Mentor Advice
Question
What precautions should I take to stay safe abroad?
2 Replies from Mentors
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MarieSenior Year StudentLoyola Marymount University-Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to get back. Get their phone number and give them yours. -Be wary of what you drink and eat. If you are at a bar/pub, do not leave your drink unattended. If you are not sure whether the tap water is safe, drink bottled water instead. -Go out with at least one other friend, especially if you’re going to stay out late. -Have a card with emergency contact information (ambulance, consulate/embassy, hospital, fire department, police; friends, host family, school); make sure these important phone numbers are in your cell phone’s contact list. -Have different payment methods i.e. cash, credit card, debit card. In case your credit or debit cards get stolen, have the bank’s contact information. -Know the customs/laws of the city/country. -Know where the dangerous/sketchy areas of cities are. -Know where the nearest consulate or embassy is. -Put a lock on your backpack. If you are a female, keep a close eye on your bag or purse (particularly cross-body bags/bags with a long shoulder strap), especially in crowded areas, because pickpockets could easily steal things from it.
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AmeliaSenior Year StudentUniversity of California, Los AngelesEach country has its own security and safety dangers, so if you think that you can apply the standards of being safe at home in the U.S. to the standards of safety in a country in Latin America or Eastern Europe, you are wrong. Some places may be more hazardous to your health (chemically, allergy wise, etc), while some places may be dangerous to walk around past sunset. Not all places can be generalized with the same safety precautions, so make sure you research in guidebooks about precautions you must take. For example, pickpocketing may be an issue in a big city, but in a small, village area, you may experience that you have to be on alert for much more.