StaySafe As You Travel For Spring Break

With Spring Break right around the corner, we at ClearCause wanted to give you a few safety tips to help you make the most of your vacation while still staying safe. Check out our tips below!

1. Going to the beach? Do you know what rip currents are?

Rip currents are the  most dangerous hazard for all who love the beach. The National Weather Service’s website on Rip Current Safety define them as “narrow, fast-moving belts of water traveling offshore”. Rip current speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second and can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to see. Over 100 drownings occur every year in the United States due to rip currents.

It may be a rip current if you see a break in the incoming wave pattern, a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward, an area having a notable difference in water color or a channel of churning or choppy water.

The National Weather Service website gives the following advice if you are caught in a rip current:

1. Remember to remain calm to reserve energy and think clearly.
2. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, and don’t fight the current.
3. If you can’t swim out of the rip current, float or tread water calmly.
4. Draw attention to yourself by facing the shore, waving your arms and yelling for help.

If you see someone else caught in a rip current, get help from a lifeguard or call 911. Throw the rip current victim a floatation device and yell instructions on how to get out. Many people drown by trying to get someone else out of a rip current.

2. Drink Responsibly!

Many tragic accidents and deaths result from drinking irresponsibly. If you choose to drink, these basic tips can help you stay safe over spring break:

• Go out in a group and stick together. Too often, tragic accidents happen to individuals who don’t stick with their group. Remember, there is safety in numbers.
• Designate one or two sober friends to safeguard three of you. These friends can stay alert and aware of your situation and surroundings at all times to keep you away from any potentially dangerous situations.
• DO NOT leave intoxicated friends alone in a bar, on the street, or in a dorm room. Make sure your group sticks together!
• Guard your drinks and food. Be smart about this - don’t leave your drink unattended. Someone could easily slip something into your drink that could harm you. If the bartender is handing you a drink, get it directly from them and don’t let it get passed down the line. Guard your drink to guard yourself.
• Don’t ever take a drink from someone you don’t know.

3. Don’t Post Too Much Spring Break Info on Social Media

Be cautious about sharing too much information about where you are over spring break on your social media profiles. This information can easily be accessed by anyone. Avoid situations where someone could take advantage of you. The Rape Abuse Incest National Network has some great tips on keeping your privacy safe on Facebook, Twitter and Internet browsers.

4. Get StuCard Travel Insurance

Even if you’re only gone for a few days, StuCard Travel Insurance can help keep you safe if your travels are organized by an educational institute or club. Buy StuCard travel insurance - for about $1 a day with toll free help 24/7. StuCard’s multi-trip travel insurance is underwritten by Travel Guard, the premier travel insurance company in the U.S. with over 25 years of experience and 6 million travelers every year.

5. Got Vaccines?

You absolutely need to get vaccines if you are traveling abroad for spring break. Some countries require foreign visitors to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination (a Yellow Card) or other proof that they have had their necessary inoculations or medical tests required to enter the country.

Check out the State Department’s website for country specific information. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) can provide you their recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and SAFE spring break! Do you have any additional StaySafe tips you would like to add? We would love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Crisis in Ukraine: Study Abroad Programs Begin to Evacuate Students

An Inside Higher Ed article reported at least two study abroad programs have begun to evacuate students from Ukraine as political crisis escalates. The State Department’s Travel Warning issued on February 28 needs to be taken seriously. The warning called Americans to defer all “non-essential travel to Ukraine and noted that Peace Corps volunteers left the country on Feb. 25,” the article reported.

“All U.S. citizens in Ukraine, and those considering travel to Ukraine, should evaluate their personal security situation in light of political instability and the possibility of violence,” the warning reads.

Ukrainian universities host a large number of international students each year. The Institute of International Education statistics reported 131 American students studied abroad in Ukraine in 2011-2012. A number of American universities have study-abroad programs planned for spring and summer 2014 in Ukraine. Due to recent political turmoil, however, Iowa State University has canceled its summer program in Russia and Ukraine. Other programs are following suit. Students from the the Eastern European Study Abroad program have already been evacuated from Ukraine for safety reasons.

The State Department urges U.S. citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive the latest travel updates and to obtain updated information on security within Ukraine.  By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

Before going abroad, it is vital you research the country you will be in to have an evacuation plan in place if an emergency arises. Studying abroad is the opportunity of a lifetime, but it's not something worth losing your life over. You are your best safety advocate.

