At its best, traveling can be inspiring, exciting, and fun – and, nothing wrecks the joy of travel more than getting hurt, robbed, beaten up, arrested, sick, or in an accident.
When people travel, they might not recognize potential dangers that would be obvious to them at home, and they often do not have the resources that would normally be available to them.
The good news is that most dangers are avoidable if you keep the following personal safety traveling tips in mind. You have probably already thought of most of these suggestions, so use this as a checklist just in case there is something you’ve overlooked or forgotten.
1. Knowledge is POWER!
Learn all you can about where you are going and what you will be doing. Explore online resources and read guidebooks. Talk to people who have been there and done that so you can learn from their experiences and try to avoid their mistakes.
Pay attention to travel advisories. Try to stay away from places where there are wars, epidemics, or civil unrest. Learn how to recognize potential natural disasters such as storms, fires, earthquakes, flash floods, avalanches, or tsunamis – and how to take charge of your safety if you find yourself in the middle of an emergency. Learn about how to prevent problems with bears and other wild animals.
At Kidpower, we believe most people are GOOD. People in different places are likely to have different ways of doing things, and after all, a common reason for traveling is to have different experiences. If you treat people with respect, kindness and patience, most of them will respond with the same. At the same time, every place has some people with bad intentions who will take advantage of an unwary traveler. Learn about potential problems with people in places you are going to visit.
2. Watch out for cars as you walk or bike – and drive safely!
Yes, you know this, but it is easy to forget in a new place where there is so much to look at. Even very experienced people sometimes walk in front of cars and get hit when they are tired, texting, talking on a phone, sightseeing or disoriented. Many people find street-crossing more challenging in places where driving lane directions are the reverse of what they are accustomed to at home. Some places give heavy fines for jaywalking or walking in front of a car.
If you can, walk on the sidewalk facing traffic. That way you can monitor the movement of on-coming vehicles.
If you are a driver, pay attention to your driving even when sightseeing, and follow the rules of the road. If you are a passenger, help the driver to focus and help with navigation. Speak up politely and firmly if someone’s driving seems unsafe to you, even if this person is doing you a favor by giving you a ride.
3. Keep track of your important documents.
If you are traveling on an airplane or abroad, make at least two copies of documents such as your passport, driver’s license or ID card, health information, and tickets. Leave one at home and keep another in your baggage. Consider uploading copies to cloud-based storage providers you trust for storing private information so your documents are accessible online.
4. Protect yourself from germs and illness.
Being sick on a trip is even more miserable than being sick at home. When traveling, pay extra attention to your health because you are more vulnerable. Wash or disinfect your hands before eating. Don’t touch your mouth or eyes with dirty hands. You are more likely to get sick when you are tired or when you meet new germs that you have not yet developed a resistance to. Drink water to stay hydrated, making sure that all liquids and foods you consume have been properly prepared in a hygienic fashion. Protect yourself from mosquito and other insect bites. Get enough rest.
5. Make sure you take all the medicine, prescriptions, and health aids.
— such as a thermometer, bandages, mosquito repellant, condoms, sun screen, moleskin/blister protection, etc. that you might need with you, and a first aid kit equipped to stop allergic reactions, infections, bleeding, nausea, bacterial infections, pain, fever, and other common problems. Keep medicines in the original containers for airport security. Get and carry copies of important health records such as what medications you are using and what you are allergic to. Bring your doctor’s contact information. Take a first aid course so that you are prepared to handle different kinds of health emergencies.
6. Do preventative health care well ahead of your trip.
Taking a few steps in advance of your trip can promote your health and personal safety traveling weeks or months later. Be up-to-date on your regular vaccinations – and check with your doctor about any specific inoculations recommended for travel to the area you are visiting well in advance. . Go to the dentist – you really don’t want a dental emergency away from home. If you need to take any medications for some regions, start them ahead of time and keep taking them for as long as recommended after you return. Get health insurance for your trip, including coverage for medical travel home. It’s a small investment that provides an important safety net.
