Presentation Transcript

1. Welcome to Pre-Departure Orientation November 19, 2012, 5:30 pm 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Plenary 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Regional Breakout Session 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. Refreshments (Leacock lobby, 1st & 2nd floors) IMPORTANT! To confirm your attendance, complete and submit the PINK SHEET found in your information package. Turn it in at your break-out session. IF you will be traveling to the U.S., leave it with a staff member at the end of this presentation.
2. Speakers André Costopoulos Dean of StudentsMcGill University Sylvie Fafard Outreach and Partnership Programs Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) Carla Jensen International Education Admin. Office of International Education McGill University Pierre-Paul Tellier MD Director McGill Student Health Services Associate Professor Family Medicine McGill University
3. Managing your Success Abroad Carla Jensen Office of International Education McGill University
4. International Mobility Guidelines Finances Travel Insurance Cultural Awareness Emergency Preparedness Overview
5. PowerPoint from the plenary available until Friday, Nov. 23rd at: www.mcgill.ca/students/international/predepature
6. Participation in pre-departure orientation. Remember to complete and turn in the pink sign-in sheet Approval by your academic unit or research supervisor. Sufficient travel insurance Completion of a travel registry form. Once your activity has been approved, a travel registry form will be created on Minerva. McGill Travel Guidelines
7. Students going abroad are required to complete the online Travel Registry which can be accessed via Minerva.
8. Prior to departure: Verify your faculty’s requirements for approving transfer credit During your stay: If your academic situation changes while abroad, communicate these changes with your academic advisor at McGill. Academic Credit
9. The overall cost of living abroad may be higher than Montreal. Be sure to budget for emergencies (contingency fund) Finances Prepare a Budget Money & Banking Obtain some foreign currency before departure Take more than one source of money with you Make arrangements with your bank to use your ATM card abroad Advise your credit card company that you will be away Financial Aid Students with financial need can consult the Scholarships and Student Aid Office: http://www.mcgill.ca/studentaid/ Possible funding opportunities: Mobility awards, external awards , student aid.
10. Insurance Students are fully responsible to ensure that they are sufficiently insured during their stay abroad. Provincial or territorial health insurance plans for extended stays: To ensure continued coverage, students must contact their regional health insurance provider (e.g. Regie de l’assurancemaladie du Quebec) before they leave. General Information
11. Insurance Canadian Students: ASEQ (www.ihaveaplan.ca) Only for students who have not opted-out International Students: Extended health insurance for study away programs now available Students must complete an online registration form available on ISS website: www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/health/study-away-program For more information contact international.health@mcgill.ca All students: TravelCuts Bon Voyage Policy Options
12. Insurance Does your policy include: Emergency Health Coverage? Emergency Evacuation Coverage? Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation and Interruption? What is not included? Limitations and Restrictions Exclusions and Caveats Consequences of Travel Warnings and Advisories Travel Health Policy Coverage
13. Examples of restrictions: “Sickness, injury or medical condition you suffer in a specific country or area for which the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Canadian Government has issued a travel advisory or formal notice before your departure date.” “Your participation in and/or voluntary exposure to any risk from: war or act of war, whether declared or undeclared; invasion or act of foreign enemy; declared or undeclared hostilities; civil war, riot, rebellion; revolution or insurrection; act of military power; or any service in the armed forces.” Insurance Policy Restrictions and Travel Warnings
14. Be sure to ask whether your policy: Continues to provide benefits after a travel advisory has been issued. Includes an in-house, worldwide, 24-hour emergency hotline. Covers doctors’ visits and prescription medicines. Pays for hospitalization and related medical costs. Provides direct payment of bills and cash advances abroad. Covers emergency transportation, such as ambulance services. Provides for medical evacuation to Canada. Pays for a medical escort to accompany you during evacuation. Covers pre-existing medical conditions (get an agreement in writing). Covers emergency dental care. Excludes any countries or regions you intend to visit. Insurance Policy Coverage
15. Be Prepared… When you arrive, locate the nearest reputable clinic or hospital. Ensure that you are familiar with how your policy works. Carry details of your insurance policy and emergency hotline with you. Tell a friend or relative at home, and in your host country how to contact your insurer on your behalf. In case of an emergency… Get a detailed invoice for services obtained before you leave. Always submit original receipts for medical services or prescriptions received. Insurance While Abroad…
16. Culture shock is a common experience. Research your host country: History and current political situation living conditions and cultural norms. Know which languages are spoken. Center for Intercultural Learning Country Insights: provides information on countries’ characteristics and provides useful insights on cultural perspectives. www.intercultures.ca Cultural Awareness
17. During Your Stay Check-in: let a relative at home know when you have safely arrived. Emergency Contact: Leave a copy of your emergency contact information with your host institution. Updates: send regular updates to your emergency contact at home to let them know how you are doing. Email: Ensure that you check your McGill email regularly.
