Safety

Whether a novice or an experienced traveller, heat, humidity, noise and smells, indeed "culture shock" in general, can be alarmingly good at distracting attention and lowering one's guard, making you more susceptible to illness and problems. If you also have your children to worry about, you could be forgiven for thinking that any adventurous trip abroad is bound to end in mishap. The reality, however, is that by far the vast majority of trips abroad take place with no, or only minor, incident. A little knowledge of the basics of travel safety can go a long way…

Before you go

Departure Day

Allow plenty of time for getting to the airport and checking in.

Schools: Consider all students handing passports into the lead teacher in the run up to the tirp, so no one accidentally leaves it behind on the day of departure.

Families: If travelling as a family with young children, consider using a “meet and greet” service at the airport to make parking easier.

Foreign Office Advice

Check the latest FCO advice on the country you are visiting. Visit: www.fco.gov.uk and click on the “Travel and living abroad” section.

(Please note we automatically send the latest FCO advice to schools just prior to departure)

Medical Issues

All those travelling should visit their GP or local travel clinic at least 6 weeks prior to travel to discuss relevant inoculations and malaria prophylaxis, if applicable. Some countries will not let you gain entry if you do not have the necessary evidence of vaccinations. Leaders and the tour operator should be made aware of any pre-existing medical conditions and any special requirements for their management or treatment.

Contact Information

Remember to leave details of your trip with a friend or family member and the contact number of your accommodation (if known) and/or tour operator, in case there is a problem whilst you are away.

Equipment & Luggage

Ensure everyone has read (and understood!) the suggested kit lists and pre-departure information provided by the tour operator and that belongings are packed in a sensible rucksack or hold-all. A hard suitcase is not usually suitable for adventure travel. Pack using dividing bags for different items or sets of clothes as this will make it much easier to pack and repack.

It's worth investing in a good rucksack liner to avoid clothes getting wet or dusty. A waterproof + dustproof camera bag is also essential.

Travel Insurance & EHIC

It is best practice for everyone to travel on the same insurance policy. Double check you are covered for your destination and any activities you plan to undertake.

If not taking your travel provider’s insurance, your policy must satisfy the minimum standards laid down by your tour operator.

All pre-existing medical conditions should be disclosed to insurers (This includes those travelling AND anyone on who’s ill-health may result in a repatriation claim e.g. close family) . Take copies of your insurance details with you when you travel. If travelling to Europe, make sure all members of the family have a current European Health Insurance Card, as well as travel insurance.

Passports / visas

Check that all passports remain valid for the entire trip, including any validity that may be required by the destination authorities after your return home. Some countries require visas to be pre-arranged. If you are unsure about the visa requirements for your trip, contact us immediately. Re-check all passport expiry dates and visa entries. If arranging a visa on arrival, make sure all members of your party have the number of required photos and all necessary documentation.

Documentation

Organising your paperwork

Organising your documentation in an orderly fashion is vital for the efficient management of a trip, especially in the event of an incident. It is best practice for all adults on the trip to carry copies of vital documents, emergency procedures, contact numbers and personal information. For schools, a copy of all this information should be held by the UK home contact and may also be carried on a USB stick and/or emailed as an attachment to a global access email account. Suggested documents / information to be carried (* indicates items supplied by us for schools at the final documentation stage):

• Passports & Visas (and photocopy of photo ID page of passports & visas)
• Flight tickets*
• Travel Insurance policy
• Medical Vaccination certificates (e.g. Yellow Fever)
• Local operator contact information*
• 24 hour emergency contact number for the tour operator*
• 24 hour contact number of group representative in UK*
• Travel insurance emergency contact number and policy information*
• Personal information including: • Names • Ages • Dates of birth • Passport details • Medical issues / allergies*
• Recent photo of all participants
• Your itinerary and flight details*
• Contact number of the local embassy or consulate*
• Risk Assessment (for school groups)*
• Paper / pen to record incidents or events

Emergencies

Emergency Planning

• Ensure sound procedures are in place well before you travel
• Identify “What if” scenarios and plan accordingly
• Ensure all members of staff (on a school trip) understand their roles
• Schools shoudl put together a contingency plan and policies for dealing with / informing parents, local and national media, and other students in case of an incident.
• Establish an emergency fund.

Health, Hygiene and personal safety

Culture Shock

Culture Shock: Experiencing different cultures is one of the joys of travel, but when the cultures are challenging and vastly different from our own, readjusting can sometimes be difficult, especially for children. Typical symptoms of culture shock can include: low-level anxiety, depression, boredom, irritability, lethargy and excessive sleeping and homesickness.

Travelling as a family often lessens the impact of culture shock but there are things you can do to reduce its occurrence:

• Plan thoroughly
• Read up on your destination and include the children in planning and preparing for your trip by learning about the culture, sights, discussing what it might be like to travel through the region or what things you may see
• Don’t panic
• Recognise that it is normal to feel a little overwhelmed and that it will pass
• Share concerns and worries with your tour leader or other members of the group
• Get plenty of rest
• Make an effort to remain social, even if you don’t feel like it
• Contact friends and family at home
• Have a sense of humour!

Personal Hygiene & Health

In Africa, Asia and South America, maintaining high standards of personal hygiene should be one of your highest priorities. You should carry a personal first aid kit – contact your local pharmacy or travel clinic for advice. An alcohol based disinfectant hand-wash is highly recommended – bottles are small enough to be kept in a pocket or your day sack and they provide instant cleansing. Be religious about washing hands before eating. Visit the dentist before you travel. Keep finger and toe nails short, clean any scratches or wounds immediately and use antiseptic cream (or spray, which is preferable in hot / humid environments).

