Basic Health and Safety

In this section, you will find information on how to stay well while in Chile and while traveling to other countries. The process of wellness starts before you go abroad with a visit to your doctor. You may need to get inoculations to protect you from various illnesses before traveling. You will also learn some tips about food and water safety.

Planning for a Healthy and Safe Time Abroad: Learn all you can about the health and safety issues of all the countries where you plan to study and travel. This includes reading about the cultural and political climate of those countries, as well as learning about how others view people from your country, race, ethnic group, religion, gender and sexual orientation.

Planning for a Healthy and Safe Time in Chile: Preparation for your time in Chile should include an understanding of the current political, cultural and religious events of the country as well as the region, and an awareness of the social climate. Students are advised to be alert to their surroundings, and be particularly aware of any health and safety advisories for the areas in which they will be studying.

Getting a Balanced Perspective on Health and Safety in Chile: In order to gain a more objective perspective on how safe travel to Chile is, view the health and safety reports on Chile from a variety of sources. We have provided a table below with links (on the left) to the Australian, Canadian and British governments’ country advisories on Chile. On the right side of the table are links to those same governments’ perspectives on safety in the United States, which you can use to compare health and safety issues in Chile and the United States.

	Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Chile	Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: USA
	Canada: Consular Affairs - Chile	Canada: Consular Affairs - USA
	United Kingdom: Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office - Chile	United Kingdom: Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office - USA

Top Ten List of Health and Safety Issues: Visit this page to see the top ten health and safety issues you should be aware of before you depart for Chile and the other countries to which you may be traveling.

• Illnesses, Diseases, and Inoculations: Find out about the various illnesses that might be more common in Chile or the regions and countries to which you will be traveling. Get the appropriate shots and pills, and take the appropriate medications with you if your doctor thinks it's necessary. Find out about any potential side-effects of shots and pills that you may take. For more information on illnesses that may be prevalent in Chile, please see the CDC link in the Resources section of this Handbook.
• Physicals and Check-ups: Get a complete physical, eye exam and dental check-up before going to Chile. The quality of dental and medical care might be different in the various countries or regions you may visit. Also, care could possibly be more expensive than in the United States, or your health insurance may not cover your medical care abroad as well as in the U.S.
• Can You Drink the Water?: Find out if water is generally safe to drink in different regions of Chile and in the countries to which you will be traveling. To avoid risk, many travelers drink bottled water. Remember that ice can also be unsafe, as well as the water you use to brush your teeth.
• Food Safety: Poor refrigeration, undercooked meat, and roadside/outdoor vendors could pose problems related to food contamination. If you get diarrhea or food poisoning, remember to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. As with any illness, consider seeing a doctor if your condition worsens. Give your body time to adjust to new types of foods you will be eating.
• Laws and Codes of Conduct: Make yourself aware of both the rules and regulations of your study abroad program sponsor, and the local laws and customs of Chile and the countries which you will be visiting. Understand that you will not only have to conform to the legal system of Chile, but also obey the codes of conduct required of program participants. Also recognize that certain laws may vary from region to region or even city to city.
• Mental and Physical Health: Consider your own mental and physical health issues when applying for a study abroad program, and make all your necessary health information available to your program's administrators in the U.S. and abroad so they can assist you with any special needs, or advise you on the risks you might face. Study abroad may include both physical and mental challenges for students, so make sure you establish a support network of program administrators, family and friends who can help you. According to the U.S. Department of State, “Medical care, while generally good, may not meet U.S. standards in remote areas. Although emergency rooms in some major hospitals accept credit cards, many doctors and hospitals in Chile expect immediate cash payment for health services.” Again, we recommend getting international insurance so that you don’t have to worry about paying the bills when facing a medical or mental emergency. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State warns that, “All of Santiago is affected by a high index of pollution, which appears as heavy smog in the winter (May through August) and dust in the summer (December through March). The most severe pollution occurs from May to October.” Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more health information on Chile and how to prepare for your trip.
• Prescriptions: To be cautious, get a doctor's signed prescription for any medication you have to bring with you to Chile, and get it translated into Spanish. However, if you can, take a supply large enough to cover your stay while abroad, just in case you can’t fill your prescription while abroad. Contact the U.S. Embassy in Santiago or your program administrator/advisor to find out if and how much U.S. prescription medication is allowed into Chile. Also include a copy of your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. Bring an extra pair of glasses.
• First-Aid Kit: Consider a well-stocked first-aid kit as a first line of defense. Some items to include are: sunscreen, bandages, flashlight, sterile pads, insect repellent, adhesive tape, aspirin, antacid, anti-diarrhea tablets, anti-malarial medication, extra bottled water, feminine protection, condoms, rubber gloves, etc.
• Fitness and Exercise: Try to get fit in the time you have before departing for Chile. A healthy body can help you fight off illness and recover faster if you do get sick. Even though it may be harder to follow a structured workout routine, try to stay fit while in Chile. Exercise also helps to increase energy levels and combat depression. Get a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. Without access to a car or public transportation in Chile, you may have to do quite a bit of walking. Break in your shoes before you go.
• Emergency Contacts: Keep your program staff and your emergency contacts at home and in Chile well informed of your whereabouts and activities, and provide these people with copies of your important travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, plane tickets, traveler's checks, and prescriptions, etc.).
• Air Travel: When you travel by air, drink a lot of non-alcoholic fluids, stay away from caffeine, eat light, and stretch often to avoid jetlag. Many airlines are now required to show an in-flight video of stretching exercises you can do on the plane in order to avoid the potential formation of blood clots, which can be caused by cabin pressure. A direct flight is usually easier for most travelers, but flights broken up by stops can also lessen jet lag.
• Transportation: Accidents involving in-country travel, whether by air, bus, train, taxi, car, etc., are a major cause of injury to students abroad. It is important to understand what the safe modes of travel are in Chile and in the countries to which you plan to travel. For more information on transportation in Chile, please visit the U.S. Department of State.

