-
Crime
Prevention
Crimes against travelers are
crimes of opportunity. To play it safe, here are some steps to
follow:
-
Whenever possible,
ensure that your hotel room has a peephole, a deadbolt lock, or
a chain-and-slide bolt.
-
If you travel with
valuables, put them in the hotel safe.
-
Find out what parts
of town locals consider risky and avoid them.
-
Keep your car doors
locked and suitcases out of sight.
-
If you see an
accident, don't stop; instead, look for a well lit pay phone and
call for help.
-
Minimize the amount
of cash you carry. Replace cash with Travelers Checks, which,
once signed, are refundable if lost or stolen.
For practical
advice on protecting yourself against crime, write for a free copy
of the brochure Travel Safety from the American Society of
Travel Agents (1101 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22313). Send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope.
-
Fire
Precautions
Fire is often more of a hazard when you're away from home
because of the unfamiliarity of your surroundings. Here's how to
protect yourself:
-
Take a minute to
study the fire instructions posted in your room.
-
Keep your room key
on a bedside table so you can find it in the dark. In case of
fire, take the key with you when you leave.
-
If exit routes are
blocked, you may have to return to your room.
-
If smoke is coming
into the room, touch the door, frame, and knob. If they are
cool, slowly open the door. Take a wet towel to cover your face.
Go to the nearest exit according to the posted instructions.
(Never use the elevator when there's a fire .) If your door is
hot, do not open it, but remain in the room. Run water in the
tub, soak towels, and use them to block the crack under the
door.
-
Travel
Health Insurance
Several companies now offer
various health plans to cover emergency medical costs, emergency
air-ambulance service, hotel and incidental expenses for those named
in the insurance coverage, and outpatient treatment.
-
Check your
insurance policy's overseas coverage.
-
Have all your bills
itemized in legible English and be prepared to pay foreign
doctors and hospital bills in cash. However, many hospitals now
accept the American Express Card for payment. Enrolled American
Express Card members can also rely on Express Cash.
-
Submit proof of
payment to your company on your return.
-
Travel
Advisories
The U.S. State Department issues
periodic Consular Information Sheets about political, health,
economic, and other conditions that may affect travelers. You can
obtain information by calling an automated answering system at the
State Department's Citizens Emergency Center at 202-647-5225.
The
International Airline Passengers Association (214-404-9980)
publishes a quarterly newsletter, IAPA World. The publication
calls attention to dangerous travel conditions in the U.S. and
overseas, and offers cautionary advice. You must obtain a membership
in order to receive a subscription to this newsletter. An
annual membership is $79.
-
Staying
Healthy
Here are some general
suggestions to help you keep in top shape while traveling:
-
Do some medical
research before going overseas. Find out whether the countries
you are visiting require vaccinations and whether preventive
measures or inoculations are mandatory or advisable. U.S. Public
Health Service recommendations, current information on
vaccination certificate requirements, and other data are
included in Health Information for International Travel
($14.00 from the U.S. Government Printing Office). Call
202-512-1800.
-
You can obtain a
list of vaccination recommendations by calling one of the
American Express Card hotlines.
-
You can get
international traveler's health information from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention hotline by calling 404-639-1610.
-
Pack an extra pair
of eyeglasses or contact lenses, and take along a copy of
your prescription, written in metric measurements. Also take
contact lens supplies, as they may not be available overseas.
-
Wear a bracelet or
other medical identification if you have diabetes, an
allergy to penicillin, or any other condition that may require emergency
care.
-
Keep medicines in
their original containers to avoid problems with customs
duties. Also, leave the cotton in drug bottles to prevent pills
from breaking.
-
The Rockport
Company, in association with the American Society of Travel
Agents, has produced a booklet, Destination: Good Health.
A Guide to Healthy Travel Habits. For a free copy, send a self-
addressed, stamped envelope to ASTA, 1101 King Street, Alexandria,
VA 22314, or call (703) 739-2782.
-
Have a dental
checkup to lessen the need for emergency treatment while
overseas.
-
Consider requesting
a special meal when you make your airline reservation. Major
carriers now offer as many as 18 alternative menus,
including kosher, Hindu, vegetarian, high-protein, low-calorie,
low-cholesterol, no-salt, and seafood plates.
-
Avoid
common travelers' ailments
In some countries, it's advisable to:
-
Avoid raw
vegetables, unpeeled fruit, meat, seafood, tap water, ice,
and unpasteurized milk and dairy products.
-
Drink only
commercially bottled and sealed beverages or water that has
been boiled or treated.
-
Resist the
temptation to buy food from street vendors.
-
If
you need a doctor
If you become ill out of town, it can be difficult to locate
a physician quickly. Here's where to turn for help:
-
The nearest
American embassy or consulate will have a list of
English-speaking doctors.
-
You can also become
a member of the nonprofit International Association for Medical
Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT, 716-754-4883). Members receive a
directory of certified English-speaking doctors
and other health-care providers.
|
|
|
Helpful Health & Travel Advisories |
|
|
|
|
|
