Health & Safety

Safety Orientation

We begin sharing safety information with students prior to their departure, as soon as they are accepted to the program. Students will receive even more information through their online orientation following the final forms and payment deadline for their specific program. ISA's on-line pre-departure orientation covers a variety of valuable information and provides recommended safety precautions, links to a number of health and safety resources, and important ISA information for emergency situations.

Prior to their departure from the U.S., students are provided with the names and photographs of the ISA on-site staff or drivers who will be meeting students at the airport (if applicable). Students are given detailed information regarding their airport pick-up and transportation (if applicable) and are advised to only accept rides from the specified individuals. Upon the students' arrival to the program site, the on-site ISA resident staff facilitates an orientation meeting to provide useful information on acclimation to the host culture as well as emergency situation procedures. The staff provides all students with instructions regarding the protocol to follow in the event of a political crisis, terrorist event, natural disaster, or other emergency. Each program participant is provided with a Contact Card upon arrival in-country that contains the names and cell phone numbers of all on-site ISA staff members, the appropriate U.S. embassy phone number and address, the recommended local medical facilities, and the local equivalent to the U.S. emergency "911" number. Students are strongly encouraged to carry the contact card with them at all times while on the program. During orientation, students also receive names, addresses, and phone numbers of medical facilities at the program site. Medical facilities are recommended based on the quality of their services, proximity to the areas in which students live and/or to the university or classroom facility, and their experience providing services to American students.