7. In some places, the locals will be able to eat and drink things that you cannot.
If you are in a place where travelers often get sick from the water, boil or disinfect the water and make sure it is safe for you to drink. In more adventurous places, being careful about the water won’t help you a bit if you order drinks with the local ice. Even the water used to wash vegetables in salads can make you sick. In these places you should only eat well-cooked foods and fruits that you have peeled yourself. In out of the way places, especially in tropical islands, sometimes the bottled water isn’t safe either because they just pour it from the tap. If in doubt, boil and filter your water. Remember, if you are in a high altitude, it doesn’t take as long for water to start boiling, but you have to boil it longer in order to get the sterilizing benefits.
8. If you start to feel unwell, don’t ignore it or assume it is minor.
Some bugs, health problems such as high altitude sickness, or allergic reactions can make you very sick, very quickly. Educate yourself about when to go to the doctor. Know how to get health care where you are and how to take charge of your medical safety by speaking up and advocating for yourself. If you are too ill to speak up for yourself, ask others for help.
9. Avoid stress by planning to travel at a relaxed pace instead of hurrying to do everything.
Leave something to enjoy for next time.
10. Figure out where you are going in advance when you can.
Try to reserve a place to stay for at least the first night after a long trip and think through how to get there. Carry a physical map and know how to use it – don’t rely entirely on technology. If you get mixed up, ask someone in a shop or tourist office for directions. Being proactive can help protect your personal safety traveling in unfamiliar areas; people with bad intentions are less likely to choose you as a victim if you act as if you know where you are going and what you are doing.
11. Most of the time, you are safer with people who you approach than with people who approach you.
That said, there are many kind people in the world who might offer useful suggestions. Thank them but notice whether they are acting in a way that makes you even a little bit uncomfortable. Is someone just being helpful? Or are they trying to get you to do something you are not sure you want to do? Are they being too pushy? You can interrupt someone and leave politely by saying, “No, thanks! I appreciate your offer.” Or, “Gotta go. Bye. Thanks!” Or, “It been nice talking to you. Have a great day. Bye!” Or,”I’m sorry but doing that won’t work for me.” Or change the subject and say, “Nice day, isn’t it!”
12. Carry yourself with awareness, calm, and respectful confidence.
No matter how you feel inside, act polite, friendly (unless there is a reason not to) , calm, and alert. Even if you are very distracted, pay attention so that you keep noticing what is happening around you in all directions. Don’t stare at people – instead, look around with a “soft eye.” Keep assessing your environment. A thunderstorm can suddenly develop on a trail. Neighborhoods can change quickly from one block to the next. Places that are safe by day are not always safe by night. Isolated places are often less safe than places where there are more people around. Places with gang activity are to be avoided in any country. You want to stay away from people who might select you as a target because they feel you are on their turf.
13. Pay attention to who is around you and move away from people whose behavior is unexpected, especially if it seems to be oriented towards you.
Leave ANYTIME you feel uncomfortable. This might mean walking into a shop, crossing the street, leaving a restaurant or nightclub — or changing your plan and going to where more people are. Your intuition is one of the best tools you have for protecting your personal safety traveling as well as at home. Don’t ignore it.
14. Make helping others be a thoughtful decision rather than an automatic habit.
Think First if someone asks you for help! Where are you? What does your intuition tell you? Who is this person? Remember that sometimes people fake illnesses or accidents to get you to stop or get into a more isolated situation so they can rob you. If you want to help people who need money, give your money to organizations. Think first before giving to people of any age, gender or ability who approach you with a sad story on the street. Remember that stopping and listening to a sob story is likely to identify you as an easy target.
15. If anyone, for any reason, starts walking with you and talking, make sure that this is something YOU are choosing.
Part of the fun of travel is meeting new people. but be aware that someone might not be what they seem. If someone’s behavior makes you even slightly uncomfortable, scan in all directions in case this person has a friend who is approaching from behind you. Be ready to change your plan by leaving and going to where more people are. You might disengage by saying firmly, ‘SORRY, NO!” or “NO THANK YOU!” Use your peripheral vision and keep your awareness on where that person is after you have disengaged.
16. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Remember that “all that glitters is not gold” and that “a sucker is born every minute.” Don’t let yourself be talked into buying stuff unless it is truly something you want and need. Be wary of “instant friends” who invite you to parties or offer you drinks. Remember that there are odor-less, taste-less drugs than can be put into food and drink to cause someone to become semi-conscious for the purposes of sexual assault, robbery, or other violence.
