Safety While Traveling Abroad

Millions of Americans travel abroad each year. Safely should be a prime consideration for anyone traveling outside the United States. There are certain precautions that travelers can take to better ensure their safety while abroad.

Motor vehicle safety while traveling

Injuries from motor vehicle crashes pose the greatest risk of injury to international travelers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of death from motor-vehicle crashes is many times higher in other countries than in the U.S. Inadequate roadway design, hazardous conditions, lack of appropriate vehicles and vehicle maintenance, unskilled or inexperienced drivers, inattention to pedestrians and cyclists, and impairment due to alcohol and drugs all contribute to the increased risk of being involved in a vehicle-related crash while visiting other countries.

Important safety measures you can take include the following:

• Request a vehicle with safety belts and use them.

• Inspect cars and trucks to make sure that tires, windshield wipers, brakes, and headlights are in good condition.

• Request a vehicle equipped with air bags, where available.

• Avoid nonessential night driving, alcohol, and riding with persons under the influence of alcohol.

• Sit in the back seat whenever possible, to minimize the risk of death if an accident should occur.

• Bring a car safety seat when traveling with young children.

• Use a safety helmet when riding on a bicycle or motorcycle.

Avoiding animal/insect-associated hazards

In areas where rabies is endemic (constantly present), domestic dogs, cats, or other animals should not be petted. Wild animals should always be avoided.

Bites and stings from insects can cause unpleasant reactions, and medical attention should be sought immediately for any bite or sting that causes redness, swelling, bruising, or persistent pain. Take extra precautions when camping or staying in rustic or primitive areas by using insect repellents, protective clothing, and mosquito netting.

Poisonous snakes are another hazard in certain parts of the world, although deaths from snake bites are rare. Never attempt to handle, harass, or kill a snake, as bites often occur as a snake's defensive reaction.

Avoiding swimming hazards

For infectious disease prevention, only swimming pools that contain chlorinated water are considered safe for swimming. Swimming in contaminated water can result in skin, eye, ear, and certain intestinal infections, and in certain areas, a fatal form of encephalitis has occurred after swimming in warm, dirty water. Other infectious diseases can develop from swimming in freshwater streams, canals, and lakes.