INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY MEETING

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE PREPARATION TIMELINE 18 MONTHS-2 YEARS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE – Should have all of this completed – Does everyone have a passport? 4 MONTHS - 1 YEAR PRIOR TO DEPARTURE – Should have MOST of this completed – Have you visited Student Health? – Who needs a VISA? 2-4 MONTHS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE – Will complete (most) today

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Health and Safety Situations In small groups, read the situation assigned to you together. Then, refer to the Safety Brochure, the Predeparture Suggestions and the Problem Solvers to decide what the person should do now and what the individual could have done to avoid the situation; Report to the group your analysis;

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #1 Jeremy is visiting a friend in London while he is in Europe on a study abroad experience. He is a jogger and decides it will be a great way to see the city as well as keep up with his exercise routine if he jogs through the city in the morning. He starts off the next morning without waking his friend or telling his friend of his plans. He has a terrific jog weaving in and out of the traffic and people. It’s very exciting to be in a place he doesn’t know. About an hour into the jog, he wants to head home, but he realizes he has turned and jogged in no particular pattern. He did not go to a predetermined destination. Nor does he know the name of his friend’s neighborhood or apartment building, his friend’s phone number or the address of where he is staying. What can Jeremy do? What should Jeremy done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #2 Leticia is in another country for a medical experience. She goes into the mountains every day to remote elementary schools to help with the yearly physical exams of the children. She decides it is better to leave her I-phone, passport, money and jewelry in her luggage in the hotel. When she returns in the late afternoon, all of her valuables have been stolen. What can Leticia do? What should Leticia have done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #3 Rachel is in another country for an educational experience.There are many vendors on the street selling wonderfully hand-made goods and artifacts for very inexpensive prices. She is often approached by children and others who are trying to get her to buy their goods. She has bought so many items over the past month that she will have to purchase an extra bag to take everything home in. Now, after four weeks of constantly buying items, she has more than she needs for the next 3 Christmas gift exchanges and all her friends’ birthdays for several years. She has such a hard time saying no to the children. And they keep lowering their prices every day, but she thinks she has bought enough. She is getting irritated because they will not accept no and keep asking her to buy items. Anyway, she is out of cash. Luckily, it is her last day, and she doesn’t really need any more cash, but one of the children convinces her to go to the ATM machine to withdraw more money. A group of children take her to the ATM machine; she withdraws some money, buys some more goods and makes everyone happy. When she gets to the airport the next day, she learns that her luggage is overweight, and additionally, she will have to pay the airline a fee for the extra suitcase. When she goes to pay with her credit card, she cannot find it. The last time she used her card was to withdraw money yesterday. She is not sure where she put the card after she withdrew the money…it was in her hand. And then she became so distracted buying goods from the children… What can Rachel do? What should Rachel have done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #4 George has had a wonderful educational experience abroad and he is set to go home. He arrives at the airport, checks in and heads through customs. The customs officer detains him. George is confused. He doesn’t understand what he has done wrong. The officer explains that he never checked in with the Police station as he was told to do upon arrival. He needed to have the signature of the Chief of Police in his passport. It is 11:00 pm, his flight departs in 30 minutes and the Chief of Police is located several hours away. He will miss his flight. And his ticket is non-refundable. What can George do? What should George have done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #5 Sara is excited to be an observer at a hospital at an international location. She wants to learn as much as possible about the people, the culture, the food, the history, the diseases and public health system. Since she is not going as a tourist, but as a student in the health industry, she decides she only needs to pack her scrubs. It will be easy to pack lightly, to wash her scrubs and wear them again. Very practical. Her first day, she wakes up, showers, puts on her scrubs and heads out to the hospital. On her way, she notices that everyone is staring at her. As she is walking through the city, she feels so conspicuous and like she has done something wrong. What can Sara do? What should Sara have done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE HEALTH AND SAFETY SITUATION #6 A group of students have gone abroad together for a week. This trip is very well organized. They are staying in a decent hotel, and they are eating good food together at very good restaurants that were pre-selected for their trip. They have been assured that these particular eating establishments are sanitary and the food is of the highest quality. They do not have to be concerned about getting sick from eating any of the dishes. As they are ordering their drinks, most of the students want to have Coke. The waiter offers them ice and they accept excitedly. The next day, one by one, they become sick with diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. What can they do? What should they have done to avoid this situation?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE PRE-DEPARTURE SUGGESTIONS PASSPORT MONEY/DOCUMENTS HEALTH CARE LUGGAGE TRANSPORTATION TELEPHONE WEBSITES (ON HAND-OUT)

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE KEYS TO SAFETY BROCHURE BEFORE YOU GO LEAVE BEHIND TAKE WHILE TRAVELING WHILE ON THE STREET HANDLING MONEY SAFELY WHILE AT YOUR NEW HOME WHEN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS IN ALL COUNTRIES IN ANY HEALTH CARE SETTING

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE PROBLEM SOLVERS WHAT DO I DO IF: – My wallet gets lost or stolen – My credit cards are lost or stolen – My passport is lost or stolen – I miss my connecting flights – the country becomes involved in civil strife – I offend someone – I have a family emergency – I have more or less responsibility than I anticipated – I do not feel safe – I become ill – my on-site mentor changes

Questions or concerns? Contact us cell office