- Working with trusted partners and providers overseas.
- Keeping strict standards for housing.
- Performing yearly site visits and program audits.
- Training our faculty and staff in best practices abroad.
- Keeping abreast of world news and political situations.
- Monitoring all US Department of State advisories, alerts, and warnings.
- Maintaining a 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year Study Abroad Emergency Hotline.
Things to Know Before You Go
Preparing to be safe and secure during your travels starts before you depart. Be aware of the information below as you prepare for departure.
The University has contracted with International SOS (ISOS) to provide comprehensive health and security coverage to Pitt student, faculty, and staff traveling for University-related studies or business. ISOS is the world’s leading medical and travel security risk services company.
ISOS coverage provides medical and medical assistance coverage for the dates of your program. It covers:
- Doctor and hospital visits (for physical and/or mental health needs)
- Prescribed medication
- Medically required transportation while abroad
- Medically required evacuation and repatriation
ISOS also provides:
- Travel Safety and Security Advice – The University of Pittsburgh ISOS program includes assistance in safety and security preparation before travel abroad and during travel.
- Health & Safety Line Response – ISOS provides first-line response on the Study Abroad Health and Safety Line and will only pass a call to Study Abroad Office staff in certain situations.
ISOS does NOT cover:
- Follow up care when you return to the US
- Routine care – for example: physical exams or routine maternity expenses, non-emergency mental health and substance abuse expenses, surgical second opinions, or home health care
- Injuries due to certain activities – for example: injuries related to accidents caused by using motorized vehicles and/or engaging in adventure sport activities
- Personal travel before or after the program dates
We recommend purchasing additional insurance if you are traveling before or after your program.
Before You Travel
- If you are taking any medication, ISOS can provide pre-departure guidance on the legality of medications and supplements and the process necessary to carry them with you overseas.
- If you have a pre-existing condition(s), ISOS can open a case for you before your departure for the program. Your study abroad program manager will work with you on that process after you submit your medical report.
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We strongly recommend you download the ISOS Assistance App. This convenient app features:
- One-click dialing to the ISOS Assistance Center closest to your location, for immediate help or advice 24/7/365
- The latest medical and travel security alerts for your location, with notifications being sent before and during trips
- NOTE: You must have a functioning data plan for your country of travel and location services must be turned on for this app to work. When you first start the App, you will be asked to enter your Membership Number, please input the following: 11BMAS563390.
- Before you depart, check with your cell phone provider to see what kind of international service is offered. Your smart phone can be a great tool especially if using apps like Google Translate, Google Maps, currency converters, and more.
- For your safety, be aware of the privacy settings on your phone. Your phone has a location on it and can tell everywhere you’re going. Pay attention to these things.
- Have a plan for keeping in-touch with those at home, and discuss this plan with friends and family prior to departure.
- Have flexibility in mind. For example, you may want to refrain from telling your parents that you’ll call them every other night at 8 if there’s a chance you may be unavailable one day or you may not have phone reception
- Skype, Facetime, Zoom, WhatsApp, calls (contact your cell phone provider prior to leaving) are all good options for communicating back home. A clear communication plan between you and your family and friends at home ensures that they know that you are safe and secure during your travels.
- Refer to your government’s website to determine if you require a visa to enter the country or if there are any travel restrictions or travel bans.
- Meet with Pitt’s Office of International Services if you have questions about your current immigration documents.
- Contact International SOS if you have additional travel concerns after meeting with the OIS.
- STEP - Enroll for free at STEP.state.gov to receive travel and security updates from the US Government about your destination.
- Visit U.S. Department of State Students Abroad website to get the country-specific safety and security profile, nearest US embassy/consulate, entry requirements for you host country, etc.
- FBI World Factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications and transportation of every country in the world: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
- FBI Safety and Security brochure for students going abroad (PDF)
- CDC provides country-specific information regarding health and safety including vaccines and medicines, food and water safety, diseases, healthy travel packing list, and tips you can benefit from during travel: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/studying-abroad
- Visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel to learn how to navigate security screening with these helpful travel tips
Knowledge and Prevention While Away
In order to maximize your safety and security and assist in your decision-making while away, please review the essential topics below to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occuring.
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In emergency situations, contact the in-country equivalent of 911. Here’s a handy reference list of emergency contact numbers in foreign countries.
