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Many students leap at the opportunity to study in another country.  Similar to leaving home, often we do not know the danger that lurks in a strange city let alone a foreign country.  Think about your own city or town that you live in.  Typically there are the good parts of town as well as those parts you know from experience are not so good and often dangerous.  Another country poses the same risks if not more.  Many parents put trust not only in their children but also that of the university that their kids attend.  While the movie Taken showed us the extreme danger that can face a young adult abroad, instances of that nature are a rarity in my experience.  However Murphy’s Law can prevail if the necessary resources are not made readily available to travelers in the form of education pre-trip as well as during the duration of their stay.

While my Taken analogy is the extreme of a travel incident many incidents do occur regularly and to varying degrees.  These can involve medical emergencies, safety scares, natural disasters as well as death and repatriation of remains.

I would safely say that most if not all universities offer at the very least these basics to avoid negligence from a duty of care perspective. A more robust offering is becoming typical and a key differentiator amongst the major programs coast to coast.  These programs offer something so much more to the students, faculty, staff and university guests.

A proactive approach in providing a fully-insured benefit as opposed to self-insuring the risks involved allows for peace of mind regarding many of the situations that can and given enough time will occur.  A blanket coverage protecting the complete travel exposure combined with both medical, security and natural disaster coverage is step one.  Step two is ensuring that the insurance coverage is placed alongside a global assistance provider with 24/7/365 access.

Many of the global assistance providers are offering notifications via mobile in real time as well as up to date information via the web. The last piece of the puzzle are what I call services that go above and beyond including, travel tracking of individuals, global EAP programs offering assistance during troubling times, and travel risk mitigation training for key staff.  Since we are discussing education, communication of these benefits effectively, becomes vital to the success of any multi-national program.  An educated and informed traveler whether employee or student is a better prepared traveler.

Justin Leader, Vice President of Business Development at Special Risk Insurance Services, Inc assists multi-national organizations regarding corporate duty of care and travel benefits.  Special Risk is an insurance brokerage firm that focuses on helping employer clients select and administer employee benefit plans, including group life, accident and disability coverages.

Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection caused by ingesting contaminated water or food. There have been recent clusters in Texas, Georgia and Wisconsin. Imported cilantro from Mexico is the suspected cause of some of these cases, although the investigation is ongoing. There has also been a cluster in Canada.

It’s a nasty bug that causes frequent watery diarrhea, often with stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, low-grade fever, muscle-aches and fatigue. The illness is usually self-limiting although antibiotics may be required in some cases. It is found world-wide, especially in tropics and sub-tropics where the disease is endemic. Anyone can be infected irrespective of age. No vaccine is available.

It’s symptoms begin within two to 14 days (average 1 week) after exposure. The disease is self-limiting in people with a normal immune system, usually requiring supportive therapy in the form of oral rehydration solutions. Antibiotics or anti-parasitic drugs may be required in some cases, particularly in patients with weakened immunity.

So for travelers especially, it’s important to know the risks of Cyclosporiasis. In many parts of the world, bottled water and food that is thoroughly cooked and served while hot are safer choices.

Chikungunya, on the other hand, is spread by mosquitoes and was originally found only in Africa. It also can be found in Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where it is considered an increasing public health problem. It was first reported in the Caribbean in 2013, and Florida last year. There have been sporadic cases reported elsewhere in the United States as the result of travelers returning from endemic areas with the infection. Chikungunya can weaken the immune system leading to other infections. Fatalities have been reported. The associated joint pains can last for several months, or even years.

The best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. Wear light-colored clothing that covers most of the body (long sleeves and long pants), weather permitting. Wear socks and shoes that cover your entire foot. Tuck pant legs into socks for added protection. Use an effective insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. Inside, use air-conditioning when possible, it may reduce the chance that you will be bitten.

It’s important to keep in mind that some ailments can strike close to home, not just among travelers. But prevention goes a long way.

It’s important to monitor developments, which are changing at a rapid pace. The biggest issue right now is access to cash, especially in light of the government’s decision that all banks – including branches of foreign institutions – will remain closed until July 6. There are also daily cash withdrawal limits of 60 Euros at ATM’s. So travelers should bring sufficient cash, be sure to use the hotel safe deposit box, and carry only enough money to support that day’s activities. Use credit card transactions where possible.

Protests are something to avoid. It may feel to visitors like these are part of history, but they should not be witnessed firsthand. These often result in clashes between protesters and police, so the risk of injury is a real threat.

We all hope that this crisis passes soon. But in the meantime, travelers need to keep up with the latest information to remain safe.

