Quinnipiac University
Department of Cultural and Global Engagement
Hamden, CT 06518-1908
203-582-8425
study.abroad@quinnipiac.edu
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Emergency Protocol

Emergency Protocol When Abroad Through Quinnipiac University:

QU’s DCGE monitors safety issues in countries and locations for all of our programs. The department regularly reviews State Department alerts and warnings and other reports to learn of any emerging safety concerns.  If you are impacted by an emergency situation, you have a number of support resources available to you.  It is important to familiarize yourself with these resources prior to your arrival in the host country, so that you can quickly respond if needed in an emergency situation.

In case of an emergency abroad, you should follow these steps:

  1. Get immediate help.  Know the local equivalent of 911 so that you can get immediate emergency assistance.  Click here to find the equivalent of 911 in your host country or go to http://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/emergencies.html
  2. Notify your on-site contact.  Know how to reach your on-site director, host institution or program provider emergency contact.  Someone is available to you 24/7 on-site and you should contact this person as soon as is prudent so that s/he may assist you.
  3. Contact your insurance provider, if the emergency is medical in nature. Students enrolled in QU’s Insurance policy should contact Int’l SOS (215) 942-8478.
  4. In the event of political unrest and/or a natural disaster (such as tornado, tsunami, earthquake etc.) in the country you are visiting, the International SOS Global Medical and Security Assistance card that you received at Quinnipiac’s Safety and Pre-departure meeting is your Medical and Security Evacuation Card.   You can call the number on the back of the card, and they will give you instructions regarding appropriate procedures.  **Please Contact your Onsite director before contacting SOS. SOS is to be used for emergency situations.
  5. Contact QU Global Education.  During regular business hours, you can reach us at (203) 582-8425.  You can call the QU Public Safety Department at (203) 582-6200 at any hour of the day, to report an emergency and/or request assistance from Global Education.  The dispatcher who takes your call will collect information from you and immediately notify a Global Education staff member who can assist.
  6. Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy.  Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies abroad are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at +1 (202) 501-4444.
  7. Contact your family.  If you are involved in any emergency, it is important for you to remain in contact with your family.  They will be concerned about your well-being and will be anxious for regular updates from you.  In addition, Quinnipiac will communicate with your emergency contact that you have submitted to provide updates to the emergency situation.  


What should students do to prepare for emergencies?

·         Be familiar with all materials sent to you by your Program or the DCGE, the Consular Information Sheets on your host country and the Center for Disease Control Travelers Information.

·         Report your independent travel plans to your on-site director or program provider.

·         Review the Emergency Protocol above.

·         Know how to use your SOS International Assistance Card and keep it on you at all times.  Download the ISOS app to your phone and access it using the group ID number listed on the card.

·         Make 2 copies of your passport.  Leave one with your family and bring one with you on your trip and keep it separately from your passport.  While you are traveling, protect your passport.  Use a money belt or neck pouch.

·         Keep the Onsite director and QU emergency numbers with you at all times.

·         Learn as much as you can about your country before you go.

·         Register with the U.S. Embassy, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ Registration is free and 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.

·         Develop with your family a plan for telephone or e-mail contact, so that in case of emergency you will be able to communicate with your parents directly about your safety and well-being.

·         Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling.  Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to their laws.

·         Bring a credit card or make sure to have access to additional funds in case of an emergency.

·         During a political crisis or some other emergency during which foreigners in general or U.S. citizens in particular may be at risk, keep a low profile; avoid demonstrations, confrontations or situations where you could be in danger; avoid behavior that could call attention to yourself; avoid locales where foreigners or U.S. Americans are known to congregate; avoid using luggage tags and wearing clothes that would label you as U.S. Americans.

International SOS Global Medical and Security Assistance

Quinnipiac University recognizes our duty in safeguarding the health and safety of our faculty and students involved in Education Abroad. QU has partnered with International SOS, the world’s leader in international medical assistance and security services. 

The services provided by International SOS range from simple telephone advice from a field expert, referrals to vetted providers to full-scale medical and security evacuations. The International SOS network of multilingual specialists operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from 28 Alarm Centers around the world.

Remember when you are abroad you should always carry the International SOS membership card. It contains the University’s membership number “11BSGC000011” and phone number.

Pre-departure preparation: By logging onto the International SOS website (www.internationalsos.com) you can sign up for health and security email alerts and review valuable country-specific information.  Please download the ISOS app to your smartphone!

While abroad: International SOS will help you to locate a qualified health care provider, replace a prescription or simply answer a general medical or security concern.