18. Emergency Planning In case of an emergency… Who would you contact first, second, and third? Where is the nearest hospital and police station? What steps do you need to take to ensure that costs will be covered by insurance? Will you have access to a cell phone? How much emergency money will you carry on you? If you had to leave the country, what would be the first, second, third things that you would do to accomplish this?
19. Keep the following documents in a safe place, separate from originals. Also leave a copy with a relative at home. Photocopy of your passport identification page. Photocopy of any visas or work permits you require. Phone number and policy number of your insurance provider. A copy of your “Emergency plan of action”. Emergency Contact information. Flight details/itinerary. Local embassy’s contact information McGill Campus Security 24/7 emergency number (514-398-3000) DFAIT 24/7 emergency number (Call collect: 613-996-8885) Emergency Planning: Safe Travel Tool Kit
20. Complete McGill’s Travel Registry on Minerva. Check the passport and visa requirements for your host country. Consult your insurance provider. Photocopy important documents (e.g. passport, itinerary). Contact a travel health clinic. Prepare a budget. Learn about your destination country. Put your credit cards, ATM cards in order. Register with the local embassy/consulate. Understand your responsibilities to McGill and your host institution. Prior to Departure:
21. Reminders At your Breakout Session, please turn in: Pink sign-in sheet Evaluation form (back of the agenda in your info package) ** Students travelling within Canada and the U.S., turn in these forms to event staff on your way out After the Break-out Session: Refreshments will be served on the 1st and 2nd floor of the Leacock Building between 7:30pm and 8:00pm
22. SupportingCanadians in a Complex World SafeTravel and Canadian Consular Services ForeignAffairs and International Trade Canada McGill University Montreal
23. In thisPresentation… Overview of Canadian Consular Services Whowe are Whatwecan and cannot do Trip planning Prepare for the unexpected : tools and products Advice for safe international travel Questions?
24. What is the Role of Canadian Consular Services? Prevention Help Canadians prepare for foreign travel Provide up-to-date pre-departure information and advice Assistance Provide services and assistance to Canadians travelling abroad Coordinate the Government of Canada’s response to international emergencies
25. Background Canadians Abroad 59 million trips (2011) 2.8 million Canadians live outside Canada 226,000+ consular cases opened last year 2,000 Canadians currently imprisoned abroad, most in USA for drug-related offences. On an average day in 2011 Consular staff, worldwide: distributed 10,000 publications opened five arrest and detention cases and three cases of a Canadian’s death. The Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa responds, on average, to 300 phone calls a day.
26. Crisis Consular StatisticsCivil Unrest Egypt Received 18,500 calls. Facilitated the evacuation of 520 Canadians. Libya Received 2,800 calls and managed over 6,300 outgoing calls and emails. Facilitated the evacuation of 348 Canadians. Syria (voluntary evacuation) Placed more than 3,400 calls. Embassy received more than 470 requests for expedited services. Statistics from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
27. At Home and Abroad 260 missions in over 150 countries Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa: 24/7 613-996-8885 or e-mailsos@international.gc.ca Collect calls accepted
28. Consular Services for Canadians We CAN : replace lost, stolen, damaged or expired passports provide support in medical emergency: offer list of local doctors and hospitals arrange, but not finance, a necessary medical evacuation present list of local lawyers and sources of information about local laws seek to ensure that Canadians are treated fairly under a country’s laws assist with the repatriation of remains transfer funds
29. However… Consular Officers CANNOT : represent Canadians in legal matters or get Canadians out of prison post bail, pay fines or legal fees take possession of an abducted child investigate a crime or death seek preferential treatment for Canadians pay for hotel, medical, travel, or other expenses.
30. The “3Rs”of International Travel Read up at Travel.gc.ca and consult our Travel Reports Register with our Registration of Canadians Abroad Service Reach us in case you need emergency assistance 24/7
31. Read Up: Before You Travel Read Travel Report for destination country at Travel.gc.ca Canadians should know: responsible for their own well-being while abroad subject to local laws of the country they visit. Canadians should be prepared: proper documentation: passport and required visas travel health insurance financial resources to return home.
