC has useful resources on Water disinfection and an Infographic on What to know about Food and Water while traveling abroad.
🏊 Recreational Water Safety
🏊 Recreational Water Safety
Traveling can provide the opportunity to enjoy many water-related activities, but according to the CDC, there is also a risk of injury or illness.
Drowning accounts for 14% of deaths of U.S. citizens while traveling.
Drowning accounts for 14% of deaths of U.S. citizens while traveling.
Various resources relating to Water Safety & Travel can be found on the CDC website.
🍻 Alcohol & Drugs
🍻 Alcohol & Drugs
The Alcohol and Drugs policy applies to all Guarini-sponsored off-campus program participants. Policy
The Alcohol and Drugs policy applies to all Guarini-sponsored off-campus program participants. Policy
Impairment
Impairment
Think about how the use of alcohol can impair your judgment.
If you choose to drink alcohol, please note that alcohol concentrations may be stronger in some countries than one may be used to in the US.
A good rule is never to exceed a quarter of a liter (about two normal glasses). Learn your own limits and avoid any behavior that could be seen as rowdy or disruptive.
If you drink, set limits (know when to stop) & designate a friend in charge of making sure everyone comes home safely. It's okay to choose not to drink.
For your safety, buy your own drinks and never leave your drink unattended. Spiking drinks to incapacitate victims for sexual assault or robbery is a not uncommon practice in some locales.
Also, know how alcohol use may have an adverse effect with any prescribed medications that you take.
Of course, it’s okay to choose not to drink, too.
Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Dartmouth College prohibits the illegal possession or transfer of any illicit drug so defined under state or federal law and views the use, possession, or sale of any illicit drug as contradictory to the welfare of both the individual and the College community.
Additionally, drunkenness is grounds for removal from a program as per the Principles of Community and Norms of Conduct for Off-Campus Programs so please set limits for personal safety, health, and program participation reasons.
Know Local Laws
Know Local Laws
In addition to Dartmouth policy, students are subject to the laws of the country of travel which will vary and may be more severe than in the United States. See the US Department of State website to learn about local laws and policies in the program location.
AA & NA Resources Abroad
AA & NA Resources Abroad
Students who struggle with alcohol and drug dependency should speak with support resources before departure to develop strategies to avoid potential triggers for relapse.
Also, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are available worldwide. Check out their websites for meeting locations in other countries.
🔥 Fire Safety
🔥 Fire Safety
Becoming aware of issues relating to fire and understanding the preventive measures can prove beneficial to one and all. Please visit the following websites to learn more:
The Jasmine Jahanshahi Fire Safety Foundation offers free orientation materials and subsidized fire safety equipment such as:
smoke detectors,
fire extinguishers,
and escape ladders.
Emergency Phone Numbers
Emergency Phone Numbers
Know the emergency number wherever you travel.
The phone number for emergency responders varies in different countries. Make sure you know the local emergency number.
🚗 Local Travel Safety
🚗 Local Travel Safety
Use of Personal Vehicles on Domestic Programs
Use of Personal Vehicles on Domestic Programs
Students are not authorized to use personal vehicles for transporting students to/from program-sponsored activities.
For instances where group transportation is not arranged and paid for by the program (e.g. a bus or van), a transportation allowance and/or pass will be provided to each student to address program-related local transportation needs as appropriate.
Any student who brings their own vehicle assumes all liability and needs to carry sufficient liability insurance coverages.
Driving motorized vehicles, including scooters, mopeds, on international programs is not authorized.
Driving motorized vehicles, including scooters, mopeds, on international programs is not authorized.
🚶Pedestrian Safety
🚶Pedestrian Safety
Be extremely cautious as a pedestrian and only cross the street in designated areas (where there are pedestrian crosswalk stripes) and when the pedestrian light is on.
Streets may be narrow with heavy traffic, and thus, transportation may be slow.
🚌 Public Transit
🚌 Public Transit
Taxis
Take only official taxis that have a taxi light on the roof and an official number on the door—never “private” ones.
Buses, Trains, and Trams
Close contact is normal on the buses and trams. However, do not feel like you must accept unwanted touching. Know that you can always react in some way. Some options are asking the person to stop, showing your emotions, walking away, or asking for help.
Leave the area if you can or move to the area where the driver is. Let them know someone is bothering you.
Don’t feel shy about speaking or shouting out.
Find more information on how to approach these situations in the section on Street Harassment and reach out to the Office of Title IX with any questions.
Street Harassment
Street Harassment
Street harassment can also be common overseas. It can range from catcalls, sexually explicit comments, sexist remarks, homophobic slurs, groping, leering, stalking, flashing, and assault. Street harassment limits people's mobility and access to public spaces. It is a form of gender violence and it's a human rights violation.
Stop Street Harassment (SSH) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and ending gender-based street harassment worldwide. SSH shares tips and strategies for dealing with harassers.
They further explain four ways to respond to harassers:
Don't suffer alone
If street harassment is limiting your mobility and affecting your sense of safety and well-being, reach out. You can contact the Title IX Office at Dartmouth, speak to your faculty director or host institution advisor, ask your homestay host(s) how they respond, share your stories, and brainstorm and roleplay your responses with friends.
Street harassment affects at least 65% of women and 25% of men in the USA, and it starts at a young age.
Street harassment affects at least 65% of women and 25% of men in the USA, and it starts at a young age.
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