In an emergency: International SOS can ensure you get immediate care whether it requires evacuating you to a center of medical excellence or closely monitoring your condition with local doctors.

It is important to note that International SOS is not health insurance.

This assistance program is provided to you by Quinnipiac to protect against a variety of difficulties that could arise while you are abroad and to supplement your international health insurance. Quinnipiac will enroll all students attending our programs in Gallagher & Koster Health Insurance. Requests for reimbursement for medical care received while abroad should be submitted to Gallagher & Koster. To learn more about your health insurance coverage while abroad, please review the Study Abroad Gallagher & Koster Health Insurance plan by clicking here. All students will be required to be enrolled into International SOS Global Medical and Security Assistance and Gallagher & Koster Study Abroad Accident and Sickness insurance plans while abroad.

If you have not received your membership card, misplaced it or if you have any questions contact the DCGE, 203-582-8425, study.abroad@quinnipiac.edu

 

Helpful Safety Tips

While you are abroad, you are expected to exercise the same safety precautions you would at home. Use common sense, avoid confrontations, familiarize yourself with the area, and PLEASE do not place yourself in any unnecessary dangerous situations.

 

Personal Responsibility and Communication

·         Be aware that you are responsible for your own decisions and actions.

·         Understand and comply with all terms and conditions of your program.

·         If you have been a victim of a crime, report this immediately to your program director.

·         Do not be free with information about yourself or other students, including your travel itinerary or class schedule.

·         Develop a plan for regular communication so that in times of heightened political tensions or local incidents, you will be able to communicate with your family directly about your safety and well-being.

Keeping Informed Before Departure

It is your responsibility to stay informed about developments in the country or countries in which you will spend time (including any countries you’ll visit which are not part of your study abroad program’s itinerary). You can do so by checking the U.S. State Department Web page (http://travel. state.gov/).

You will find three different types of information: Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings. This information is updated based on current events worldwide. According to the State Department, Country Specific Information is issued as a matter of course and is available for every country of the world. It includes such information as location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. Travel Alerts are issued as required and are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or transnational conditions positing significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country.

 

Additional Considerations

While you are abroad, use common sense to protect yourself. Don’t travel with anything you are not prepared to lose; avoid confrontations; try to blend in as much as possible; familiarize yourself with the area; ask the locals where the safe part of town is, and if you feel insecure in a certain place, don’t go there. Do not expose yourself to unnecessarily dangerous situations. It is usually difficult to avoid looking like a foreigner; be aware that that makes more vulnerable to theft and crime. Here are some tips to decrease your chances of becoming a victim of crime:

 

·         Try to fit in with the surroundings and be "invisible," remaining alert to your surroundings

·         Avoid possible target areas, especially places frequented by Americans

·         Avoid using American logos on your belongings or clothing, especially athletic wear

·         Keep all valuables on your person in a discreet place, preferably stowed away in a money belt or a pouch that hangs around your neck and under clothing. Do not leave valuables unattended. Do not wear expensive clothes or jewelry, or carry expensive luggage

·         Try to avoid arriving late at night to cities with which you are not familiar. Try to stay on well-lit, heavily traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through alleys. Stay in the middle of the sidewalk; avoid walking close to the street or buildings. Walk against the flow of traffic so oncoming vehicles can be observed.

·         Do not use an electronic device on the street.

·         When possible, travel with another person. It is not advisable to sleep on a train if you are traveling alone. Do not agree to watch the belongings of a person whom you do not know. Do not borrow suitcases. Ensure that nothing is inserted into yours. Take off your luggage tags after arrival. In all public places, remain alert.

·         Do not hitchhike.

·         Never leave handbags/purses/baggage unattended and make sure they are locked. If the item has a shoulder strap, wear it crossing the strap over your body. Do not put valuables in the exterior pockets of book bags or backpacks or in bags that are open at the top

·         Whenever possible, speak in the local language.

·         Be street wise. Avoid deserted areas and exercise caution in crowds.

·         Avoid impairing your judgment due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

·         Be aware that pickpockets exist and tend to prey on people who look lost or do not seem to be paying attention to their surroundings.

·         Keep up with the local news through newspapers, radio and television, and, in the event of disturbances or protests, do NOT get involved – this can be illegal in some countries

·         Report suspicious events immediately; contact your leader or resident director if you observe suspicious persons within the premises of your educational environment. Act similarly if anything might indicate threats or an actual terrorist attack on the premises or on student activities. If you have been a victim of a crime, report it immediately to your leader or resident director

·         Develop with your U.S. family a plan for regular communication so that in times of heightened political tensions or local incidents you will be able to communicate with your family directly about your safety and well-being.

