The best magazine
When you are traveling, whether on vacation or on a missions trip, there are some things you can do to keep yourself safe. So while you are on Spring Break in Cancun or visiting Washington, D.C. with your class, you should do what you can to have a safe trip. Safety may not seem extremely exciting, but traveling safely will allow you to have a more exciting trip. Here are some safety tips to keep you safe on your trip:
In Transit:
- Wear your seatbelt. Whether you are traveling by car, van, or airplane, sudden movements, turbulence, or loss of cabin pressure can cause injury. A seatbelt will protect you from injury.
- Listen to Safety Procedures. They may seem boring, but if an accident does happen, you'll want to know where to exit the plane or vehicle.
- Suspicious Behavior. If you see any suspicious behavior, be sure to report it to an authority figure.
- Don't Post Online: Be careful what you're posting online. Burglars watch for that stuff. Also, predators will know where to find you. Be careful how you're posting and remember your internet safety tips.
Where You're Staying:
- Lock Your Door. If you are staying at a hotel, be sure to keep your door locked and chained. Most hotel doors have peepholes, so be sure to keep your door chained if you do not recognize the person knocking. Do not open your door for any unauthorized deliveries, and contact your chaperone, youth leader or the front desk for assistance.
- In Case of Emergency Plans. On the back of every hotel door are instructions for what to do in case of fire or other emergencies. You don't have to memorize the instructions, but do read them over so you know where to go.
- Emergency Numbers. Know the phone number to the front desk and your chaperone's room. Be sure you also know how to use the hotel phones. Sometimes you have to dial a number to reach an outside line.
- When Not to Go In Your Room. If your room door is open or unlocked, don't go in your room. Also, if someone is following you down the hall, don't go in your room. Let the person pass you before you go in.
- Valuables. Many hotel rooms come with a safe in the room, so be sure to use it to lock up valuable items and your passport.
While Touring:
- Stay Together. Try to travel in your group and avoid going off along - especially at night. Also, do not accept rides from strangers.
- Emergency Numbers. Keep the names, addresses, and numbers for your hotel, leader, and tour company on you all the time. You never know when you will get lost or need to tell a cab driver where to go.
- Money Exchange. While it may seem convenient to let "that guy" exchange your money, there is no guarantee that he will not steal it or cause you to break the law. Only use authorized agents when you are exchanging currency.
- Know the Law. Laws vary in other countries. Sometimes laws even vary in other states or provinces. Be sure to know some of the big differences before you head out on your trip. For instance, it is unlawful in some countries to take pictures of law enforcement and government buildings. In other countries your public prayer may be considered a public disturbance.
- Watch Your Luggage. Keep an eye on your luggage at all times so that no one else has access to your items.
- Be Respectful of Cultural and Religious Differences. Even if you are on a mission trip, where you may be evangelizing, you should still be respectful of cultural and religious differences. In some cases, your Christian faith may even mean you cannot enter certain buildings. Sometimes it is considered to be disrespectful to take pictures of people or religious artifacts, so ask first.
- Watch What You Eat. Every country has different laws regarding food service. Some countries have poor water quality or serve unpasteurized food products. In other countries, they eat foods that your body may not be used to ingesting. It may not be a good idea to eat anything that has not been commercially prepared while in certain areas of the world.
Source: ...