32. Read Up: Travel Reports Country Travel Reports Security (warnings, local conditions) Entry requirements (passport, visas) Health Laws and customs Canadian offices contact information
33. Read Up: Publications FREE safe-travel publications Order or download them at Travel.gc.ca/publication International Parental Child Abductions: November 2012
34. Register: Registration for CanadiansAbroad Free and confidential service Who should register? All Canadians travelling or living abroad Why register? AllowsConsular to contact and assist Canadians in emergency abroad, or inform about family emergency at home. Travel.gc.ca/register
35. Contact Us General information 1-800-267-6788 (Canada and U.S.) or 613-944-6788 travel@international.gc.ca Emergencies 613-996-8885 (Call collect from abroad where service is available) sos@international.gc.ca
36. Pierre-Paul Tellier MD Director, McGill Student Health Services Associate Professor, Family Medicine McGill University Personal Health Abroad
37. Getting Ready Getting a physical and filling a form Often required Not paid by any provincial Medicare program or Blue Cross for international students May include laboratory tests Cost for physical Cost for tests Cost for filling form Deal at Student Health Get an appointment early Not a priority for anyone except you! Doctors hate forms!
38. Getting Ready Vaccines Depends on country/ies to be visited Know exactly where you are going Some may have to be given a month or so before departure so plan accordingly Same rule applies as for forms Only a priority for you All vaccines at Student Health except Japanese encephalitis Rabies At cost Need nursing appointments SSMU plan ($300.00/year)
39. Getting Ready Medications Traveler's diarrhea Vaccine exists Bismuth subsalicylate - Pepto-bismol (only if not allergic to aspirin) Imodium Antibiotics just in case 1% hydrocortisone cream for rash Antihistamine Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprophen Antibiotic ointment Malaria pills Altitude sickness medication
40. Getting Ready If you take medication Make sure you have enough Carry all medication in original bottles with original label from pharmacy If syringes are needed make sure you have enough for entire trip – have certificate from doctor Some OTC meds legal in Canada may not be in other countries Contact embassy of country where you are travelling to make sure meds you are carrying are legal where you are going
41. Medical Kit Previously mentioned medications Sterile dressing Insect repellant – DEET > 30% Insecticide spray for clothes, camping gear and mosquito nets – Permethrin Sunscreen > Spf 15 – water resistant Thermometer Disposable gloves Syringes and needles Mosquito nets Portable water filter
42. Drugs A no-no Unless you want a jail cell to be your residence abroad Be careful of your luggage Pack your own Don’t bring anything for anyone else
43. GLBTQ Not everyone is open minded Check the local regulations Is it legal where you are going? Amnesty International web site good source of information
44. On the plane or driving for long distances Deep Vein Thrombophlebitis Not common in young people but can happen Drink plenty of fluid Don’t sit for long periods Walk around Avoid alcohol, caffeine May manifest up to 2 weeks after a flight Seek medical advice Pain and swelling of legs Sudden chest pain Sudden shortness of breath Same applies for hemorrhoids – not as serious but sure a pain in the but!
45. Eating While There Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it! Best rules Avoid salads or raw vegetables Drink bottle water, filtered water, or treated water Boil water Clean filters with small pores Chlorination may not be enough Iodine-containing water purification tablets Ice cubes are not in bottles Hot recently cooked food Wash hands before eating! Your mother told you to do this!
46. Diarrhea Rehydration Various solution but not simple water unless you eat something salty with it Take the pepto-bismol, imodium or loperamide that you brought Take your antibiotics If Last more than a week Bloody Fever Seek medical attention
47. Heat Stroke Wear loose fitting clothing, light color Avoid prolong exposure to direct sun light Certain medications may be a problem Check before you leave Alcohol is one of those Drink fluids regularly Heat stroke faintness, nausea, vomiting, increased body temperature, headache, gooseflesh, chills, overbreathing, muscle cramps, unsteady gait If you have these get medical help
48. Altitude Sickness Can’t predict who will get it Above 8,000 feet a concern Climb slowly and acclimatize May take 3 – 5 days start at 6,000 – 8,000 feet Take acetazolamide (diamox) No alcohol Symptoms: headache, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, and more
49. Malaria Protection Mosquito repellent Early evening worse Mosquito nets while sleeping Take your pills!
50. Sex Don’t have it STIs Pregnancy At the very least use a condom!
51. Mental Health Culture shock Don’t underestimate it If you are not coping talk to someone you trust ET call home!
52. Coming Back Don’t bring back anything you shouldn’t Drugs Endangered species Diseases
53. Seeing a doctor when you come back Diarrhea, stomach cramps STI check – if had sex If have unusual episodes of fever Unusual rashes Any thing else that is weird and that you are worried about
54. Resources http://www.voyage.gc.ca http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ http://www.amnesty.org
55. Please proceed to your Regional Break-Out Session…