Source: Internews

Following the rapid descent into civil war in South Sudan in December 2013, we were yet again reminded how the operating environments where we work can shift.  Staff in the field and at headquarters had to work swiftly to dust off plans, relocate staff and gather information in the midst of chaos. Today, 18 months after the national crisis, NGOs have returned to near normal operations. However, South Sudan seems to be on the brink of unraveling yet again. We are seeing declining state revenues, a volatile currency and unrest over supply shortages. As continued fighting spreads beyond Jonglei, the Upper Nile and Unity, and the factions and reach of rebel groups grow, the NGO community is preparing for decisions that will need to be made smartly, quickly and with precision.

Since the 2013 evacuation, organizations have developed new informal communications relationships and strengthened mutual support networks.  The community has come together many times since to discuss lessons learned and what can be done better ‘next time.’ What has been overwhelmingly clear is the importance of communication in such situations – and how difficult that can be. In a recent webinar hosted by International SOS, a variety of preparatory measures were discussed to help make a response seamless and ensure that clear communication and decision processes between HQ and the field are defined in advance should the situation in South Sudan deteriorate.  Click here for the presentation, recording and poll results.

Firstly, the collection of critical staff information and documents is important and can be done in advance. When fighting escalated in December 2013, we saw that communications infrastructure (i.e. mobile connectivity, internet, electricity, etc.) were among the first things to fail. This makes it far more difficult for field teams to get the information they need to support relocation.  Knowing information such as staff passport details, nationalities and visa capabilities is especially important when determining where people can be evacuated to. This dialogue should be opened up now in order to free up staff in the field from having to pull it together when faced with major time constraints and communication failure.

A second factor to consider when discussing staff relocation is the capability for teams to work remotely. As all organizations have different operating requirements, it’s important to identify in advance a location or locations from where staff would be able to work effectively in the case of evacuation. Technical questions should also be considered in advance: and contingency plans made for server accessibility, computer access, wireless network capabilities, access to key financial systems etc. to be set up either in advance or rapidly at the onset of a crisis. As discussed in the webinar, it is often difficult to make these decisions once emergency plans are in motion; and should communications go down it will be very difficult to get this support.  Ideally, identify in advance which staff can work remotely, from where, and what resources they will need, so that in case of an emergency, you can focus on managing the situation and putting plans into motion.

Thirdly, a quick win for organizations will be to determine in advance the protocols for securing housing and office space should it need to be vacated. Within the NGO community we have vast networks – national staff contacts, other NGOs, government connections – all people who can help in an emergency. Ensuring that property is secured and assigning a reliable and trustworthy point person in-country to house those keys will not only ensure the property is secured in a timely way, but also enables periodic check-ins by the local point person, carrying out of any necessary maintenance (checking generators, filling water tanks, etc) and reporting back to evacuated staff or organizational headquarters.  Having a point person puts us at greater ease when we cannot be there in person.

Having a financial continuity plan is the fourth area where we are able to plan ahead. Just as communications infrastructure become interrupted in these incidents, there is a strong possibility of bank closure and limitations to access to cash from ATMs or even local money dealers. This confronts us with the problem of how to deal with outstanding invoices, bills and payroll at a time of urgency. Addressing your cash handling plan and determining how much cash should be kept on hand (in secure safes) can help make for faster relocation. Additionally, having the conversation between HQ and the field early on about the potential cost estimate for an evacuation is beneficial. Identifying how costs will be covered and captured early on in your planning will save time as operations enter the recovery phase.

Finally, no matter how much we plan and train, no event ever plays out just as expected.  To counter this, it is imperative that organizations are able to acknowledge their trigger points. All organizations have specific scopes of work and various tolerance levels for risk. While some organizations will be unable to operate and may relocate staff out in the early stages, others may be able to continue, or need to continue operating as the crisis becomes more advanced.  It’s extremely useful to have a clear understanding and consensus between HQ and field as to what types of events constitute trigger points during a worsening situation, and what corresponding organizational and programming actions must take place when those triggers are met.  Most importantly, sticking to those trigger points will be imperative for speedy and effective decision making (which is often easier said than done).

As we move to meetings with staff in the coming weeks and months, whether on security situations in South Sudan or other countries, having these conversations is the first step to being prepared. There is potential for things to get worse as fighting has escalated, highway banditry is increasing, and the political situation grows more delicate. Should we see a repeat of December 2013, this time we can prepare for the different circumstances and aftermath before it hits, especially with help from each other.

With reforms expected to be implemented later this year, we have commissioned a briefing paper by the law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts that outlines what the changes will mean for our clients and their international travelers and expatriates.

