Hi I am the EAP/Prof. Stds Rep for IMA. I wanted to get out some safety tip information that is created to help women but can also help men too. In our careers, we will travel to so many places where we want to explore. Crime can happen anywhere. It can take place outside your home and/or on a layover. When we are at home or on a layover; we need need to use common sense. The more prepared you are, the less chance you might be a victim of a crime. Womens Travel Tips to Take to Heart: Its a fact that women need to travel with a little special care; horror stories do exist. Dont let concerns stop you, remember to follow the same basic rules you would at home. Avoiding Travel Theft The most obvious solution is sticking to the safer parts of town, but youll certainly miss adventure if you do. Carry a light Consider avoiding deserted streets after dark; if you cant, then carry a small, heavy flashlight in your hand. Be careful on dark streets even if you have a companion. Watch the crowd Some thieves prefer crowded areas and stay alert in places like bus/metro stations and during street celebrations, where youre likely to be jostled. Thieves use these circumstances to grab your stuff. Consider your underwear Muggers arent interested in your bra. Sew pockets into it where you can keep some folded cash; if you do get mugged, youre not left helpless. A money belt works, too, but thieves know all about money belts. You can also stash a couple of paper currency in a sock after dark or anytime. Dont bring the bling Avoid ostentatious jewelry; you could be injured if a thief yanks a bracelet from your wrist or a necklace from your throat. Let the bag go Most experts say not to resist and let your bag go and then shout for help rather than risk assault. Opening your wallet and handing over your money may be enough for the thief and you can keep your bag. It also may make a thief think youre reaching for a weapon. Better to hand over the bag. Consider Your Attire Dressing well can make a thief think you have mounds of cash/credit cards in your bag. Womens dress can be a major issue in some developing countries. Its already pretty clear that youre a Westerner and try to avoid looking like a rich Westerner will help bring less attention to you. Dress like a local Learn the local dress code as soon as you arrive; buy appropriate clothing locally if necessary. Avoid Unwanted Attention The oldest trick- Consider buying a cheap wedding ring. Especially in developing countries, a married woman is viewed as the property of another man and therefore off limits. Sounds silly, but it works. The eyes- Prolonged eye contact with a man can be an invitation to flirt. In some developing countries or some societies, any eye contact at all may be considered carte blanche to approach you. Eye contact also may be considered disrespectful in some countries and may invite aggressive behavior from strangers. Almost as annoying is that eye contact ensures street hustlers will pester you. Talk with local women to learn the rules. What to Do If Touched or Groped Say no If youre being groped or touched inappropriately in a crowd, know how to say, Leave me alone! loudly in the local language. In Spanish, for instance, learn these useful phrases: Dejeme sola! ( Leave me alone! ) Vayase! (Go away!) Socorro! ( Help! ) Llama a la policia! [ Call the police! ) Blast em if you must Carry pepper spray in case of assault. You should report any assault/crime. Check in with the local embassy as soon as possible and let someone know what happened and its not always in your best interests to go to the police in some countries. Remember to run Always be ready to run as fast as you can. What to Do If Youre Being Assaulted If you think youre going to be raped, a surprisingly effective tip from women travelers is to pretend youre going to vomit in the mans face and although a knee to the family jewels is sure to work, it may be grounds for arresting you for assault in some developing countries. If youve been raped Its not your fault. Its a crime. If you are raped, head for your hotel or a hospital to ask for help and the police station may not be the best place to go, depending on your location. If youre raped by a member of your traveling group, grab a cab and head straight to the hospital. Dont shower or douche before you get to the hospital. You may destroy evidence. Women Travelers Safety: Bottom Line Look and act confident. Be alert. Use common sense. Always stride along like you know where youre going. Dont slink, glancing furtively around you. Dont let all this scare you away from international travel and youll doubtless be perfectly safe.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:00:09 +0000