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Health and Safety Information

Our first priority at Volunteer Positive is your safety, health, security and general well-being while abroad. In the interest of carrying out our first priority, we have developed an emergency response plan for volunteers and staff on Volunteer Positive programs. What constitutes an emergency? See the list at the end of this section for definition, types and examples. 

Bio Ven DiagramLife is filled with risks anywhere, but we try to minimize these risks while you are a participant on our programs. Although no one can guarantee safety anywhere, even  in our own home communities, international travel can be very safe, especially if one takes specific steps to prepare for it. Your objective should be to avoid risks, but if there is one, how to manage it.

In order to facilitate management of risks, the Volunteer Positive staff takes a number of measures to help ensure your safety while abroad, including daily monitoring of world-wide situations affecting citizens abroad using information from the US State Department.

In addition, we are in contact with our overseas partners and on-site personnel abroad, and welcome communication from them or you while you are abroad at any time. The following are some important steps you should take to maintain health and safety abroad.

Prior To Departure

  • Register on-line with the nearest US Embassy or consulate at your program site.
  • Read and submit all required program-related documents and forms, including a written update to Volunteer Positive on any changes to vital information on submitted materials.
  • Carefully read your Learning Content on your personal volunteer abroad webpage to review health, safety, and emergency information
  • Familiarize yourself with updated airport security measures (provided during your pre-departure orientation from Volunteer Positive) as well as the laws of the country where you will stay. 
  • Visit your general practitioner to get a physical prior to departure.
  • If you currently use or feel that you would benefit from counseling or disability services, consult with your clinician or disability advocate prior to volunteering abroad and speak with your  Volunteer Positive advisor about your accommodation needs overseas.

While on Program

  • Attend your on-site program orientation.
  • Carry your student emergency card with you at all times in your wallet.
  • Think proactively rather than re actively about your health and safety by making wise decisions that will minimize your exposure to harm. 
  • Be aware of U.S. and Foreign Travel Rules and Regulations
  • Pay attention to the program rules and information given by the on-site director of your program, who will let you know "the rules of the game" abroad, what to do and what not to do, where to go and not go.

Know How to Communicate

  • By email
  • By telephone (inside and outside the country)
  • In the event that you get sick, have an emergency, or any other unexpected circumstance which could befall you

Be a Responsible Volunteer

Know that what you do and how you respond to situations reflects not only on you, but also on  Volunteer Positive. You are truly an ambassador for both our organization and your country.

VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY PROTOCOL 


CONTACT YOUR IN-COUNTRY LIAISON BEFORE MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT OTHERS  Your in-country liaison is the best person to be able to respond immediately to the situation. This contact information should be written on your emergency card carried in your wallet at all times.

IF YOU CANNOT CONTACT YOUR IN-COUNTRY LIAISON, CALL THE VOLUNTEER POSITIVE EMERGENCY CELL PHONE. (This number will be given to volunteers at their mandatory pre-departure orientation training session.)

  • The Health and Safety Officer for Volunteer Positive will carry and answer this emergency phone at all times.
  • Contact the Volunteer Positive Emergency Cell Phone Number 24/7 by using the following set of numbers, some of which are country specific:
  • Participants in programs abroad should use this number only in the case of a potentially life-threatening REAL EMERGENCIES as described below (i.e., severe political unrest, terrorist threat, natural disaster, death, serious physical illness/injury, assault, missing participants, arrests, and incapacitated program faculty/resident director).
  • Only if necessary and as appropriate, a participant may use the Volunteer Positive Emergency Cell Phone Telephone Number for non-life-threatening PERCEIVED EMERGENCIES (i.e., lost/stolen passport, robbery, sickness, substance abuse, or judiciary infractions, as previously described).

Health, Safety and Security LINKS

Emergency Sign