Basic Health and Safety

In this section, you will find information on how to stay well while in France 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.

• What to Know about France: Learn all you can about the health and safety issues of France and the countries you plan to visit. 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.
• Illnesses, Diseases, and Inoculations: Find out about the various illnesses that might be more common in France 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 France, 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 France. While health care is generally good in France, 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 France 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 France and the countries which you will be visiting. Understand that you will not only have to conform to the legal system of France, 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 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.
• Prescriptions: Get a doctor's signed prescription for any medication you have to bring with you to France. Also include a copy of your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. Bring an extra pair of glasses. Be advised that medication may not be equivalent in brand, strength or quality. However, France does have an advanced, regulated medical care and pharmacy system and will often, therefore, carry the same medicines as those prescribed by doctors in the U.S. For more information on French pharmacies, please see the Resources section of this Handbook.
• 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 France. 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 France. Exercise also helps to increase energy levels and combat depression.
• Walking: Get a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. Without access to a car or public transportation in France, 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 France 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 France and in the countries to which you plan to travel. For more information on transportation in France, please visit the U.S. Department of State.
  • Bus: Buses in France are used primarily for local transportation, or as an extension of rail services to allow travelers to access areas not readily available by train, such as those used by SNCF. Private bus companies, however, do have more extensive routes although most go places a train could go. Buses tend to be cheaper, although travel times and distances can be a hindrance.
  • Train/Metro: France has a number of options for train travel as it is the quickest, easiest and most popular form of transportation in the country. The TGV trains are high speed - around 185 mph/300 kph - and routes extend through all major regions of the country. The SNCF trains are slower, but also cheaper, and cover as much area as the faster trains. If you are looking to travel from London to Paris, the popular Eurostar runs a 3-hour trek from London's Waterloo station to the Paris Nord station (by the way, the Eurostar also provides service to Brussels from Paris or London). Probably the easiest way to buy fare on France's rail service would be to purchase a Europass, which allows you to pick the day and time of travel for a time period that you designate. You may want to avoid traveling by train alone at night, particularly in more urban areas. In Paris especially, you will find the metro system to be the most convenient form of transportation to move about the city, although beware of pickpockets. It is said that no point in Paris is more than 600 m from a Metró station, and it certainly seems that the Metró provides quick (though sometimes confusing) services around the city.
  • Air: Within France, air travel can be a good value compared to a long bus ride. If train travel is too slow for your needs, then air travel can be a safe and pleasant option.
  • Cars (Driving): While renting a car while studying in France can be a great way to see access the famous French countryside, it can also be a very stressful experience. General driving rules remain the same, however it is a good idea to review driving customs before attempting to drive in any country. U.S. driver's licenses are valid in France for up to 12 months. After that, you will be considered a resident and will have to take the local driving test. Insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles. You should obtain full coverage insurance when renting vehicles in France - to make it easier, most rental places will arrange this beforehand. 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 French 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 French judicial authorities. For more on driving in France, see Driving in France - a site that outlines some of the procedures American visitors to France must undergo to be qualified to drive. If you are more interested in the driving experience, visit Tips for Driving in France.
• 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, especially since the legal drinking age in France is 18 and younger students are tempted to take advantage of their sudden access to alcohol. Violating drug laws in France 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.
• 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.