1. Health & Safety Abroad Christina Dinges Director of GO Programs
Co-Director GO Cyprus/New Orleans GO Short
Molly Roe
Faculty Led Program Manager
Co-Director GO Puerto Rico GO Short
Welcome to our online seminar. The seminar is hosted by Christina Dinges, Director of GO Programs and Molly Roe, Faculty-led Program Manager. Both are GO Short Program Directors. They work closely with your student prior to departure.
For this webinar, there is a text-based “chat” IM section on the left side of the screen. If you have any questions, you can enter them in the chat and we will have some time for question/answer at the midway point and again at the end in case we did not cover your question in the content of the webinar. To assist us in answering your question, please include the type of GO Program (Long, Short, GYOW) and where your student is going within your question (example: GO Long – Cyprus or GYOW – Nepal).
During the webinar, please do not use the microphone, questions will be responded to through the text chat feature.
This PowerPoint, and the video of the webinar are posted online afterwards, for your reference. If you have additional questions, please and we will be happy to assist you.
Practice Chat Activity: Please tell us where your student is going using the Chat feature.

2. Top considerations when travelling
Pre-departure planning
Safety starts with your student
Know what to do in an emergency
Pre-departure Planning:
Pre-departure is the most important step in this process. Students have been given important information prior to departure. Set up a time to meet with your student to go over health and safety information to ensure you are in the loop.
Safety Starts with You
It’s important for your student to stay informed and follow instructions, which were provided during the required health and safety training
Make decisions that keep their safety and health as a top priority.
Know what to do in an Emergency:
During this presentation, we will review steps students should take before and during their program to stay safe and keep us informed.

3. Student Pre-departure Responsibilities
Know before you go!
Learn about all health & safety issues within your destinations.
Study the cultural and political climates.
Follow directions and advice of the GO Program, Host Study Abroad Program, Host University, and/or program directors.
Communicate with the GO Program, Host Study Abroad Program, Host University, and/or program directors regarding issues related to student health.
Know before you go!
Students should spend some time researching their host country. There are a lot of resources to do that, including guidebooks, the local host country news, the US state department website
Learn about all health & safety issues within your destinations and study the cultural and political climates:
To learn more about the health and safety concerns in your host country:
US State department website:
World Fact book available on the CIA’s website:
Follow directions and advice GO Program, Host Study Abroad Program, Host University, and/or program directors.
Communicate with the GO Program, Host Study Abroad Program Provider, Host University, and/or program directors regarding issues related to student health.

4. Student Pre-departure Responsibilities, cont.
Make copies of all important travel (passports), bank/cards, contact information, etc.
Prepare and review your student’s personal budget.
Your student is required to register with your embassy abroad using the US State Department’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (STEP) program.
Students are told to have copies of the following with them in a secure location separate from the originals:
Passport – This is the MOST IMPORTANT document your student will have with them! A person without a Passport is a person without a country!
Insurance Card
Flight Information
Contact information for bank/credit card (Inform their bank that they will be out of the country!!)
Additionally, it is a good idea for your student to leave copies of the following with their primary emergency contact in the U.S.:
Identification documents (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.)
Insurance Contacts
Medical Information
Contact info while abroad & contact information for bank/credit card
Prepare and review your student’s personal budget. All estimated budget sheet information is available on our website: go.susqu.edu. Simply, click on “programs” in the left corner. Here you can search by program name or click ‘list all’ for all of our program options. When you click on a program, it will take you to an ‘online brochure’ with program information and budget sheets.
Your student is required to register with the US State Department while aboard using the STEP (Smart Travelers Enrollment Program) . To complete this process, your student will need their passport and travel plans handy. (*GO Short students are registered by the program directors)

5. Important Health & Safety Issues
Personal health
Alcohol & drugs
Transportation
Crime, violence, sexual harassment & assault
Terrorism and political unrest
Emergency response
High risk activities
Knowledge of local safety issues
Personal health – It’s a good idea to have your student complete a physical before departure. Students should bring a doctor’s note explaining any prescription medications needed for their time away. It’s also important that students take enough medication (in the original container) for their ENTIRE stay, not just a few weeks.
Alcohol & drugs – While the drinking age in many countries varies from the USA, students are asked to limit their intake of alcohol and to not engage in drugs. Excessive drinking is a recipe for trouble and can lead the student to become a victim of:
Violence
Accidents
Injury
Arrest
Disciplinary action
Removal from program
Other consequences
Transportation – Always take valid and professional transportation services. The on-site program director or program provider will provide students with reliable transportation information during orientation after arrival. Avoid renting cars as students are not usually knowledgeable of local driving laws.
Crime, violence, sexual harassment & assault – Students are advised to avoid traveling alone. Student should travel in pairs and always inform someone (roommate, friend on site) of where they are going. Any incidents regarding crime, violent, sexual harassment and/or assault should be reported to their host program provider and the GO Program right away. If students find themselves in an emergency situation, they should be aware of the emergency number of their host country. This information can be found on the US State department website or if not listed, students should contact their program provider or the GO Program for assistance:
Terrorism and political unrest – Terrorism & political unrest may occur anywhere.
Keep a low profile.
Pay attention to local news reports on current conditions.
Limit wearing clothing identifying you as an American citizen or US college student.
Emergency response – Students should review the fire safety of their host housing, know the location of the local police station, nearest US embassy and follow other instructions by their program provider.
High risk activities – Students should avoid high risk activities (as they are usually not covered by insurance) e.g.. Cliff diving, sky diving etc. → SU liability insurance DOES NOT cover high risk activity. 
Liability laws vary by location
Consult your program before engaging in risky activities.
Knowledge of local safety issues – Again, students should watch the local news and newspapers, register with US State Department’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (STEP) and have general knowledge of local safety issues. All of our study abroad programs have on-site orientations for our students upon arrival. On-site orientation will review important information for enrollment, culture and safety.