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In non-emergency health and safety situations, contact International SOS, the University Health Insurance provider: +1-215-942-8478
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In either situation, keep your faculty leader, program manager, and on-site staff informed.
For mental and emotional wellness support, International SOS also offers zoom or skype sessions with therapists through WPO. The administration or prescription of medication is not managed through WPO services; but International SOS can assist with referrals to local psychiatrists, as needed. In either situation, contact International SOS, 24/7, so that the appropriate assistance can be provided.
- SOS will help locate a qualified healthcare provider, receive a prescription, or simply answer any general medical or security concern you may have so you get quality medical care and advice.
- In an emergency, ISOS can ensure that you get immediate care whether it requires evacuating you to a center of medical excellence or closely monitoring your condition with local doctors.
- The ISOS program provides medical, security and logistical expertise to help safeguard Pitt’s international travelers. If you lose your medication in Prague, need to see a doctor in New Delhi, get pick-pocketed in Rio or, are in an accident, you should immediately contact ISOS.
- To use this insurance most effectively, you should contact ISOS directly to coordinate care BEFORE going to a medical facility if possible or practicable. Failure to do so greatly increases the chance that you will be required to pay the costs up-front, in which case, you will need to save your receipts and contact ISOS after treatment for reimbursement instructions.
- This insurance does not cover injuries related to accidents caused by using motorized vehicles and/or engaging in adventure sport activities.
- This insurance coverage is only in effect during your actual program dates and thus it does not cover any independent travel before or after your program..
- Are unfamiliar with their surroundings
- Might not speak the local language well
- Are recognizable as foreigners
- Have not yet learned the social norms or unwritten rules of conduct
- Are eager to get to know new people and the local culture
- Are naive to the intentions of people around them
- Are carrying all their valuables with them
- Wear headphones and/or talk on cell phones when walking around, crossing streets, and/or jogging.
- Being out after midnight
- Being alone at night in an isolated area (travel with someone whenever possible)
- Being in a known high crime area
- Sleeping in an unlocked place
- Being out after a local curfew
- Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Carrying excessive amounts of cash and/or valuable property
- Wearing earphones while walking (as then you cannot hear anything going on around you!)
- Do not take valuables on your trip which you may have difficulty replacing.
- Take major credit cards, ATM cards, or travelers checks, NOT large amounts of cash.
- Find out which parts of town the locals consider "risky."
- Stay alert in crowds, especially in areas frequented by tourists.
- You can NEVER be too careful with your money and belongings. Use extreme caution at all times. Possibly the best way to carry your money and passport is in a belt tied around your waist in the inside of your pants, or around your neck, under your shirt.
- Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages (drink responsibly) and stay away from banned/illegal substances. YOU are ultimately responsible for your own behavior and choices.
- Do not just set your bags down next to you; make sure they are touching some part of your body.
- It will be your first instinct to trust many people you meet, but using common sense is not distrust – it is smart.
- Fanny packs can be easily cut off of you on crowded trains and buses. Even in church/religious sites, never let your belongings out of your sight.
- Be especially careful when taking pictures as your attention is focused on your subject and camera, rather than your belongings.
- "When you least expect it - expect it." Above all, use common sense at all times. If something does not feel safe, it probably is not.
Sexual Assault
Below are some tips to help protect your money while traveling:
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Keep your money in a safe place, and don’t carry more money with you than you need at any given time.
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Don’t carry your debit and credit cards with you if you don’t need them..
- Use ATMs during business hours, so that you can speak with a representative in the event of the machine "eating up" your card.
- Use ATMs inside banks, where possible.
- If you need to use an ATM that is on the outside of a building or along a street, check for people who might be loitering around.
- Cover your hand and PIN-pad when entering your PIN.
- Getting drunk in an unfamiliar location is riskier and more dangerous than at home
- Over 50% of student incidents involving sexual assault overseas indicated alcohol as a contributing factor
- Language/communication barriers may increase once alcohol is involved
- Jet lag, altitude, a change to one’s regular eating schedule, and other factors may alter the effects of alcohol on your body and mind
- As a visitor, you are already a potential target for things like theft and assault—don’t put yourself in a position where you make yourself even more vulnerable
- Certain types of alcohol may be stronger than what you are used to in the US
- Have a plan (and a plan B!)
- Stay within your comfort zone
- Travel with a group. And when you’re with a group, speak up!
