STUDENT GUIDELINES | PRIOR TO DEPARTURE | WHILE ABROAD 

You can have a major impact on your own health and safety abroad through the decisions you make before and during the program and by your day-to-day choices and behaviors. Please review the information below.

STUDENT GUIDELINES

• Read and carefully consider materials from SOS, the CDC, the Department of State, your health insurance company, and your doctor about issues or recommendations that relate to health, safety, legal, environmental, political, cultural and religious conditions abroad.
• Consider your personal health needs when accepting a place in a program. Medical care abroad is very different than it is in the U.S. and TCU cannot provide or arrange equivalent care abroad. You should be sure that you are either in good health or very comfortable handling your health concerns in a very different situation.
• Make available to TCU, the program coordinator, and your homestay, accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.
• Assume responsibility for your own personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.
• Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance policies and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.
• Inform parents, guardians and any others who may need to know about your participation in the study abroad program; provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed on an ongoing basis.
• Understand and comply with the terms of participation and codes of conduct of the program, and obey host-country laws.
• Be aware of local conditions when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health and safety concerns to the program coordinator or other appropriate individuals.
• Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well being of others.
• Accept the consequences of your own decisions and actions.
• Consider drafting a Power of Attorney document with a lawyer to enable a relative or friend to sign forms (such as TCU documents) in your name while abroad.
• Review TSA regulations for carry-on luggage; if possible, place necessary medications in your carry-on luggage. If you cannot carry your medication in your carry-on, carry a refill prescription in your carry-on.

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE

INTERNATIONAL SOS

TCU contracts with International SOS (SOS), a company that provides worldwide travel, medical and security advice and services for all TCU faculty, staff, and students traveling abroad under the auspices of TCU.  The services provided by SOS range from telephone advice and referrals to full-scale evacuation by private air ambulance.  Detailed information about the services is on the TCU SOS website (log on to http://my.tcu.edu and look for International SOS under Helpful Links).

Before and during your time abroad, you can review up-to-date reports on safety and security, health issues, medical care and vaccination requirements on the TCU SOS website.  You are also welcome to call SOS at any time prior to or while abroad for advice and information.

To ensure quality assistance, please be sure to do the following prior to departure:

• Contact Tracy Rundstrom Williams, 817-257-7473, for a membership card.  Carry this card, which contains the TCU group membership number and the Alarm Center phone numbers, at all times while abroad.
• Complete the Emergency Record on the SOS website. 
• Confirm that your personal health insurance covers you while abroad. 

PREVENTATIVE CARE

Read and carefully consider materials from the CDC, the Department of State, your health insurance company, and your doctor about issues or recommendations that relate to health, safety, legal, environmental, political, cultural and religious conditions abroad.

VACCINATIONS

Review the SOS website for information on recommended and required vaccinations. 

MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE

Check your own policy to see what coverage it provides for medical services abroad.  In particular, check to see if your plan pays the provider in your host country directly or if you must pay yourself and seek reimbursement later. 

If your insurance does not cover you while abroad, or the coverage is not sufficient for your concerns, consider the following short-term international health insurance plans*:

• HTH Worldwide: http://www.hthstudents.com/  
• CMI Insurance Specialist: http://www.studyabroadinsurance.com/
• Cultural Insurance Services International:http://www.culturalinsurance.com/
• T.W. Lord & Associates (800) 633-2360
• BETINS: http://www.betins.com/

*Listing these companies does not signify that TCU Center for International Studies endorses them.

PRESCRIPTIONS

If you are on prescription medication, have your doctor write out all prescriptions you will be taking, and carry these written prescriptions with you along with the medicines themselves.  Take enough medicine for the entire trip.  If you self-inject prescribed medication, you may need to carry needles and syringes with you (along with the doctor’s prescription).  If you wear glasses, you should carry your prescription with you.

Don’t underestimate the importance of keeping some basic medical supplies close at hand.  You may want to travel with a medical kit that includes the following items:

• Band-Aids
• Sunburn ointment
• Stomach / indigestion medication
• Pain reliever
• Sore throat lozenges
• Anti-bacterial ointment / gel
• Antacid
• Antihistamine/Decongestant (for common cold symptoms)
• Motion sickness remedy
• Tweezers
• Anti-bacterial soap

WHILE ABROAD

HEALTH CARE ABROAD

If you become ill, contact your program coordinator or faculty leader, or SOS for information and advice on doctors and / or pharmacies.  The U.S. embassy and consulate should have also lists of English-speaking doctors in your area.  In many countries, especially those with socialized health care systems, doctor’s visits are only for emergencies; for common ailments, pharmacists are very knowledgeable and can help you find a medication. 

If you are unable to reach your program coordinator or faculty leader, call the International SOS Alarm Center at 215-942-8226 (collect calls accepted).

Please share with the program coordinator or faculty leader any current or past conditions, including eating disorders, psychological disorders, learning disorders, or chronic illnesses.  Even if you have overcome these disorders, being in a new and challenging environment can often cause reoccurrences, and it is VERY important that the on-site staff know how to handle it.