|
Basic Health and Safety
| |
Important Links to Remember
|
In this section, you will find information on how to stay well while in South Africa 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 South Africa: Learn all you can about the health and safety issues of South Africa 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 South Africa 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 South Africa, 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 South Africa. 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 South Africa 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 South Africa and the countries which you will be visiting. Understand that you will not only have to conform to the legal system of South Africa, 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 South Africa. Some prescriptions may need to be translated into Afrikaans or another official language if you wish to fill them in South Africa. Also include a copy of your prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. Bring an extra pair of glasses. Be advised that drugs and pharmacy establishments are not as closely regulated in South Africa as they are in the United States. Medications may also not be equivalent in brand, strength or quality. For more information on South African 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 South Africa. 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 South Africa. 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 South Africa, 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 South Africa 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 South Africa and in the countries to which you plan to travel. For more information on transportation in South Africa, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1838.htm.
-
Bus: Routes are fairly extensive and cover all regions. Service is generally reliable, although this depends on the company you use, and travel by bus is considered safe and usually comfortable, particularly on buses in the larger companies. Greyhound, Intercape and Translux together service most parts of the country, with reasonable fares and enough variety to satisfy most travelers' needs. For example, a bus company called the Baz Bus offers door-to-door service to hostels across the country. It's a cheap and safe alternative to dealing with the hassle of finding taxis or local bus service from a city bus station, and is a good way to meet other travelers. If you're interested in meeting the locals, there are a number of smaller bus companies that also offer national service, are fairly cheap options, and allow you to meet black South African travelers (who tend to be scarce on other luxury buses). However, it may be difficult to get much information about these services - your best bet is to go to the bus station a day before you travel to find out when, where and for how much you can travel.
-
 Train/Metro: While this form of transportation may be more comfortable than a bus, it unfortunately is much slower. Depending on how tight your schedule is, you may be better off taking the bus. If you do travel by train, take either first or second class - which are often equipped with washbasins, fold out bunks (for evening travel), and showers (in first class). Travel in third class is NOT recommended. Also, you may want to avoid traveling by train alone at night. In and near Johannesburg especially, you will find the metro system to be extremely dangerous - it is NOT recommended that anyone take the metro near Johannesburg at ANY time of day. Also, squatter children are notorious for throwing bricks at oncoming trains near Cape Town and Potchefstroom, so it is recommended that you sit with your back to the direction you are traveling to avoid getting hit by bricks.
-
Air: Within South Africa, 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): South Africa is a great place for road warriors, with long expanses of well-paved road, a good network of maintained highways, and a number of tarred secondary and tertiary roads. However, South African drivers can be a bit unpredictable, and will probably pose the greatest danger to visiting drivers. U.S. driver's licenses are valid in South Africa - as are other licenses written in English - when driving a rental car. South Africa insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles. You should obtain full coverage insurance when renting vehicles in South Africa - to make it easier, and because theft and accident rates are fairly high, most rental places will arrange this beforehand. You may also be responsible for up to 90% the cost of collision damage, if you get in an accident, as well as the cost of a theft waiver. 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 South African 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 South African judicial authorities. For more on driving in South Africa, see South African Travel - Driving -- a site that includes a lot of information about local drivers, laws and rental/purchase options, as well as information on other modes of transportation.
-
 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 South Africa 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.
GlobalScholar.us: Go to Course 1, Module 9, Task 1 – “Best Practices for Health and Safety” about staying healthy while abroad.
AllAbroad.us – Health: Mentors address any health concerns that students may have while overseas.
| | | |
|