17. If someone tries to pick a fight with you, de-escalate the confrontation.
Walk away from insults rather than getting into an argument. If somebody claims you did something wrong, apologize. This does not mean that you agree but just that you are sorry that this person is upset. Remember the “I’m okay, you’re okay” self defense tactic and be friendly while you leave, even if the other person is acting ugly. It is not your job to fix this person, and you do not owe someone who is trying to pick a fight with you the truth.
18. Remember that thieves sometimes work in teams with one person distracting you by bumping into you or talking to you while the other person sneaks up on you.
Even groups of children or well-dressed people in public places might try to trick you into letting them get close. One person might squirt something on you and another distract you by pointing it out and offering to help and a third might grab your wallet. One cute child might approach you to have her picture taken while another picks your pocket.
19. Keeping your valuables hidden and close to your body can reduce the chance of hassles and challenges to personal safety traveling in other areas.
An outside pocket or backpack is NOT close to your body. A pouch under your clothes or inside pocket works best. You might want to carry a fake wallet or purse with a little money and keep your most important valuables elsewhere. Reduce your need to carry a lot of cash by using alternatives such as credit or debit cards, prepaid cards, mobile wallets, or even traveler’s checks, depending on the types of payment accepted in the places you are visiting. If you must use a purse, carry it under your arm like a football. Do not wrap the strap around any part of your body. People have been hurt when the purse strap they had wrapped around their neck was grabbed by a person in a passing vehicle.
20. Do what you can to prevent robbery but remember that YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR STUFF.
If you are dealing with a thief who is armed or threatening, give up your valuables without arguing. Your stuff can be replaced. You cannot. After you have given up your stuff, do not just stand there. Without waiting to see what the robber is going to do next, run to safety. In some places, thieves might try to harm you rather than have you report the robbery. Promise not to say anything if need be – but, for everyone’s safety, report crimes as soon as it is safe for you to do so.
21. Run away or fight to escape instead of allowing yourself to be abducted or made more vulnerable.
Unless you have absolutely no choice, do not cooperate with commands to be tied up, to have a hood or bag placed over your head, to get into a car or trunk, or to turn your back to the robber or kneel down. Almost always, you will be safer running away or fighting to escape if need be instead of cooperating. Accept the risk of some injury to avoid much worse injury. If you cannot get away at first, keep looking for a new chance to get away. People are sometimes kidnapped for theft as well as for violence. In some countries, kidnappers take people, perhaps in a fake taxi, and keep them for quite a while, getting them to make withdrawals with their bank cards.
22. Be polite and persistent about getting help if you need it.
You might need to interrupt busy people and tell them what you need more than once. Even if they cannot help you themselves, they can call someone like a security guard or the police who can. In some places, law enforcement officials can cause problems for you. Know the risks and local customs ahead of time. In most countries, offering a bribe will get you in jail — in some, it can keep you out. Know how to get hold of your local embassy in order to protect your legal personal safety traveling outside your country.
23. If you are in a place with a different language than your own, knowing a few words can create good will and increase your ability to get what you want.
At least, learn how to say crucial phrases like: “Hello,” “Good-bye,” “Please,” Thank You,” “I need help!” and “Where is the nearest toilet?”
24. Carry a mobile phone that works locally if you can.
However, any safety plan that involves a mobile phone should also have a backup plan because phones, while very convenient, do not always work. Having a back-up safety plan that does not rely on functioning technology is important for your personal safety traveling even a few miles from home!
25. Be aware of safety in the places where you are sleeping, especially in hotels.
If you are camping outside or sleeping in your car, try to stay in a place that is either well hidden or that is near others who can help you if you yell for help. If you are in a hotel, make sure you can lock the door well from the inside or use a rubber doorstop or a doorstop alarm. Sometimes, even hotel employees will steal from guests. THINK FIRST before you open your hotel room door instead of just assuming that the person at the door is safe. Have a flashlight and know how to get out in case there is a fire.
26. Know the local laws and respect them.
Getting arrested is just not worth it. Check with airlines, trains and buses ahead of time and make sure you understand the rules about what you may carry with you and what you may not.
