Transcript Death of US Citizens Abroad by Non-Natural

EWB Health and Safety
Program & Project Security
(Staying alive)
Outline
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Sensory overload/Culture shock
Pre-trip Security Information
Situational awareness/instincts
Communications
Moving Money
Crime
Embassy services
You
A reality check:
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Every year, 80 million people travel from developed countries to less developed
countries.
For every 100,000 travelers per month: 50,000 get sick, 8,000 see a physician, and 1 dies
For the every 500 to 1,000 who die annually, 50-75% die from cardiovascular and
chronic disease, 20-25% from trauma (mostly motor vehicular accidents), and 4% from
infectious disease.
For every 100,000 travelers annually, 2 to 8 travelers are kidnapped annually. That's
1,600 - 6,400 people a year based on the 80 million travelers.
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Statistics on non-natural deaths, including date, manner of death and city and
country are found on the website:
http://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/death/death_600.html?country=0
Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad by Non-Natural Causes
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1061 reported
deaths from nonnatural causes
267 vehicle
accidents
219 homicides
(many in Mexico,
mostly Tijuana
and Juarez)
133 suicides
125 were caught
in natural disasters
(mostly Haiti
earthquake)
113 drownings
Preparation
Before you go:
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Learn as much as you can about the host country as possible
before traveling, including recent security issues/trends
Get a decent night of sleep before travel and sleep on the
plane
Schedule lightly on the first day and last day of travel
Start the trail of breadcrumbs with US-based support:
• Email/SMS Photo of passport/vaccination records
• H&S plan with itinerary, emergency contacts, maps
• Establish method of communication
• Register your trip with the US State Department
Researching your situation
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ISOS
US State Department
Travel guides
The News
Your In-country partners and associates
Other Locals
* Required in HASP
US Department of State
Travel.State.Gov
•Research your country
•Register your travel
with the embassy
•Get travel alerts by
SMS to you
* Required in HASP
International SOS
http://www.internationalsos.com/en/
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EWB-USA membership no.:
11BCPA000270
Health and Security
information, updated
regularly
Emergency extraction service
Custom reports can be
requested for your itinerary
United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office
http://www.fco.gov.uk/
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Information provided
is very concise
Often most pragmatic
and current
Very well organized
Situational Awareness
In general
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Don’t be alone
Don’t drink or take recreational drugs
Avoid displays of wealth
Have a means of communication
Be aware of where you are
Watch what is going on around you
Let others know where you are
Have an exit strategy
Have fun, but be purposeful
The Airport
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Keep your medications, a change of clothes, and your
money in your carry-on baggage
Avoid random offers of currency exchange or cell
services, accept no packages or unknown bags
Pick up luggage quickly and always have someone watch
it
The shops inside the airport are a good time to break a
couple large bills
Business travelers in the U.S., Europe and United Arab Emirates lose
or misplace more than 16,000 laptops per week.
http://www.ponemon.org/local/upload/fckjail/generalcontent/18/file/LostLaptopsDell%20EMEA%20Final%208.pdf
Bring it
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Emergency Contact Page
Cell Phone and charger
GPS
Headlamp
Extra batteries
Credit card
Copies of prescriptions for
any meds that you need
Photocopy of
passport/vaccination record
Leave it
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Your brand new
laptop/camera/smartphone/i
Pad
Jewelry/expensive Watches
Large quantities (over $250)
of cash
Nonessential vitamin
supplements
Potentially offensive material
(political books, religious
pamphlets, anything racy)
Pepper spray
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Schedule car travel for daylight hours
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Remind your driver to drive conservatively
Keep at least one person awake in the car and know where
you are going. Use GPS to track position if you are
somewhere new
Traffic stops are common in Africa. Ask your driver if
there will be any on your trip
On Buses
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Be willing to pay more for a more secure reputable company
Bus depots are popular spots for theft
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On Trains
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Keep valuables on your berth while you sleep instead of
the overhead/under-seat storage
Keep the window closed while sleeping at night
The Market
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Stay in groups
Avoid offers of currency exchange, appeals for help or mone
Giving money to beggars will not make them go away
Avoid engaging with people that try to confront you in a
threatening manner- Just get away
Expose cash only to pay, keep purchased items secure
Taking photographs of people
can arouse suspicion and
anger.
The Community
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Be respectful of local customs, but obey your instincts
Women- avoid being alone with local men
Men – avoid being alone with local women
Children will be precocious, try to get hands on everything; be
patient and entertaining, but keep an eye on your gear
Beware persistent followers, people who get too friendly
Decline offers of any illicit drugs, black market currency
exchange, or anything you are unsure of
Communications
Local cell phones or SIM cards
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Rent or buy on arrival, from reputable vendor
Look at your own international plans, iPhones might
automatically work
Program with key numbers immediately
Know limits of coverage, dead zones
Rent a satellite phone in advance:
• http://www.mobal.com/satellite-phone-rental/
• http://www.satellitephonestore.com/
• http://www.satellitephonerentals.org/
• Figure out how to keep the phone charged at all times
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Find out where to buy minutes
Keep the adapter somewhere close
12V adapter
Solar charger
Internet cafés
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Go to the café in a group and sit together so your computer is
never left unattended if you leave to get soda/use bathroom
Clear the browser history and clear cookies before you leave
the computer, restart it if possible.
