Home, Business & Travel Safety

Safety Tips

Whether you travel within the United States or abroad, the odds are you will have a safe and incident-free trip. Travelers can, however, become victims of crime and violence, or experience unexpected difficulties. As with everything, being prepared is the best way to handle an unexpected travel crisis and there are several things you can do to hopefully avoid serious difficulties:

• Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.
• Carry the minimum number of valuables, and plan places to conceal them. Once you’re at your destination, your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them with you, put them each in a different place rather than all in one wallet or pouch.
• Don’t bring anything you would hate to lose; leave it at home.
• Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. Also, check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency
• Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport’s information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen
• To avoid problems when passing through an airport or customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug.
• When you leave the United States, you are subject to the laws of the country you are visiting. Therefore, before you go, learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit.

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially cautious in (or avoid) areas where you may be more easily victimized. These include: 

• Crime-ridden neighborhoods
• Crowded subways
• Elevators
• Festivals
• Market places
• Tourist sites
• Train stations