  • Bus: Bus service is available, and extensive, throughout Chile, including service to smaller towns. In general, you can expect buses to be well-maintained and on time. Buses are also available in the cities.
  • Train/Metro: Expect train fares to be more expensive than bus fares. Depending on the type of train you take (older vs. newer), the speed of your journey will vary. Also, train service is not as extensive as the bus routes. Santiago has a metro that offers stops to most parts of the city.
  • Air: Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, located north of the city center, services both international and domestic flights. LanChile is the national airline, and operates both internationally and domestically. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has found that the Chilean Government’s civil aviation authority does comply with international safety standards for oversight of Chilean air carrier operations. However, this is not an endorsement of Chilean airlines and you are encouraged to investigate the safety records of airlines that fly there. If you are interested in visiting Easter Island, flying is essentially the only way to get there because of the distance, and LanChile is the only airline that services the route.
  • Cars (Driving): You should avoid driving if possible while studying in Chile, particularly if you will be in Santiago. Traffic in the city gets fairly congested, particularly around rush hour, and drivers tend to be aggressive, particularly when changing lanes. According to the U.S. Department of State, “Care should be exercised when changing lanes or merging because Chilean drivers do not signal lane changes and rarely yield to merging traffic. Buses are especially aggressive in moving from lane to lane. Traffic jams during peak hours in downtown Santiago and other areas are common.” In addition, “Drivers should drive with car doors locked at all times, especially in the southern parts of the city and near the airport, as there have been reports of thieves entering cars stopped at traffic lights or moving in slow traffic.” Using taxis instead of driving is an inexpensive and simple alternative to travel in the cities. In other areas of the country, the condition of the roads are not always guaranteed, especially on secondary routes.
    
    However, if you do decide to drive, valid U.S. Driver’s License and an International Driving License is required to operate all vehicles, including rental vehicles. We strongly recommend that you obtain full coverage insurance when doing any driving in Chile. If a driver is involved in a vehicle accident resulting in damages or injuries to another party, the driver may be arrested and detained by Chilean authorities until a settlement is arranged with the injured party. Furthermore, depending upon the extent of damages or injuries to the other party, you may face charges filed by the Chilean judicial authorities. The Chilean police (Carabineros) are known for their honesty and refusal to accept bribes, so don’t expect to be able to pay your way out of a ticket or detention. We do not recommend driving across the national border to visit neighboring countries, as the honesty of the border police for other countries is not as certain and narcotics trafficking is a major problem.
    
    For more health and safety information about driving abroad, the Association for Safe International Road Travel offers road travel reports, seasonal hazards, safety tips and common driver behaviors for travel abroad.
• Alcohol and Drugs: Use and abuse of alcohol and drugs abroad can increase the risk of accident and injury. Many study abroad accidents and injuries are related to the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs abroad. Violating drug laws in Chile may result in very serious consequences. In some countries you may visit, being found guilty of violating drug laws can result in consequences as serious as death. The Chilean government takes drunk driving very seriously, and drivers caught under the influence can expect incarceration and a hearing. Also, any kind of narcotics trafficking, possession or use is strictly prohibited and offenders will face imprisonment and heavy fines.
• Setting an Example: Set a good example. Remember you are like an ambassador for your U.S. college or university, as well as your culture and country. Behave in a way that is respectful of others' rights and well-being and encourage others to do the same.