Safety Tips To Be Safe Not Sorry

A Huffington Post article by blogger and traveler Stephanie Be has some great tips to keep you safe as you study abroad! It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and getting advice from others who have traveled can help keep you safe as you adventure!

 Here are five great safety tips from Stephanie:

1. Keep the address to your accommodation.

In both English and the native tongue written in both your phone's notes (or snap a photo) and in a little notebook (phone batteries die). Everyone in your group should do this as reality is, you might lose your friends.

2. Get travel insurance and register with S.T.E.P.

If your insurance doesn't already cover you overseas. I know heaps of people (usually British for some reason) who get injured overseas and have to head home or pay medical costs up front. Register with S.T.E.P. (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)

3. If you  think you are being followed as you’re walking somewhere.

Stop to ask security or a public place for help. You can walk into a hotel that's not yours to ask for help. Whatever you do, don't walk to where you're staying.

4. Keep money in more than one location.

You won’t lose everything in case you’re robbed or pickpocketed.

5.  Pay the $20 - $40 to get an international sim card.

You can pop this into your iPhone and have internet everywhere. Google Maps you will generally show you where a cab is taking you and Google Translate can help you ask locals questions.

Here are five more safety tips from us at ClearCause to keep you safe!

6. Always be aware of your surroundings

No matter where you are, be extra cautious and aware as you explore during your study abroad trip. Make sure you always know where you are as you travel. Stay one step ahead of pickpockets and thieves by keeping your stuff secure. Try not to give off a “tourist” vibe - this draws unwanted attention to you. Be cautious in giving personal information away in casual conversation with people you may have just met. Keep local emergency information with you at all times, in case of potential dangerous situations.

7. Stay updated on Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings

The State Department Travel Website regularly posts Travel Warnings to warn you to postpone travel to certain countries due to civil unrest, dangerous conditions, terrorist activity, or sometimes because the U.S. has no diplomatic relations within the country and may not be able to assist you in time of need. Travel Alerts send out information about terrorist threats or other short-term conditions that could be a risk to you and your travel plans. This information is crucial - keep yourself educated!

8. Copy your Travel Documents

Make two copies of your travel documents in case of emergency or if your valuable documents are lost or stolen as you travel! You can leave a copy of your travel documents with a friend or family member at home. Someone should always know exactly where you are staying at all times and how to contact you if need be. You can carry the other copy of your documents with you, but stored separately from your original documents. Prepare for the worst so you aren’t caught off-guard!

9. Get Vaccinated

Did you know some countries require foreign visitors to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination (a Yellow Card) or other proof that they have had their necessary inoculations or medical tests required to enter the country? This is something you need to know. Check out the State Department’s website for country specific information. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) can provide you their recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

10. Prepare for Emergency

Before going abroad, you should have the number of the U.S. Embassy in your designated country. Find out where the closest U.S. Embassy may be on the State Department’s website. If your family needs to get ahold of you in case of an emergency back home, they can call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). The State Department will get the message to the consular officers in the country where you are.  The consular officers will then locate you, pass on any urgent messages, and, if you wish, report back to your family in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Use these tips or pass them onto loved ones who will be traveling soon. We promise it will be worth it.

Bates College Student Killed By Train While Studying Abroad in Rome

A 21-year old Bates College student was tragically killed by a train during his study abroad trip to Italy, a FOX news article reported. Italian authorities released this information on Saturday, February 22, 2014.

John Nolen Durkin, of Rye, N.H., was a junior studying economics at Bates and a linebacker on the school’s football team. John was last seen in the early morning hours of Thursday, February 20, in Campo de’ Fiori. A passenger on a train saw his body a few hours later in a tunnel between stations, near the Vatican and Trastervere neighborhood in central Rome, the article reported.

John’s family released the following statement through Bates College: “It is with much sadness that the Durkin family informs you of the loss of John Nolen Durkin and thanks everyone for their support during the past few days.”

John was one of six Bates College students studying abroad through Trinity College in Connecticut. A CNN article reported John had been in Rome for a little over a month as part of a semester-long program.

"The Bates football family is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate John Durkin," Mark Harriman, the Bates head football coach said in a statement, as reported by FOX. "John's commitment to excellence in all phases of his life was inspiration to the other members of the squad and a major factor in the team's success over the past three years.”