Animals

• Scorpions & Snakes:
  Fortunately rare, but take care when walking in undergrowth or putting on shoes.
• Dogs:
  Make sure children stay clear of any dogs as Rabies is prevalent in many areas outside the UK. If licked or bitten by a dog (or other animal) seek medical advice immediately. Speak to your doctor about the Rabies vaccination.
• Other animals:
  We recommend that you do not touch or feed any animals whilst you are away.

Mosquitoes and Malaria

Wear long trousers and long sleeves when in mosquito areas - certain species of mosquitoes bite during daylight hours, others at night. Use mosquito netting or fans and a good insect repellent – DEET is popular and effective, although test you don’t react to it. 50% DEET offers the best protection.

Malaria: If visiting a malarial area, make taking your malarial prophylaxis tablets part of a routine, thereby reducing the chance of any individual forgetting them. There are some good child friendly anti-malarials these days. Make sure you obtain expert advice on which Malaria prophylaxis are suitable.

Contact Travel Health Consultancy for expert advice (Tel: 01392 430590)

Drinking Water

Outside of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, purify all water or used bottled water. Make sure that bottled water is properly sealed – in some areas “entrepreneurial” individuals collect up empty bottles, fill them with tap water and re-sell them.

Do give some thought to the environmental impact of using dozens of plastic bottles though. Often in developing countries there is no means to recycle them. Taking your own water bottles and purifying or filtering water, is a more environmentally friendly way of getting clean water.

Sun, Heat & Humidity

In hot climes, it is vital to drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration and heat stroke. Do not underestimate just how much liquid you need to take in to remain hydrated, especially if combining physical activity in a hot/humid or dry environment (this includes altitude).

Remember you probably need to almost force children to drink enough in really hot climates.

The easiest barometer to measure whether you are drinking enough liquid is to check your urine – it should remain clear and not yellow in colour. Your local guide will be an expert in dealing with the local environmental conditions.

A few tips…

• Drink little and often. If travelling with young children, bring the child’s drinking flask or SIGG bottle if they have one so that they feel comfortable with it
• Wear loose fitting, light coloured clothes
• Wear a wide brimmed sunhat, high factor sun cream and sunglasses
• Cottons, linen and “wicking fabrics” are the most comfortable
• Plan your activities to avoid the hottest parts of the day
• Take it easy – don’t plan to do too much

Money & Valuables

It goes without saying that in many countries in the world western tourists are extremely wealthy compared with the majority of the local population.

Be sensible: don’t carry more money than you have to, and ensure that the money you do carry is kept in a money belt or inside / hidden pocket. Don’t wear expensive wrist watches, or jewellery, and keep cameras out of sight when not in use.

Personal Safety

Try to be aware of what is going on around you. Wear your day-sack properly, not just slung over a shoulder. Avoid dimly lit areas and don’t travel at night. Busy markets are a haven for pick pockets, as are bus and train stations. Be alert to strange behaviour and scams – if a situation “feels” wrong, then it probably is.

Mugging and violent attacks are rare, especially so when travelling as a family or in a school group, but you can prepare: carrying a “false” wallet that contains a little bit of money and/or an old out-dated credit card is one of the easiest ways to appease any would-be attacker. If you are held up, you can hand it over and your attackers will most likely be contented.

Diet

Your stomach needs time to adapt to the local cuisine, just as your mind needs to adapt to the culture and body to the environment. Start with mild food, or prepare with some spicy food before you leave home perhaps.

WASH IT.. PEEL IT... COOK IT... or FORGET IT...

Avoid salads, ice and water ices. Wash and peel all fruit, ensure all food is piping hot, and choose dishes that have to be cooked from fresh, rather than those that could be re-heated. Remember the rule ’peel it, boil it, cook it or forget it’. Eat at busy restaurants.

If your children or students are fussy eaters or eating you out of house and home, then take some extra snacks along to bridge the gap between meals.

Rules & Risk Assessments

Establishing rules

Rules are vital to the safe running of a school trip and help develop the expectations of individuals and the group. Involving the group in the development of the rules prior to departure is highly recommended and will help ensure that everyone sticks to them. Discuss the risk assessments with the group and based on that decide what is acceptable behaviour, what’s not, how the rules will be enforced and what the consequences will be if they are broken. Encourage a yellow / red card system, with repatriation at own expense as the final resort.

Suggested topics to cover include:

• General conduct
• Respect for local cultures, the environment and each other
• Clothing / attire
• Conduct around water
• Emergencies & the use of mobiles
• The importance of time keeping
• “Free” time
• Sun protection
• Alcohol & drugs
• Sex
• Health & Hygiene
• Being open about problems
• Water & Food
• Exploring in small groups / buddy system
• Personal safety & looking out for one another Once a set of rules have been decided, get the group to draw up a written copy and sign them to say they will agree by them. This is also a good opportunity to notify parents (if not already done so) of the potential cost implications of repatriation if rules are repeatedly broken.

Whilst Abroad

Keep in touch

Part of the reason for going away is to be away from family and friends and let the experience make you grow as a person.

However, those back home will always welcome the odd snippet of news about how everyone is getting on. A short email, text or a phone call every so often, either to a school's home contact or friend's and family, will help keep everyone happy and relaxed.

Also consider using/updating a web-blog and/or a dedicated facebook page.

Accommodation

All the tour operators we deal with conduct safety assessments of the accommodation they use during a trip. Even so, it is worth all adults whether teachers or parents, familiarising themselves with each new accommodation’s potential risks and fire escape routes.

Establish a rendezvous point, and make sure any children/students are briefed as to what to do in the case of an emergency.

Transport

Depending on the destination, your transport may or may not have seat belts (elephants in Nepal rarely do…!) If available, make sure they are used. Always make a quick assessment of your transport and if you have concerns talk to your local guide or leader and consider alternative arrangements.