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Tips for Studying Abroad
Safe and Secure World traveler.
When I sent my daughter to study abroad, I did so with the maximum amount of research and empowerment. It is no secret that women are at a greater risk of sexual harassment and rape. So, it shouldn’t be a secret how to protect, prevent and have the highest level of risk mitigation strategies available when needed. Travelers need to be aware of the many risks they face in the countries they are visiting. If you are planning on sending your son or daughter to study abroad, please talk with your student about risks. Here are a few risk reduction tips that I taught my daughter before her study abroad. My daughter ended up visiting over 30 countries and lived in Milan, Rome, Madrid, and Bangkok. Her overseas experiences have truly made her a savvy and smart global citizen.
· We first took a self-defense class called RAD, which was an amazing class that empowered the participants with skills to escape or fight if necessary. Check for locations and times at your local police department or by contacting RAD through their website.
· We talked about worse case scenarios and how to properly prepare for hidden dangers. You first must be able to identify the threat and then have a plan already formulated should some type of disaster occur. This is similar to the pre-flight emergency announcements that are made when we fly — we may never need to use this information but if an emergency occurred, we would immediately know the procedures to be followed. I constantly remind travelers that following a good prevention plan and avoiding danger is much better than having to initiate a crisis plan.
· Some of the scenarios we discussed involved terrorism, civil disorder, environmental hazards and crime, and with each category was a plan of action including emergency numbers for the American Embassy, first responders, local point of contact and emergency response number, which in many countries is not 911.
· We openly discussed the dangers of drinking and that alcohol is the number one substance criminals use to take advantage of tourists when committing their crimes. Perpetrators consistently seek out the most vulnerable individuals. Most sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance when the victim is intoxicated as evident by the National Collegiate Date and Acquaintance Rape statistic, which indicates that 90% of acquaintance rapes involve alcohol.
· We discussed the red flags, which are often displayed when a person feels unsafe or senses danger. This is an effective sign for personal security and should be acted upon immediately by leaving the area, changing direction and reaching out to trusted associates. We discussed that alcohol reduces the ability to detect red flags and that trusting instincts is usually the most correct course of action.
· I am happy that we discussed never opening a door to anyone she was not expecting and if, in a hotel, she should call the front desk to alert security. This played out in real life during my daughters first study abroad to Cairo, when a man knocked on her hotel room “to fix the air conditioning” but because of our discussion, she called the front desk and learned that the hotel never sent anyone to her room to fix the air conditioner. Criminals often use this “cold call technique” to gain entry.
I guess my daughter was lucky because, for a living, I focus on international risk mitigation. My goal is to prevent “tourism” victimization and I want students to learn these skills to enhance their safety when they study abroad and use these strategies to explore the world with a better sense of personal security. This is exactly what I provided my daughter and I know she can use these strategies anywhere she travels — whether around the corner — or around the world.
Carrie Pasquarello of Global Secure Resources Inc. is dedicated to risk mitigation and threat assessment planning for tourism, improving the health, safety, and security of all travelers. Pasquarello’s decades of overseas experience combined with her passion for travel makes her a vital resource for international travel preparation. In addition, she volunteers her time as a rape crisis counselor and teaches Community Awareness Prevention programs in Boston.
