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Personal
Safety Awareness Personal
safety begins with awareness. Awareness begins with a
clear understanding of one’s attitudes, values,
self-esteem, personal strengths and limitations. What does
your attitude, dress, and body language say about your
vulnerability? It continues with insight into the host
culture and environment - local attitudes toward
strangers, gender perceptions, values, mores and means of
communicating. In order to be alert to potential dangers
and risks to your well-being, you need to be aware of what
is going on in your immediate environment. Study. Observe.
Ask. The
CDC Survival Guide lists steps to take and issues to
be aware of while traveling such as:
The
SAFETI Adaptation of Peace Corp Resources suggest that
“Problems range from minor verbal harassment to theft
and robbery to serious physical and sexual assault. These
incidents are of concern to all students and staff. Try to
obtain country and region specific statistics on physical
and sexual assault.” To help limit the amount of safety
incidents that occur, the students should be aware of
conditions and factors that attribute to risk, strategies
to avoid risk, and how to report these incidences that can
be viewed on the Peace Corps website. (Adapted from
"Personal Safety" module, Pre-Service Health
Training for Volunteer Binder, Peace Corps Office of
Medical Services.) Pay
attention to the political climate and warnings or alerts
issued by the embassy or consulate (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html).
Use this page to become
aware of real security threats that may cause civil
disturbance, and avoid unnecessary risks. You can register
online with the U.S. Department of State prior to your arrival
in the host country to receive this type of
information (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/).
“Registration allows you to record information about
your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can
use to assist you in case of an emergency. Americans
residing abroad can also get routine information from the
nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.” Confirm with the
U.S. embassy the procedures for you and your family in the
event of a crisis or evacuation. The
SAFETI Clearinghouse lists Personal and Safety Adjustment
issues, dealing with travel and transportation, sexual
harassment and assault, discrimination, cultural
adjustment, student conduct, crime, and violence. View http://globaled.us/irl/personalsafety.html
for further reading on these issues along with sample
forms and other suggested links to help students learn
about tips for personal safety. Consider
limiting or eliminating high risk activities such as
skiing, mountain climbing, scuba diving, white water
rafting, etc., which can expose students to a high risk of
injury or possibly even death.
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