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Health and safety news

3 levels of information

The U.S. Department of State uses a three-tiered system to help you make decisions about travel:
  1. Country Specific Information - General travel information such as entry/exit requirements, crime rates, medical facilities, etc..
  2. Travel Alerts - Issued for short-term events you should know about when planning travel to a country.
  3. Travel Warnings - Issued when you should consider very carefully whether to go to a country at all. Travel warnings trigger a related MU study abroad policy.
Home / Study Outside the U.S. / Pre-departure and while abroad / Health, safety and security / Safety guidelines

Safety guidelines

Become familiar with your "home base" as quickly as possible. Also familiarize yourself with cities you will visit before you begin to explore. Purchase travel guides before leaving the U.S.

Most cities have their "safe" and "unsafe" neighborhoods. Find out what areas to avoid by asking at an information booth in a train station or airport. Do not take risks.

Safety precautions specifically for American students

  • Keep a low profile. Do not attract attention to yourself by speaking English loudly in public spaces, wearing expensive-looking jewelry or behaving in ways that might identify you as a potential target for criminals or terrorists.
  • Avoid crowds, protest groups and other potentially volatile situations, as well as places where Americans are known to congregate.
  • Be wary of receiving unexpected packages, and stay clear of unattended luggage or parcels in public areas.
  • Report to the responsible authority any suspicious persons loitering around residential or instructional facilities. Keep your residence area locked, and use common sense when divulging information about your program or fellow students.
  • Register online with the U.S. Department of State's secure travel registry, or make arrangements to register upon arrival at the U.S. consulate or embassy.
  • Make sure the resident director, host family or foreign university official always knows where and how to contact you in an emergency and knows your schedule and travel itinerary.
  • Develop a plan with your family for regular telephone contact.
  • Check travel advisories for any country you visit.

Street smarts

Be cautious when meeting new people. Don’t give out your address and phone number to strangers or divulge too much personal information. When you are withdrawing money from an ATM or receiving wired money, go with a friend who will help you stay alert to your surroundings.

Taxis are not safe everywhere, especially late at night. Inquire about this. In some places, women do not ride in taxis by themselves. In many cities, taxis have become so dangerous that people use a taxi calling service to get the names of reputable companies and order cabs from them. When you call a taxi, make sure that the taxi has a meter and a radio and is identified with a number or other information. Do not flag down a taxi, and do not hitchhike.

In general, avoid frequenting well-known American hangouts (restaurants, bars, consulates and embassies, etc.). Especially avoid these places if there is a terrorist threat or the U.S. has just participated in some military action. During times of international crisis, many U.S. embassies and consulates are picketed and threatened.

Do not be afraid to be assertive when confronted with unwanted situations. Do not let anyone push you into taking risks. If you feel unsafe, you probably are. Listen to your instincts.

Your risk of being in danger increases if you are:

  • Intoxicated;
  • Alone at night, especially after midnight;
  • Alone in an isolated area;
  • Alone in a high-crime area;
  • Asleep in an unlocked place;
  • Out after a local curfew;
  • New to the country;
  • Unable to speak the local language; or
  • In a new place and making new friends.

Virtual kidnapping

This is a practice of extorting funds from unsuspecting family members without actual abduction. Social media sites allow would-be extortionists to extract personal information about upcoming trips, as well as names and phone numbers of prospective victims. Virtual kidnappers often wait until the victim is in a location with limited or non-existent cell phone communication. The virtual kidnapper then makes a phone call to a family member in the U.S., claiming to have abducted the student and demanding funds be transferred to a non-traceable account in exchange for the victim’s safe return. Recently, there has been an increase in calls of this type made to the grandparents of students studying abroad. The requests are usually urgent and time sensitive; for example, claiming the student will be killed within an hour if payment is not made. Because the family often has no easy way to determine the truth of the claim, payment is usually made.

How to avoid being a victim of this scam:

  • Register your travel with the U.S. Department of State prior to departure.
  • Verify cell phone reception at all locations on the itinerary.
  • Do not turn off your cell phone at any times; claims that a cell phone must be disconnected for servicing are universally false.
  • Do not share information about an upcoming trip online.
  • Do not share personal information with unknown callers.
  • Leave a detailed itinerary and your contact information with your emergency contact.
  • Maintain regular contact with your family and friends back home.
  • Establish a code word that could be used to verify kidnapping claims, like the name of your first pet or favorite teacher.
  • Never travel alone, particularly in Latin America, Africa or the Middle East, where virtual kidnappings are becoming epidemic.

If you or a family member receives this type of call, you should:

  • Remain calm; remember that, in nearly all cases, this is a scam.
  • Do not share any personal or financial information with the caller; ask questions so that you can obtain as much information about the caller as possible.
  • Do not transfer funds.
  • Ask to talk to the alleged victim or for answers to proof-of-life questions that would require the caller to talk to the alleged victim.
  • Hang up as soon as possible.
  • Immediately try to contact the alleged victim after the call. If you cannot communicate with this person, call the International Center.

American embassies and consulates

If you encounter serious legal, political, health or economic problems, the U.S. embassies and/or consulates can offer limited assistance. They can, for example, provide you with a list of local attorneys and physicians; contact next of kin in the event of an emergency or serious illness; contact friends or relatives on your behalf to request funds or guidance; provide assistance during civil unrest or a natural disaster; and replace a lost or stolen passport. Please understand that they are the primary sources for information about where to obtain advice; however, embassies and consulates don't give advice.

U.S. embassy online registration

Registering with the embassy is extremely important and should be done online before you leave the country.

Search by host country to find the address of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Emergency contacts

Please carry at all times the phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the following contacts:

  • Program resident director.
  • International-programs office of the host institution.
  • Emergency phone numbers for the host institution.
  • U.S. embassy and/or consulate for any country where you are studying or traveling.
  • Family members.
  • Travel agent.
  • Local equivalent of 911.
  • Local recommended hospital.
  • Local recommended taxi service.

MU International Center: +1 573 882 6007
MU Police Department: +1 573 882 7201

You can contact a member of the MU International Center staff 24 hours a day. Our regular hours are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. After hours, call the International Center to be connected to the University of Missouri Police Department. The MU Police will contact an International Center staff member.