27. Make sure you are covered by insurance if you drive.
Call your credit card and car insurance company and find out ahead of your trip how much of the automobile insurance they actually cover. Consider buying special travel insurance or rental agency insurance. Be sure you understand the local laws. In some countries, stopping to help a victim of an accident can involve you directly in the incident and you could be arrested. In some places, getting in an accident can get you in jail, even if the other person caused it, unless you have the right insurance. These steps can help protect your legal and financial personal safety traveling in regions with different laws and regulations.
28. Drive defensively!
Be calm and focused, not distracted by sightseeing or conversations. Remember that drinking or using drugs and then driving can get you in serious trouble. Pay attention to what is happening in all directions, scanning what is happening with the environment, pedestrians, bikes and other cars so you can avoid trouble sooner rather than later. Slow down to allow extra space from other cars and the edge of the road. Watch out for kids, bikes, people getting out of cars and pedestrians suddenly jumping in front of you -or cars suddenly turning into you. Not only do you not want to have to live with having hurt someone, but an injury accident will put a miserable end to your trip.
29. Be aware of potential personal safety problems while driving.
Watch out for someone deliberately running into you and then assaulting you when you stop to help. Stop far enough from the car in front of you at intersections to be able to see the rear tires. That way you have enough room to drive away quickly in an emergency. Before your trip, learn as much as you can about what is legally expected if you are stopped by a law enforcement officer where you are traveling. In addition, talk to others who know the region to learn all you can about potential danger you might face with law enforcement officers – and, make safety plans which might include strategies about staying calm, keeping hands visible, staying respectful even if the other person is rude, and so on. In general, if you are approached while inside your car by anyone for any reason, including a minor accident, in a dark or secluded area, do not get out of your car. If you need to talk to the person, leave your car running and in gear. Roll down your window one inch and ask the other person to follow you to a well-lit public area. If the person does anything scary, including producing a weapon of any kind, drive away fast.
30. Don’t get into a car as a passenger with a driver who is impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Remember that your safety is more important than your convenience or than anyone’s offense. Choose who you ride with. Get out of the car if a situation becomes unsafe. Use your seat belt. Be prepared to ask the driver to drive more safely and protect everyone’s personal safety traveling on the roads by not talking on the cell phone, by paying more attention to the road, or by slowing down.
31. Choose legitimate businesses rather than just letting someone charm you into using their business.
Many governments supervise tourism such as hotels, boating trips, scuba diving, buses, taxis, etc. Look for recommendations online and in travel books. You want to be sure that the people you are trusting with your body are what they seem to be and know what they are doing.
32. Have good communication with traveling companions
— about where you are going to go, what you are going to do or not do, where you will meet if you separate, how you will handle conflict, steps you will take to take care of personal safety traveling together, and how you will make decisions. Discuss the ideas above so that each person is prepared and on the same page. Help children adapt the personal safety rules they have at home into ‘personal safety traveling rules’ that make sense when they are on a trip. Make sure that everyone in your traveling group has crucial information such as where you are staying and how to get help if someone is lost or bothered.
33. Let people who care about you know where you are and what you are doing both for your personal safety traveling and their peace of mind at home.
Give people at home your itinerary and information about how to contact you. Let them know when your plans change. Call your parents, partner, kids, or others who might worry about you. Emotional safety for the people who love you lies in their knowing that you are okay and that you have not forgotten them.
The bottom line is that your personal safety traveling – and at every other time as well – is more important than ANYONE’S convenience, embarrassment or offense, even your own. To be safe, you need to take the time to prepare adequately for your trip. To be safe, you might need to walk away from a mean, unfair person instead of getting into an argument. To be safe, you might need to overcome your embarrassment and yell for help. To be safe, you might need to give up your stuff. To be safe, you might need to use the longer, much less convenient route to get somewhere you want to go because the shortcut is isolated. To be safe, you might need to offend someone and not let them get close to you. To be safe, you might need to wait to eat or drink. To be safe, you might need to change your plan.
Personal safety traveling tips, when you use them, can help you achieve the most important travel goal of all – to HAVE FUN! Enjoy your journey. Remember that most people are good, that life is an adventure and that the world is a wonderful place to explore.
For more information about Kidpower’s resources for teaching these People Safety Skills and concepts, please visit our online Library (free community membership) and our RelationSafe™ Bookstore
