Travel Safely!

As the end of the school year approaches, you may be gearing up for a summer internship in a different city or even study or work in a different country. Whether you're traveling domestically or abroad, it's important to be prepared for the physical and mental challenges of being in a new place. In this article, we'll point out some helpful precautions you can take to help you embark on a safe, pleasant and healthful journey.

Build a Support System
The University of California at Irvine suggests great tips for identifying and building a support system upon arrival at your new destination. Make a list of people you can trust to be supportive in an emergency, such as on-site program staff (complete with their names, addresses and phone numbers). Learn where the nearest hospital and medical clinics are. If you're abroad, register with your host country's U.S. embassy or consulate, identify the English-speaking community around you (e.g., your school, local churches, etc.), learn to use the public telephones immediately upon your arrival and learn to recognize the police station, uniform and car.

Being Financially Fit
When traveling abroad, speak with your parents or school about how you will access money for both everyday financial needs and emergencies. Once in the host country, use traveler's checks as much as possible and avoid carrying large sums of cash. Other sensible steps include not wearing expensive-looking clothing or jewelry, traveling light, and stashing your passport, cash and credit cards in a hotel safe.Finally, avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. The Study Abroad Handbook online provides other great practical tips for navigating through your journey. On a related note, Aetna's Plan for Your Health, a free financial tool, can help you understand how to get the most of your health benefits as well as manage medical expenses.

Preparing for your Health
Before your domestic or international departure, it is important to have a general physical and dental exam. Women should also have a gynecological checkup. Make sure you pack a complete medical record and a copy of all prescriptions, including vision. If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. If you're working with a counselor or psychiatrist, discuss your travel or study abroad plans with your health professional.

Helpful tip regarding customs: When traveling to another country, bring copies of all your prescriptions. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate of that country before you travel.

Encountering an Emergency while Away

Taking all sensible precautions and being aware of your host environment can bring great peace of mind. Travelers are, however, sometimes victimized by crime and violence, or experience unexpected medical or other difficulties .Before you depart on your journey, take some time to understand (and document) all available resources for dealing with potential emergencies abroad.

• Your Aetna Student Health insurance plan may offer On Call International 24/7 Emergency Travel Assistance Services. If you are traveling over 100 miles outside of your home base, On Call coordinates care and provides round-the-clock access to physicians, surgeons and specialists, offers prescription assistance, and provides emergency evacuation. Check with your school's medical plan administrator to find out if you subscribe to On Call. If not, consider supplemental insurance.
• The U.S. Department of State provides emergency assistance to American citizens abroad. Though most matters can be resolved over the phone or through a visit to the Consular Section of the nearest U.S.embassy or consulate, sometimes U.S. consular officers are called upon to help American citizens who are in foreign hospitals or prisons, or to assist the families of U.S. citizens who have passed away overseas.

Adapting (and Re-Adapting) to Culture Shock
You are probably familiar with the concept of experiencing “culture shock” upon entering a foreign country, but are you aware of reverse culture shock? Much as entering a new culture can result in feelings of frustration, disappointment and even depression, your return to the U.S. may be marked by similarly difficult periods of adjustment. A good way to manage your feelings might be to share your thoughts with other students, your host family, program sponsors or even with a global online community of students abroad, such as RateYourStudyAbroad.com.

If you find that you are experiencing severe culture shock, it is important to speak to a trusted school guide, faculty member or medical professional. Perhaps your school offers a Student Assistance Program (SAP). With the Aetna Student Health SAP program you can call a trained professional who will confidentially help you assess your needs and provide referrals to local resources at your request.

Wherever you may be headed this summer, take time to read up on your host country or U.S. city, talk to your study abroad office about what to expect and communicate with your medical professionals to ensure an optimal travel experience.