- Look out for each other and know your surroundings
- Refrain from binge drinking
- Excessive drunkenness is frowned upon everywhere
- Use common sense
- Don’t leave a drink unattended while in public
- Know your own limits and understand that now is not the time to push those limits
- Remember that you are representing the university, the United States, and your family
- Drink bottled water (make sure cap has not been disturbed)
- Have a water bottle with a water filter (and research which water filters are necessary for the country you are visiting)
- Don’t add ice to water in your water bottle or in the restaurant. Often it is not made with filtered water.
- Raw food including platters of cut-up fruit of vegetables, salads, raw meat or seafood
- Street food
- Bushmeat (generally animals not typically eaten in the US) including bats, monkeys, or rodents as they can be sources of Ebola, SARS, and other animal-origin diseases
- Do not swim in unfamiliar bodies of water or at isolated beaches.
- Never swim alone.
- Never swim while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Never dive head-first.
- Check local information for details of tides, currents, and pollution. Tide changes can produce powerful currents.
- Remember that rip currents and undertows can be very common at many beaches.
- Do not swim where there are no lifeguards present.
- Check for possible hazards from jellyfish, sea urchins, coral, sea snakes, sharks, and venomous fish. Saltwater crocodiles live in coastal estuaries in many countries.
- Human sewage and animal feces make some beaches no-go areas for swimming or even wading.
- If you find yourself unable to reach shore, wave your arms and yell for assistance.
Identify potential fire hazards and take steps to minimize or eliminate hazards. Eliminating fire hazards associated with electricity, natural gas, and flammable liquids will go a long way toward reducing your fire risk.
Smoking in bed or careless smoking
Careless smoking is known to be one of the primary causes of home fires. If you don’t discard a cigarette properly, loose embers that are hot can ignite when they come in contact with a flammable surface.
- Smoke alarms that do not work.
- Expired or inoperable fire extinguisher.
- No escape plan.
- Overloaded extension cord. Overloaded electrical outlets.
- Using a space heater that is not laboratory tested and approved.
- Frayed cord plugged into wall socket.
- Electrical cords under carpets or across high-traffic areas.
- Electrical appliances left on (hair iron, etc.)
- “Daisy-chained” power strips (one plugged into another).
- Power strip without circuit breaker.
- Flammables close to a source of ignition.
- Unattended candle, fireplace, or space heater.
- Ensure you have a working smoke alarm and test it weekly. Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- If you smoke, never smoke in bed; when you finish a cigarette, put it out completely and make sure all cigarette ends are cold before emptying ashtrays into bins.
- Be aware of where fire alarms are located and fire equipment is kept.
- Draw an escape route. Plan and practice it with your housemates. If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure you can get through the doorways easily.
- Students with mobility disability are encouraged to have their bedroom on the ground floor and as close as possible to an exit.
- Keep a flashlight on hand to help guide you through smoke.
- Roads may not be well-maintained or paved in some countries
- Roads may not be well-lit outside the city
- Laws will not be the same as in the United States (and some countries drive on the opposite side of the road)
Many countries around the world do not have regulations on air pollution. It is important to learn about the air quality of your program’s location and how take measures to protect yourself.
Resources to help you protect yourself from air pollution during your program:
- ISOS Air Pollution - FAQs and resources on air pollution from Pitt’s international health insurance, including a live map of current air quality.
- Air Pollution - World Health Organization (WHO) information about air pollution.
- How to Protect Yourself From Air Pollution While Traveling - NYTimes article on navigating poor air quality.
- Be physically careful when taking photos. It's not worth risking your health, your safety, or your life to get that incredible-looking photo.
- Be mindful of the location's culture and others' privacy when taking photos or videos and sharing them online.
- Be careful what you post to social media and what details you share. For example, posting your current location can put you in a vulnerable situation.
- Consider your privacy settings on social media and who has access to what you post. For example, while it may be great to share your itinerary with friends or family, you shouldn't post it publically on social media for all to see.
- When you run into situations that you're unsure of, try not to simply make assumptions. Ask questions.
- Use common sense, but more-than-often people are open and willing to help you if you ask (again, don't be afraid to ask if you need help).
- If traveling to a non-English speaking country, have a basic understanding of gestures or non-verbal communication signals, as they can be just as effective as words and can help you communicate if in an emergency.
- Learn and practice daily basic phrases in the language of your location. When traveling, don't be afraid to make a mistake or say something wrong if you're trying. Practice makes perfect. Feeling comfortable with basic phrases can help if you are ever an emergency situation.