"This is a time of deep sadness for our community and for so many people who knew and loved John. We are profoundly sad and share the tremendous grief of his family,"  Bates College President Clayton Spencer said in a statement, as reported by FOX.

ClearCause founder Sheryl Hill recommends that students studying abroad designate a sober buddy to make sure everyone gets home safely and no one is left alone in a pub, on a street, in a taxi or in an apartment. "This is a tragic ending to John's life," she said. "He deserves further investigation."

Uganda Moves Forward With Anti-Homosexuality Laws

A recent CNN article reports Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a bill into law that originally included a death penalty clause for some homosexual acts. “Uganda passed the bill in December and replaced the death penalty provision with a proposal of life in prison for ‘aggravated homosexuality,’” the article reported. This new law can put individuals into prison for up to seven years.

“The bill also proposed prison terms for anyone who counsels or reaches out to gays and lesbians, a provision that could ensnare rights groups and others providing services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” CNN reports.

Museveni has said he believes homosexuality to be “disgusting” and believes Westerners brought homosexuality to his country. CNN reported the White House issued a statement Monday: "Instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice, and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, Ugandan President Museveni took Uganda a step backward by signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality." Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, agrees that this law institutionalizes discrimination and could result in much violence towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the article reported.

Thirty-eight African countries have made homosexuality illegal, CNN reported. Many gay people have reportedly left Uganda in fear of violence and harassment.

ClearCause Safety and Security Partner, Tim Crockett of Pioneer Consulting Group says, “When a warning or an alert is issued it should force the school or program to take action, conduct a risk assessment and take action in the best interests of the students impacted.  If they are already in the country they should either depart if safe to do so or 'shelter in place' depending on the situation. This means they need to be a little more prepared and self-sufficient than most so there isn't a 100% reliance on embassies or consulates to come to their aid.

If they have not left yet, again depending on the situation they should amend travel or itineraries to reflect the risk or cancel the trip all together. Provisions should be made to take out cancellation insurance so that any monies paid can be reimbursed in some way or travel shifted to another date if the program would allow for such.

Now as to the question about the latest ruling coming out of Uganda pertaining to LGTB rights, etc.  This is something that needs to be looked at for all destinations. While the impact is far greater in Uganda under this new law, other countries similarly carry hefty punishments for being openly gay so that question needs to be raised when looking at destinations to take study abroad programs. It is important to look at all the potential risks before booking travel and cultural sensitivities and local laws are very important.  Your group will be a guest in their country and subject to their laws regardless of whether you agree with them or not.”

It is essential all students studying abroad understand the culture of their designated country to avoid potentially dangerous and life-threatening situations. We urge you to make every possible effort to stay safe as you travel abroad! Downloading the free ASAPP checklist, getting our new ASAPP S.O.S app available on iTunes and Google Play and enrolling in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) are few things you can do to StaySafe.

Fully educate yourself and prepare before you select a country for study abroad – your life may depend on it!

Boost Your Travel Common Sense As You Study Abroad

Common sense in travel is essential to stay safe as you study abroad. A USA Today article alarmingly reports many travelers today don’t take basic steps to ensure the safety of themselves or their possessions as they go abroad. Some leave their hotel doors ajar when they go to dinner, some leave electronics or cell phones unattended on chairs and tables at pools or beaches and others have trouble reading airport signs, the article reported. Many are unaware of their travel insurance policies, what the emergency telephone number is in their designated country, currency conversions, and basic security.

Although traveling at times can be overwhelming, all travelers must take extra precautions to stay safe. Using your common sense as you travel is key!

Here are some tips to help keep you safe as you study abroad:

• Research your study abroad program and country!

Although this may seem obvious, many students don’t research their study abroad program before flying out to their designated country! Researching your program can give you basic information that will help you once you get there and can help you avoid any dangerous situations. Find out what housing options you may have, what roommates you’ll be living with, if there are fire alarms in your apartment or housing complex and what campus security is like.

Research your country - you need find out what the emergency telephone number is in your designated country in case of emergency. You should learn about the culture, how to dress and act appropriately and estimated currency conversions so you can plan out your finances. Is there a U.S. Embassy in your country? Do you have travel insurance yet? Where would you find the nearest hospital? Police department? Is it safe to take cabs on the street, or can you safely walk at night? These starting points can help you prepare for your immersion into a new culture.

• Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

The STEP program allows the State Department to assist you in case of an emergency. They can help you if your passport is stolen or lost, in case of natural disasters and in contacting you in case of national crisis. STEP will provide you country-specific information, fact sheets, travel alerts and travel warnings. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of this amazing program? We promise you won’t regret it.

• Get travel insurance!

Buy StuCard travel insurance - for about $1 a day with toll free help 24x7! StuCard’s multi-trip travel insurance is underwritten by Travel Guard, the premier travel insurance company in the U.S. with over 25 years of experience and 6 million travelers every year. It covers any person traveling for a trip organized by an educational institution or club.

• Get the ASAAP checklist and ASAAP SOS apps!

Download our ASAAP checklist to fully prepare for your trip before  you depart. The checklist covers over 50 safety checkpoints every student sound fulfill before traveling overseas. The checklist requires students to provide emergency phone numbers, emergency contacts and U.S. Embassy contact information for their country. Other checkpoints include instructions on how to dial the U.S. while abroad, the country’s emergency number and State Department travel warnings. Housing checkpoints include residential locks, fire safety, number of roommates, security and location of housing to police stations, hospitals and other safety points. Other checkpoints cover travel clinics, immunizations, travel insurance, monthly budgets and more.

Check out our new ASAPP SOS app. It's  free, available from the Apple Store and Google Play! You can choose your destination country in the app’s settings, and can notify local emergency services or authorities depending on the geographic locale after an SOS alert is triggered. The SOS app also has a “follow me” feature which enables the student to self-select emergency contacts. This feature is perfect for students traveling in foreign countries to let their loved ones know where they are. In an emergency, the student simply presses the SOS shield on the app to send a panic alert containing a link to their GPS location to select emergency contacts via text message and email. These can optionally be posted to Facebook and Twitter. Once the SOS is activated, the student is automatically prompted to call the authorities with the correct three-digit number.

These tips will help you boost your common sense as you study abroad in new countries and cultures! We promise you won’t regret it. Travel smart and stay safe.

Bowdoin College Students Create Amazing Reflections on Study Abroad Experiences

Although this photograph might not catch your attention at first glance, the story behind the image will intrigue you. Bowdoin College student Andi Noble took this photograph as she studied abroad in Peru. Her inscription next to her photograph reads, “Despite the desert heat [of Peru], I continue to wear long pants to avoid calling unwanted attention to myself in the form of piropos [or catcalls from men]. …I have never experienced living in a society where women such as myself are so blatantly objectified, and it just doesn’t feel right.”

This image is part of an amazing collection of photographs entitled Exposure that Bowdoin College students have created to reflect on their study abroad experiences. Exposure is a photo-journaling project made up of 62 images, taken in 15 different countries by 22 Bowdoin students during study abroad trips in 2012 and 2013. It is currently on display in Smith Union’s Lamarche Gallery at Bowdoin College until Feb. 28.

Bowdoin’s International Programs and Off-Campus Study directors created Exposure to help students find new ways to reflect on their time spent studying abroad and share their stories with the Bowdoin community. Throughout the past eighteen months, students studying abroad received email prompts to help them reflect throughout their semester. Prompts focused on first impressions, everyday routines, feelings of discomfort and reflections.

Bowdoin student Lizzy Hamilton describes a portrait of her in a Peruvian kitchen with a little boy, “In my family [in Peru], I live with an older woman, and her grandson is often in the house. We play board games together and I taught him how to bake chocolate chip cookies.”

The article reported dozens of photos poured in from around the world. Portraits and selfies, composed scenes, candids, color and black & white. Students used SLR cameras and flip phones. Some photos were blurry and some incredibly real. Some photos followed the prompt, and others interpreted it differently.

“It is important to find ways of sharing the small things, because study abroad can’t be summed up in one story or one image,”  Curator Abigail Geringer said.

One of Bowdoin’s International Programs and Off-Campus Study directors said she was struck by the relatively small moments she viewed in some of the photographs. “When you think everything about a study abroad trip is so big,” she said, “it’s interesting to see the normalcy in the photos.”

It’s the stories that make these photographs come alive. Watch the video made about Exposure to hear amazing stories from 22 students who studied abroad across the world. How can you find ways to reflect on your study abroad experience?