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Planning for Emergencies
Preparing for an emergency while traveling
is not difficult and can make the difference between a safe trip and a
catastrophe. Planning
for Emergencies from TripPrep.com
has some good suggestions, as does Prepare
for Medical Emergencies from the Centers for Disease Control.
It is also a good idea to take a first
aid kit, and don't forget your own personal medicines like birth control
pills and asthma medicines.
Motor vehicle accidents
Motor vehicle accidents and pedestrian
accidents cause more traveler injuries and deaths than all infections combined.
If you are driving, don't get distracted by the scenery or by your passengers.
Take a few minutes to understand the local traffic laws. Moto-Europa:
General Driving has some good suggestions. Moto-Europe
also has information about driving in specific countries, at least in Europe.
TripPrep.com
also has good information on transportation
safety.
Be particularly careful driving or riding
a motorcycle or a bicycle in a foreign country. In some countries two-wheeled
riders are even less respected than in the US.
Walking alongside a road can be suicidal,
especially on curving roads, at night and on roads without much of a shoulder.
Get away from the road and use a sidewalk if available. Try to walk facing
traffic.
Personal safety
The US can be a dangerous place, but
many countries are just as bad or even worse. Travelers are often targets
for local criminals, but a little common sense can provide a lot of protection.
A
Safe Trip Abroad, from the US State Department, has excellent suggestions
on:
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Safety on the street
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Safety in your hotel room
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Safety on public transport
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Safety when you drive
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How to handle money safely
Other good resources are Avoiding
Crime, from TripPrep.com, TravelSafe,
and Making Travel
Safe from the CDC.
Dog bites
Rabies
is common in many foreign countries. Stray dogs and cats are also common
in many foreign countries. Think about it before you try to pet that cute
animal on the street. Rabies is fatal if not treated quickly, and the appropriate
treatment may not be available where you are traveling. Avoid stray animals
or animals which live outdoors. If you are traveling to a country that
is not considered a low-risk
rabies area, particularly if you will be traveling in rural areas,
consider getting the pre-exposure rabies
vaccine.
Altitude sickness
Visiting mountainous areas can put
you at risk for altitude sickness. The lower oxygen content at high altitudes
can cause headache, nausea, insomnia and more serious symptoms. Susceptibility
varies among individuals, but for many people elevations above 9000 feet
(2700 meters) can pose a risk. Gradual ascent and acclimatization can help
prevent altitude sickness, and Altitude
Sickness from TripPrep.com has
some good suggestions.
Heat injury
Your trip might be a great escape,
but you won't be able to escape the sun. Sunburn, dehydration and other
heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Take a look at Sun
Exposure and Dehydration.
Travel insurance
MSU students who have purchased the
Blue Cross Blue Shield Student Health Insurance Plan available through
the MSU Student Health Service are eligible for AIG
Assist, a travel emergency assistance program. Contact the Student
Health Service for more information.
We can help you prepare for all of these
health risks. Call us at the MSU Student Health Service at (406) 994-2311.
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