Safety in Our Shrinking World
There is no question that technology and recent political events across the globe have shrunk our world, "for good or ill." It has become increasingly evident that individual safety requires diligence, current information, and common sense. Keep these tips in mind on your program abroad:
- Register with the nearest American Consulate via the STEP Registrationand contact the on-site consular staff should an emergency arise.
- Understand that there may be an increased risk of anti-American sentiment during periods of political conflict. Even being somewhere so long that it feels like "home" to you isn't necessarily long enough for the host population to forget that you are American.
- Keep in touch with the current political situation and any political unrest by listening daily to the television, radio, or reading the newspaper. In case of an emergency, advisories may be made to the general public through the media.
- Keep away from political demonstrations, which can easily result in clashes between demonstrators and authorities. Even demonstrations that are intended to be peaceful can turn violent, and you don’t want to be arrested for involvement just for happening to be there. If you see a situation developing, resist the temptation to satisfy your curiosity/investigate. Just walk the other way, get home, and watch it on the news.
- When in large cities and other popular tourist destinations, avoid or spend as little time as possible in potential target areas for terrorist activities, especially places frequented by Americans: bars/nightclubs, US fast food restaurants, branches of American banks, American churches, and American consulates and embassies.
- Keep away from areas known to have large concentrations of residents with interests unfriendly to the US and its allies. Always consult with the on-site director(s) before traveling to neighboring cities or popular tourist destinations.
- Do not agree to newspaper or other media interviews regarding political conflicts or controversial issues. It is important to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Do not refer to your program group. In such cases, always say “no comment” and hang up or walk the other way.