6. Setting up to Stay in Touch
Cell-phone
Landline
Stay in contact with Program Providers and Program Directors
Stay in contact with Family
Cell-phones abroad (purchase a local Sim card, Pay-as you go, Wi-Fi)
(student should check their SU and local often)
Contact with Family (students are asked to be in contact to let family know their ok)
Students should know, have access to, and share with you their emergency numbers
Social Media Apps→ Student can use a number of social media apps (often free) to stay in contact with family or friends. Some of the popular apps abroad are Tango, Viber, Skype, Snap Chat, Facebook, WhatsApp, Marco Polo, Line, Hangout, and tons more.

7. Midway Check in
This check-in will review some questions that have come into the chat box, if there are any.

8. SU’s Emergency Response
Program directors are trained by experienced GO Program Staff to handle emergencies through scenario-based exercises.
Each GO Short program has an on-site emergency plan, which is shared with students.
All GO Long and GYOW are required to attend a health and safety workshop led by experienced GO Program Staff.
GO Program partners all have their own emergency plans and share this with the students during orientation.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, Susquehanna monitors and receives alerts of issues -- domestic and abroad.
All SU students are required to attend a health and safety training before departure.  Professional staff with prior experience in risk management lead the Health and Safety trainings.  Participants obtain important information needed to identify health and safety risks, and communicate these to the appropriate persons, when needed. Participants also will create a framework for emergency response, situational awareness, and communication.
GO Short emergency plans are shared with the students, which we encourage them to share with you.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, Susquehanna monitors and receives notifications from our risk management insurance provider in real time of issues domestically and abroad.

9. Student Emergency Responsibilities
Be registered with S.T.E.P to receive US State Department alerts for US citizens
Know local emergency numbers
Know host emergency plan
Side Trips registration with GO Program
Side trips form is on their Apply-to-GO application
Check in via with in case of a regional health or safety incident
Students must follow directions of on-site host university/provider or program director during trip
Students are asked to follow the specific steps while they are on their GO program:
All SU students are required to register with the U.S. State Department's S.T.E.P (Smart Travelers Enrollment Program) before departure and for each side trip during their time away, so that regular updates regarding safety and health abroad can be sent to them directly.
Know local emergency numbers
During orientation, host universities/partners or Program Directors will provide student’s with emergency contact information
What is the local equivalent to 911?
What is the host university after hours number? – GO Long
What is the Program Directors contact information? – GO Short
Know host emergency plan
Fire safety
Emergency meeting point
Nearest police station
Nearest local hospital
Nearest US embassy
Side Trips registration with GO Program
SU students are required to alert the GO program and their program provider of all regional travel plans during their GO program (side-trips) BEFORE departure by logging back into their APPLY TO GO (go.susqu.edu) application and completing the side-trips form. If students are unable to access the form, they should send an to with their side trip location, dates, transportation, accommodation and contact number.
As noted during the health and safety training, when there is a safety or health incident in a student's regional area, country or city, they are required to check in with their host university and the GO Program by to let us know that they are safe. 
Students must follow directions of on-site host university/provider or program director during trip

10. U.S. Consular Services Visa Services Passport Services
Overseas Citizens Services
Safety & Security Information
Assist U.S. Abroad
Know Before You Go!
Country Specific Information (CSI)
Security Emergency Messages
Travel Alerts & Warnings
Fact Sheets
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.)
The US Consular General Services. You can find a list of all countries with theses services at the following link:
Services may include but are not limited to:
Visa Services
Passport Services
Overseas Citizens Services
Safety & Security Information
Assist U.S. Abroad
Know Before You Go!
Country Specific Information (CSI)
Security Emergency Messages
Travel Alerts & Warnings
Fact Sheets
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Emergency passport issuance
Arrests
Medical emergencies
Crisis response

11. U.S. Consular Emergency Assistance
Emergency passport issuance
Arrests
Medical emergencies
Crisis response

12. Emergency Contacts
GO Long/GYOW: On-site coordinator at host university/program
Your student should share this information with you
GO Short: Program Directors/GO Program
Emergency Only: SU Public Safety:
Non-emergency:
From within United States (Dept. of State),
From overseas (Dept. of State),
Online: travel.state.gov
Online: usembassy.gov
Facebook: facebook.com/TravelGov
Note important numbers for health and safety!
GO Program encourages you to set up a specific time with your student to discuss their GO Program, in particular health and safety information. Students receive the most updated information from Program Directors and Host partners.
GO Long/GYOW. Students may not have all contact info for their program until they arrive but will receive details in orientation. Please check in with your student for this after they arrive, too.
GO Short. SU Public Safety should only be used for emergencies. All other GO related questions or concerns should be directed to the GO Program

13. Questions? Contact Us: For information on our team, visit our website.
us:
NON EMERGENCY USE
Call our office:
Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:30PM
For information on our team, visit our website.
Our primary responsibility is to get your student ready and we work closely with the students and our host partners, however we are available to answer general questions.
We will now answer a few remaining questions in the side-bar chat. If you did not get your question answered, please
Thank you for participating in the online seminar!