Travel Health and Secuity

Preparation is key to safe travel

Scams are lucrative for criminals

every time you take money out of using your debit card, depending on the location, you are charged a $5 fee or more.
bring one debit card and one credit card and leave rest at home
tourists may encounter fake police
pickpocketing is prevalent across the globe

Statistical data on travel scams are difficult to track.

in England and Wales, there were 107,471 offences of "theft from the person" in 2012.
staff at the Louvre in France went on strike in protest over "increasingly aggressive" thieves who target tourists and staff alike, shutting the world's most visited museum
Tourism Authority of Thailand warns tourists of rampant pickpocketing in markets and tourist destinations
The Canadian Bankers Association reports financial institutions reimbursed moe than $439 Million to their Canadian credit card customers as a direct result of crime.
look out for questionable business practices. "you won a free trip!" You could be blindsided by fees.
unregulated taxis

Road safety is a lifesaver
The threat of terrorism and natural disasters is far exceeded by traffic accidents -- in which an estimated 25,000 international travelers are killed each year. In fact, vehicle crashes are the number-one hazard for travelers --and the main reason International SOS receive calls for evacuation. In many parts of the world, driving is chaotic, streets are crowded and roads under-maintained. Unless you're familiar with local road conditions, don't drive on your own. Look for a trusted driver, always wear your seatbelt and speak up if you feel unsafe. According to the CDC, injuries cause 10 times more tourist deaths each year than diseases.

Resources for Travel

Health

10 Air Travel Health Tips Readers Digest

International Travel and Health World Health Organization

International Travel: Tips for Staying Healthy

Lonely Planet

Top 10 tips for travelling abroad: insurance, health and security

Government of Canada Travel.gc.ca
Goverenment of the United States travel.state.gov
Auswaertiges Amt Deutschland www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Goverenment of the United Kingdom www.gov.uk

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

USA tips for travelling abroad

Travel Tips AARP

Travel Health Canada