The Reform Bill has a strong emphasis on prevention and accountability – it essentially legalizes a company’s Duty of Care to its employees.

While the focus is on workplace safety in New Zealand, companies with expatriate staff living overseas and frequent business travelers need to consider how these laws may be applied to incidents that occur beyond our borders.

People traveling for work must be afforded the same Duty of Care as those in your office or worksite at home in regards to preventing exposure to health or safety risks.

Company directors and officers should now be thinking what they need to do to comply with the new legislation when it comes into force.

Practicable steps include reviewing and updating existing internal policies and processes, and considering whether you’re doing all you can be to ensure the health and safety of your business travelers. Don’t wait until the last minute because policies take time to implement.

To download the paper:  http://go.internationalsos.com/Workplace_Health_Safety_Briefing_Paper_Page_Download.html

We asked “have your travelers been affected by a natural disaster in the past year.” Sixty-two percent said their travelers have been affected. In light of the recent flooding in Texas, we also asked if organizations have an emergency response plan that includes flooding. Sixty-three percent have such a plan.

While we know that most organizations have emergency response plans. But a plan is only good if it is updated and tested. Fifty-five percent of respondents said their plan is tested yearly, 19-percent said quarterly and 1-percent said monthly. But at least a little disturbing is that 25-percent of organizations said their plans are never tested. That’s a recipe for disaster.

For the full poll results from the webinar “After the Natural Disaster: Mitigating Medical and Security Risks,” read the executive briefing. You can also download the presentation and listen to the recording.

While he was well when he arrived home in early May, he later became sick and was treated at a series of hospitals. But there was a delay in diagnosing that he had MERS and he infected about 25 other people with the disease.  Two have died and some are seriously ill.  The total number of cases stands at about 30. At this time, there is no indication that the virus is spreading in the general community and confirmed cases so far are linked to direct contact with the “index” case.

So what can organizations do to protect not only their travelers, but employees back home?

MERS-CoV is a virus (from the same family as SARS) for which there is no treatment or vaccine. There is a strong link with camels although the exact way in which humans become infected is not known. MERS-CoV causes a serious infection of the lungs (viral pneumonia) and about 40-percent of patients die. The good news is that the virus is not able, at this time, to spread easily in the community from person to person.  When it does spread from person to person, this usually occurs in a hospital setting or in the home of infected people.

While there are no travel restrictions at this time, it’s important for travelers to practice a high level of hygiene that includes frequent hand washing, not touching their mouth and face and practice good cough etiquette like covering the mouth. That’s actually good advice for travel to any region. It’s also a good time for organizations to dust off their pandemic plans and be sure they are prepared for any scenario. Some companies are already doing this, as the SARS outbreak of more than a decade ago remains fresh in their minds.

During a complimentary webinar on Wednesday, May 27, we’ll take a look at the medical and security challenges and issues that go hand in hand with natural disasters. These events always have medical and security components and we’ll discuss ways to mitigate both. I’ll be joined by Aditya Luthra, Regional Information Analyst, Asia-Pacific, International SOS and Control Risks and moderator Peter Piazza, Vice President, Strategic Operations, for ASIS International. Register here.

For organizations with a global footprint, it’s inevitable that their international travelers, expatriates (and dependents) and others will face such risks in the aftermath. Devastated transport infrastructure can heavily restrict movement; compromised telecommunications limit the ability to confirm the whereabouts and safety of staff; essential services such as healthcare are often unavailable or over-burdened; and a breakdown in law and order that results in increased protest activity as well as crime pose a both a direct and indirect risk to staff in a disaster zone.

While some companies quickly arrange to get their people out after the disaster hits, others – such as NGOs and media companies– find it necessary to operate in the worst impacted areas.

While no two natural disasters are the same and the risks to your people will vary depending upon the location, circumstances and the type of work they are doing, some key issues and lessons learned can be shared. I hope you will join us.

So what can female travelers do to prepare and protect themselves when traveling or living abroad so they stay healthy, safe and secure? How can their organizations support them to oversee their overall well-being? It’s an important topic that we’ll explore during a complimentary webinar on May 21. Register here. I’ll be joined by Laurie Romani, Operations Coordinating Nurse at International SOS and Erika Weisbrod, Manager, Global Information Center, US, International SOS and Control Risks. I hope you can join us for this important webinar.

Using personal anecdotes from their own travels, the panel will explain five “golden rules” for women who travel internationally or live abroad. The presenters will also explore how organizations can take a proactive role in preparing women for their assignments or work abroad. I hope you can join us.