Avoid logging into banking websites
Change your passwords when you get home
US Check-in contact
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Does NOT have to be an EWB-USA member, but they
do have to take the job seriously
Use any method (Facebook, blog, SMS, email, phone call)
to check in—do so on a regular, pre-planned schedule
Brief the check-in on the itinerary and schedule. Give
them a copy of the H&S plan
Make sure that the check in is ok with being available
24/7 in case something comes up. We need cell phones,
not office numbers
Moving Money
Methods
Cash
theft, loss, duty fees or confiscation
Bank to bank transfer fees, exchange rates, currency availability
Western Union
fees, delay, “accidental” loss
ATMs
availability, limits, theft
Mobile phone transfer Not suitable for larger amounts
Transfer to local
NGO via Rotary
International
Transfer to local NGO via Rotary
International
Crime
Prevention
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Buddy system
Pay attention to your surroundings and instincts
Be vague with strangers about who you are and what you are doing
Be polite and respectful, but if you sense danger do not hesitate to
be firm and extract yourself from a situation.
If you hear or see something unusual, or see locals running for
cover, look for cover yourself; otherwise avoid crowds
Remember that you are subject to host country rule of law; in
most cases it is very different from US law
Drugs… Don’t be anywhere near them
Avoid leaving your secure lodgings at night
Robberies and Property Theft
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Laptop/camera/cash theft from hotel room is very common
Never leave these items in open view
Secure your own physical safety as quickly as possible
If you are otherwise uninjured, make a quick, accurate tally of
what was taken and alert local law enforcement
Depending on the nature/severity of the loss, contact your
travel insurance provider, the US Embassy, and other affected
or assisting parties
Assault
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Any assault, but especially sexual assault should be treated as a
medical emergency. Get to medical attention immediately
• Shock can mask injuries
• Emergency contraception and STD testing
EWB-USA and ISOS have resources to get you extracted and
to appropriate medical facilities
EWB-USA will keep information confidential
[email protected]
303-478-8244
Carjacking/Kidnapping
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Avoid nighttime driving
Keep distance between you and car in front of you
Always keep your doors locked
Be on high alert during accidents
Your decision to fight should be based on
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The type of attack
Environment (isolated or public)
Mental state of the attackers
Number of attackers
Weapons
Carjacking/Kidnapping
In the event of a kidnapping, do what you can to survive, but
you can play an active role in your rescue:
• Make sure people miss you quickly and know where you
are supposed to be
• Leave breadcrumbs for rescuers to find you (write last 4 of
SS #)
• Gather data about your captors (appearance, names,
locations, numbers, cars)
• Buy some time for rescue: try to establish some rapport
with your captors
• Try to find your moment
Emergency Exit Plan
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Self-extraction is usually the least expensive and quickest option
Identify alternate routes, means of returning without external
support
Consider funds, capability to pay via credit card or instrument for
emergency transport or flights
The best airport to leave from might not be the closest
If you need rescue
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Have contact numbers and a dependable means of
communication
Be able to give “hard” locations: street intersection,
GPS coordinates, well-known landmarks or structures
Be prepared to self sustain for at least 72 hours
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Food/Water
Shelter
Medications
Communication
Security
All volunteers must carry insurance that covers extraction
US Embassy Services
Embassy/Consular Services
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Up-to-date, often unpublished information on current
political, social, and crime trends; specific areas to avoid
STEP program; registry of visiting US citizens
Replacement of passport, and certain other documents, if lost
or stolen
Limited legal consulting services
Receive security alerts via SMS
What a Consular Officer CAN Do For You
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Assist you in contacting a loved one who is traveling or residing in a
foreign country
Assist you if a loved one dies while in a foreign country
Help you replace a lost or stolen passport
Visit you in jail, if you have been arrested
Provide you with a list of local attorneys who can represent you if you
have been arrested
Notify your loved ones if you have been arrested
Relay requests for money or assistance to your loved ones after arrest
Work with local authorities to attempt to ensure that you are treated
humanely, in keeping with local laws, and according to international
human rights principles
Protest your mistreatment or abuse while you are jailed or interrogated
by foreign authorities
What a Consular Officer CANNOT do
Have you released from jail if you have been arrested in a
foreign country
•Act as your personal attorney or represent you at trial
•Use government funds to pay any fees or fines with which you
may be charged
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Special Note
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US DOS maintains capability to assist US citizens abroad in
extreme emergencies
A Regional Security Officer (RSO) is assigned to the Bureau
of Diplomatic Security in each US embassy and most
consulates
In emergencies, the US DOS will extract associated non-US
citizens, but those team members should be aware of the
services and protections offered by their country of
citizenship
Questions