- Keep your devices secure in public places such as airports, hotels and restaurants.
- Take care that nobody is trying to steal information from you by spying on your device screen while it's in use.
- Consider using a privacy screen on your laptop to restrict visibility.
- Do not use the same passwords or PIN numbers abroad that you use in the United States.
- Do not use the public Wi-Fi to make online purchases or access bank accounts.
- When logging into any public network, shut off your phone's auto-join function.
- While using a pubic Wi-Fi network, periodically adjust your phone settings to disconnect from the network, then log back in again.
- Try purposely logging onto the public Wi-Fi using the wrong password. If you can get on anyway, that's a sign that the network is not secure.
Responding to Situations
The information below will help assist you if a situation occurs.
Resources
Read below for additional resources for travelers.
- Be careful of talking about sex. In a different culture it may equate as a come on.
- Be careful in asking men to dance in clubs.
- Be aware of going to clubs alone. This may be interpreted as an "open invitation".
- Do not hitchhike.
- Do not respond to the many catcalls you may receive. Just walk on.
- Be firm and assertive when you say NO. Be clear and direct to be certain that your intention and the words are understood.
- Be aware that things which may appear as normal to you, such as getting drunk or asking someone to walk you home, may be misconstrued as an indication of poor character and place you in uncomfortable situations.
- Do not leave your drink unattended or exchange drinks with anyone else
- Don’t accept a drink from anyone, no matter how nice they seem
- Avoid drinking from a large open container
- Are you only willing to go somewhere that is very tolerant and affirming of LGBT identity?
- What if the perfect program for you is in a place that openly discriminates against LGBT individuals?
- What are the cultural and local attitudes towards Americans, tourists and sexual orientation and gender identity in my host country?
- What is the attitude of the police towards LGBT visitors?
- What is the social perception of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in my host country?
- How open will I be about my sexual orientation and gender identity with my teachers, peers, friends, host family and others?
- The LGBT population is often misunderstood by others. To what degree am I comfortable with educating others and dispelling myths?
- Are there situations in which I would not disclose my sexual orientation?
- How important is it to me to find other students and friends who share my identity while abroad? How will I make connections with other sexual minority students, local residents, or community organizations?
- Are there LGBT friendly establishments nearby? How can I find them?
- Will I need access to any medications, supplies, or services to properly care for my medical needs, including those related to physical transition, like hormones? Are they available in my host country? If not, will I need any additional documentation to travel with any medications or supplies? Will it be possible to travel legally with these supplies?
American embassies overseas will assist you in times of national crisis or threatening circumstances. Embassies will not assist you if, by virtue of your own actions, you break the laws of the country in which you reside. If you are arrested and taken to jail for a crime you have knowingly committed, the embassy is not responsible for your release. The US government has no funds for your legal fees or other related expenses.
- Don’t stand out: while “safety in numbers” is a good rule to follow, traveling as an identifiable group of U.S. students will attract attention and possibly cause problems. Try to fit in with the surroundings.
- Whenever possible, speak in the local language.
- Report suspicious events immediately: Contact the on-site study abroad coordinator/resident director if you observe suspicious persons within the premises of your educational environment. Act similarly if anything might indicate threats or an actual terrorist attack on the premises or on student activities.
- Careless talk: Do not be free with information about other students. Be wary of new people. Do not give out yours or anyone else’s address or phone number to strangers. Don’t give away your class or field trip schedule.
- Official contact: Your resident advisor may have an agreement with you as far as leaving the campus site and staying with others. Do let your advisor and host family, if applicable, know if you will be staying overnight somewhere else, especially in case of an emergency.
- You should dress and behave inconspicuously in public. Try not to "advertise" that you're a foreigner by wearing your college sweatshirt or hanging out in typically American bars and pubs.
Additional Resources:
- STEP - Enroll for free at STEP.state.gov to receive travel and security updates from the US Government about your destination.
- Visit U.S. Department of State Students Abroad website to get the country-specific safety and security profile, nearest US embassy/consulate, entry requirements for you host country, etc.
- FBI World Factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications and transportation of every country in the world: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
- FBI Safety and Security brochure for students going abroad (PDF)
- CDC provides country-specific information regarding health and safety including vaccines and medicines, food and water safety, diseases, healthy travel packing list, and tips you can benefit from during travel: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/studying-abroad
- Visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel to learn how to navigate security screening with these helpful travel tips