Guidelines to Ensure a Safe Experience:

If your passport is scheduled to expire in less than 6 months, renew it immediately. You can do so at the U.S. Post Office located in the LSU Union.
Find out the entry requirements for the country or countries you will be visiting. This information is available at travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html.
Notify the Program Director or Host University Exchange Coordinator if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
For summer programs, if you plan to travel on your own, notify your Program Director of your travel plans and keep in regular contact.

Make two copies of the following items, one for yourself and one for a family member in the U.S.:

your passport
your itinerary with phone numbers
credit card information and company phone number
traveler’s checks information and company phone number
Purchase a pre-paid phone card that allows for easily dialing from your study abroad destination.
While traveling, make sure you have the address of your host university, hotel, nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and the phone number of your Program Director with you at all times. Make sure you are in constant contact with your Program Director or a pre-determined family member. You can obtain the Embassy phone number online at travel.state.gov/links.html.

Registration with the State Department allows you to record information about your trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency. It is important that you and your students register so that the state department can assist you in case of accident or illness; and messages can be received from family and friends in an emergency. In the case of a natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate is your source of assistance and information.
To register go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Click on Register my Trip. Then click on new short-term traveler. You will need your itinerary and your passport number.
For summer programs students should provide Program Directors with copies of their passports so they can be registered at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Check the CDC web site. The home page of the US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with up-to-date information on health hazards around the world. Includes health topics A-Z, a section on travelers' health, and news articles. Visit www.cdc.gov/travel for information.
Purchase health insurance that is valid outside the United States and sufficient to cover medical expenses, including evacuation to the U.S. LSU has insurance for purchase through Macori that meets these requirements.
Supplemental insurance is offered through the ISIC card, which also gives you major discounts on travel, accommodations and entrance fees while abroad. Your ISIC is invaluable for identification and can be purchased at STA travel in the union.
MedicinePlanet. Everything you need to know about your health while traveling from immunizations before you leave to preventative tips while you're on the road. Includes specific information for women, children, seniors, adventure travelers.
Students with allergies or other health problems should notify their program director and provide any special information (persons to notify, emergency procedures, etc.) before departure.

If you are traveling off the beaten track, it is very important that you leave plenty of time to get any vaccinations you might require before you leave home. For most countries in Europe you will not require any immunizations; however you do need to take precautions for many other countries around the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and South America as well as parts of the Pacific.
Some vaccinations require an initial booster shot and if you need several vaccinations you may have to receive them over a few weeks, as they cannot all be given at once. Consult your doctor at least six weeks prior to your departure.
Record all the vaccinations you have received on an International Health Certificate, available from your doctor or government health department.
Vaccinations that may be required include:
Cholera - Despite its poor protection, in some situations it may be wise to have the cholera vaccine. Very occasionally travelers are asked by immigration officials to present a certificate, even though all countries and the WHO have dropped a cholera immunization as a health requirement. You might be able to get a certificate without having the injection from a doctor or health centre sympathetic to the vagaries of travel in Africa.
Hepatitis A - The most common travel-acquired illness after diarrhea which can put you out of action for weeks. Havrix is a vaccination which provides long term immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial injection and a booster at six to 12 months. Gamma globulin is not a vaccination but is ready-made antibody collected from blood donations. It should be given close to departure because, depending on the dose, it only protects for two to six months.
Hepatitis B - This disease is spread by blood or by sexual activity. Travelers who should consider a hepatitis B vaccination include those visiting countries where there are known to be many carriers, where blood transfusions may not be adequately screened or where sexual contact is a possibility. It involves three injections, the quickest course being over three weeks with a booster at 12 months.
Japanese B Encephalitis - This mosquito-borne disease is not of great risk to travelers. It occurs in Asia. Consider the vaccination if spending a month or longer in a high-risk area, making repeated trips to a risk area or visiting during an epidemic. It involves three injections over 30 days. The vaccine is expensive and has been associated with serious allergic reactions so the decision to have it should be balanced against the risk of contracting the illness.
Meningococcal Meningitis - Healthy people carry this disease; it is transmitted like a cold and you can die from it within a few hours. There are many carriers and vaccination is recommended for travelers to certain parts of Asia, India, Africa and South America. It is also required of all Haj pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia. A single injection will give good protection for three years. The vaccine is not recommended for children under two years because they do not develop satisfactory immunity from it.
Polio - Polio is a serious, easily transmitted disease, still prevalent in many developing countries. Everyone should keep up to date with this vaccination. A booster every 10 years maintains immunity.
Rabies - Vaccination should be considered by those who will spend a month or longer in a country where rabies is common, especially if they are cycling, handling animals, caving, traveling to remote areas, or for children (who may not report a bite). Pretravel rabies vaccination involves having three injections over 21 to 28 days. If someone who has been vaccinated is bitten or scratched by an animal they will require two booster injections of vaccine, those not vaccinated require more.
Tetanus & Diphtheria - Tetanus can be a fatal wound infection and diphtheria can be a fatal throat infection. Every one should have these vaccinations. After an initial course of three injections, boosters are necessary every 10 years.
Tuberculosis - TB risk to travelers is usually very low. For those who will be living with or closely associated with local people in high-risk areas such as Asia, Africa and some parts of the Americas and Pacific, there may be some risk. As most healthy adults do not develop symptoms, a skin test before and after travel to determine whether exposure has occurred may be considered. A vaccination is recommended for children living in these areas for three months or more.
Typhoid - This is an important vaccination to have where hygiene is a problem. Available either as an injection or oral capsules.
Yellow Fever - Yellow fever is now the only vaccine which is a legal requirement for entry into many countries, usually only enforced when coming from an infected area. Protection lasts 10 years and is recommended where the disease is endemic, e.g. Africa and South America. You usually have to go to a special yellow fever vaccination centre. Vaccination poses some risk during pregnancy but if you must travel to a high-risk area it is advisable; note that people allergic to eggs may not be able to have this vaccine. Discuss this with your doctor.
Malaria Medication- Antimalarial drugs do not prevent you from being infected but kill the malaria parasites during a stage in their development and significantly reduce the risk of becoming very ill or dying. Expert advice on medication should be sought, as there are many factors to consider including the area to be visited, the risk of exposure to malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the side effects of medication, your medical history and whether you are a child or adult or pregnant. Travelers to isolated area in high-risk countries may like to carry a treatment dose of medication for use if symptoms occur.

Information verified by Traveller's Medical & Vaccination Centres, Australia

Read the Consular Information Sheet on the country (ies) where you will be studying. These are updated regularly and can be accessed by visiting www.state.gov/travel.
It is imperative that you abide by the laws and regulations of your host country. You are not protected by U.S. laws while abroad! For more information, refer to the U.S. Department of State web site: www.travel.state.gov/spring_break.html.
Avoid large crowds, protests, American hangouts, and tourist markets.
Try to blend in. Be aware of your dress and appearance.
When venturing out, limit the size of your group to two or three persons, and move about cautiously and with a sense of purpose.
Where possible, communicate with each other in the native language and not in English.

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