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Being told your child has died is every parent's worst nightmare -- the one from which you never awaken. One late-night phone call on March 27, 1996, completely shattered our lives. In an instant, our beautiful, talented, loving daughters were taken from us. That moment -- when all our innocence was lost -- has became the defining moment for the rest of our lives. Juniors in college, our daughters had elected to study abroad on a shipboard program taking them around the world. Instead they were killed when their program-sponsored bus overturned on a dangerous road in India. Why were they on one of the most treacherous roads in the world in the middle of that dreadful night? How could their lives have been put at such risk? And how safe are these programs to which we entrust our children? Our unwitting faith in study abroad program administrators was not sufficient to insure that Virginia, Jenna and Sara would come home. We made dangerous assumptions about the safety considerations afforded our children. Is it enough to say quite simply that "accidents happen?" Or must every parent who entrusts their child's well-being to others ask fundamental questions that satisfy basic safety requirements? We believe the latter. Conte Nast Traveler magazine estimates that 750 Americans die abroad in traffic fatalities and another 25,000 are injured each year. Meanwhile The Chronicle of Higher Education (1996) estimates that 180,000 students journeyed abroad to enrich their minds, learn about new cultures until such trips, become better prepared for the increasing globalization of business in which their futures will be enveloped. And many of the programs reach these goals. We, for instance, were deluged with letters from students on previous shipboard programs like our daughters'. They consistently praised their experience abroad as "changing the course of my life." The impact of world travel on a young person's life cannot be denied. But the risks, too often unnecessary, of personal injury. . .and even death. . .cannot be denied either -- especially as students increasingly choose third world destinations!! In 1996, the number of students going abroad jumped 20,000 from the prior year! While the growth trend for Europe has stabilized, the number going to Asia, Africa, and Latin America has increased by 15 percent. As short as a decade ago, third world destinations would not have enjoyed such student interest. The fall of communism, the end of apartheid, and the opening of previously closed countries like Vietnam and Kazakhstan have contributed to this surge in interest in countries racked with disease, crime, poor medical help, and high traffic accidents. To gain perspective, Egypt suffers over 40 times more traffic deaths than the U.S., South Korea has ten times the vehicular injuries we experience here. Among the other "worst countries" in which to drive are Kenya, India, Turkey, Yemen, Brazil, and South Africa. For example, in the early 1990s in South Africa, 3,000 people died from political violence while 10,000 died annually on the roads. Admittedly, valid statistics are difficult to acquire, especially in underdeveloped countries. But where they exist, the evidence is clear. Much greater risk comes to those seeking adventurous experiences, those found in precisely the third world countries to which our students are flocking. How can these risks be minimized? What can be done to eliminate potential tragedies to these young participants. . .and to the families, like us, left behind? Program administrators must be totally committed to a "safety first" mission. They need to consciously execute program safety above all else. Program directors must "keep their eye on the ball" and make "safety first" truly first on their lists. . .even at the sacrifice of "student advancement." The extraordinary value of a cross-cultural experience should never cost a child his or her life. The old adage -- the rationalization we were given -- that "accidents happen" is completely unacceptable. No parent should ever go through the life shattering experiences that we now know. . .no amount of cultural enrichment is worth this price. We believe many program directors become complacent about safety measures. The myriad of logistical decisions make attending to every safety consideration difficult at best. In addition, the costs of providing safety are not trivial. The time and distance separating decision-makers in the U.S. and implementers abroad make it difficult to control situations far away. These problems are real. . .yet so are the means to sweep them away. Each program should have a safety director. This best guarantees that safety never leaves the minds and eyes of program personnel controlling the destiny of our children. Safety training sessions should mandate program employee. . .and student. . .participation. Group leaders and students should be empowered to say "No" and "Stop" when put in jeopardy. Safety manuals, drills, and safety sensitivity sessions should be de rigeuer. Frequent safety audits should include feedback from students on ways increased safety could be institutionalized into the program. Advisory panels of safety experts should be engaged to freshen creative thinking in the design of "safety first" programs. And, God forbid, should a tragedy take place, study abroad programs must have a contingency plan to effectively and compassionately manage crisis. To parents considering sending their child abroad we recommend you get involved. Don't assume safety measures are in place. Grill program administrators. . .ask them at least these three questions:
And we highly recommend not traveling on roads in underdeveloped countries at night. . .taking these steps may save yourself a lifetime of misery. . .we know! John and Virginia Amato JULY, 1997 |
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