·         Be wary of people not associated with your program. Do not give out your or anyone else's address or telephone number to strangers. Don't give away your class or field trip schedule

·         Inform your leader or resident director of your itinerary when you are traveling, even if only overnight, and where and how to contact you in case of an emergency.

·         Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program; obey host country laws and observe local customs. You are responsible for your own decisions and actions.

·         Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks; promptly express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals.

·         Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, comply with local laws, regulations, and customs of the host country, community, institution, and study abroad program, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.

·         Traffic and swimming accidents are the leading cause of death among travelers.

·         AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (i.e. Hepatitis B) are a global problem.

·         Always use clean water for brushing your teeth and for drinking

·         Swim only in well‐maintained chlorinated pools or in unpolluted parts of the ocean.

 

Date rape Drugs

There are four major types that are used:

·         Rohypnol (Roofies, Ruffles, R2, Roche, Forget‐Pill)         

·         GHB (Liquid Extacy, Liquid X)

·         Ketamine Hydrochloride (“K”, Special K, Vitamin K)       

·         Ecstasy (MDMA)

Date rape drugs have become infamous because they can cause memory “blackouts” or periods of memory loss that follow ingestion of the drug with alcohol. Victims who have been raped with these drugs have reported waking up in strange rooms with no memory of the previous night. Predators dissolve a few tablets of the drug in a drink and give it to an unaware victim. The victim drinks the contents and within 20-30 minutes begins to feel the effects of the drug. Among their effects, these drugs act as a sedative, muscle relaxant, and cause amnesia. When mixed with alcohol, the effects occur more rapidly.

How can I protect myself?

•          Do not accept drinks from anyone other than a server.

•          Do not accept drinks from a punch bowl or other open container.

•          Never leave your drink unattended.

•          Educate yourself – find which drugs are currently in use.

•          Don’t drink anything that has a funny taste, smell or color.

•          Check in with friends every 20 minutes. If something seems strange, leave immediately.

 

Dating and Sex

It is important to note that different cultures have different norms in regard to gender. Women and men should both be aware that the ways people interact varies widely by region and country, and issues around dating and sexuality can be particularly difficult in a cross-cultural setting. Such things as eye contact, the way one dresses, and body language can send very different messages by region and culture. Observing interpersonal interactions within a culture can be useful in helping you choose the way you communicate verbally and non-verbally with others in that country. Traveling is often a new and exciting venture. Meeting new and different people may stimulate action that you would not have taken under similar circumstances in the United States. Don’t be foolish in assuming that you are invulnerable, because you are a visitor in the country (and no one is judging your behavior). Ask yourself why you are choosing to be sexually active and be aware of and set your boundaries and partner expectations. If you choose to be sexually active, practice safe sex and protect yourself and your partner against unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

Alcohol and Drugs

Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad– about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances. A drug that may be legal in one country may not be legal in a neighboring nation. Some young people are victimized because they may be unaware of the laws, customs, or standards of the country they are visiting.

Besides drugs, alcohol can also get U.S. citizens in trouble abroad. Students have been arrested for being intoxicated in public areas, for underage drinking, and for drunk driving. Some young Americans go abroad assuming that local authorities will overlook such conduct. Many believe that they are immune from prosecution in foreign countries because they are American citizens. The truth is that Americans are expected to obey all of the laws of the countries they visit, and those who break these laws sometimes face severe penalties, including prison sentences.

Disorderly or reckless behavior is also to be avoided. In many countries, conduct that would not result in an arrest here in the U.S. constitutes a violation of local law. It is crucial that young Americans be aware of this risk as they are enjoying their time abroad. Being arrested is not the only thing that can happen abroad. Young Americans have suffered injury or even death from automobile accidents, drowning’s, and falls, in addition to other mishaps. While these accidents are sometimes chance occurrences, many are caused by alcohol or drug abuse. Other Americans have been raped or robbed because they have found themselves in unfamiliar locales or are incapable of exercising prudent judgment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Remember: Reckless behavior while in another country can do more than ruin your vacation; it can land you in a foreign jail or worse. It is possible to have a safe and fun trip by avoiding risky behavior and becoming familiar with the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to visit before you travel. To obtain more information about traveling abroad, check the Department of State’s website at http://travel.state.gov/

Quinnipiac University Study Abroad Portal