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6 - Travel Safety
- from PART I - EXPEDITION PLANNING
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- By Michael J. Vanrooyen, MD, MPH, FACEP, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health
- Gregory H. Bledsoe, Michael J. Manyak, David A. Townes, University of Washington
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- Book:
- Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
- Published online:
- 05 March 2013
- Print publication:
- 03 November 2008, pp 76-82
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- Chapter
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Summary
Many travelers are seeking exotic, remote, and potentially dangerous venues. These may include extremes of altitude, temperature, isolation, and potential political instability.
Most expeditions are planned by professionals with experience in handling local climates, cultures, and conditions. Whether you are traveling with a scientific expedition or a remote tourist adventure, most serious expeditions take planning down to the last detail. Despite preparations, many expeditions are subject to severe conditions and both natural and man-made calamities. It is essential, therefore, that regardless of the degree of leadership or external preparation, the adventure traveler must take ownership of his or her own safety.
The objectives of this chapter are to provide practical insights pertaining to travel safety as it relates to man-made hazards, such as transportation safety, theft, assault, and imprisonment, with a particular emphasis on avoiding problems while traveling. The chapter is intended to provide useful suggestions that may, to some, seem very basic and obvious but that, for many reasons, are important to ensure safe and unobstructed travel, especially to remote or unfamiliar destinations. For additional information about conflict areas or regions of political instability, see Chapter 14.
NEW TRENDS IN TRAVEL: GROWTH IN THE NONTRADITIONAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY
The rapidly expanding market of adventure and remote travel, as well as the massive international tourist industry, has increased travelers' exposure to all sorts of travel-related hazards, both natural and man-made. Travelers now have access to a greater number of adventure tours, remote explorations, and exotic cultures.
14 - Hostile Geopolitical Environments
- from PART II - EXPEDITIONS IN UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS
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- By Michael J. VanRooyen, MD, MPH, FACEP, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health
- Gregory H. Bledsoe, Michael J. Manyak, David A. Townes, University of Washington
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- Book:
- Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
- Published online:
- 05 March 2013
- Print publication:
- 03 November 2008, pp 174-183
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
Traveling and working in conflict areas or regions with significant political volatility requires a far more detailed understanding of the unique attributes of conflict areas. Civilians should only consider the prospect of traveling or working in an active war zone under well-defined circumstances, such as with a reputable relief organization or another organization that has significant logistical and security capability. This chapter focuses on two major themes: the complexities of traveling in hostile geopolitical environments and the unique features of providing medical services to populations affected by war.
Most physicians and medical personnel practice in relatively safe and stable environments, although some health care providers have chosen to work in conflict settings that have some degree of political instability and personal danger. To an inexperienced health worker, remote climates may seem inherently dangerous, but the opposite is often the case. Practicing in a rural setting in Somalia, for example, may be remote and relatively austere, but is likely to be safe and secure, while working in inner city Nairobi, Kenya, may be much more dangerous.
Judging whether a certain geographical region is dangerous requires significant knowledge of the unique political, economic, social, and cultural context. It's important to realize the relative risk of travel itself and the likely causes of mortality in travelers. The greatest killer of travelers is cardiovascular disease and accidental injuries, most commonly motor vehicle accidents.