safety plan for domestic placements
Name: ______
Project: ______
TargetCity: ______
Exact Work Location: ______
Work Contact Numbers: ______
Exact Residence Location: ______
Residence Contact Numbers: ______
Dates of Travel: ______
Each checklist item listed below should be documented in your plan & presentation. Use this template & write a paragraph or two on each task that describes your findings and/or actions. The numbered items are the tasks, the subset lines are the suggested sources.
Check Your Mindset:
The first step to personal safety is to remind yourself of what you want to accomplish by this trip, personally & academically. Write them down and ask yourself “What are the Rewards Versus the Risks?” Then, commit yourself to minimizing the risks.
- Do you have a serious mature attitude towards this trip? How so?
Mature, realistic self-reflection
- Is this Project important to you? Why?
Mature, realistic self-reflection
- Why is this particular location important to your Project?
Mature, realistic self-reflection & analysis with MCF Advisor
- Are you truly aware of all the risks of this trip?
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Realistic self-reflection & speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Have you verified the legitimacy of the NGO or Organization in target city?
Check and enterNGOfor open source information
CheckChamber of Commerce in target city
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked with this NGO/Project
Check for info on NGOs
- Can this project be done at another location with less risk?
Mature, realistic self-reflection & analysis with MCF Advisor
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked on similar projects in other cities
Check Your Body:
Most diseases you may encounter during you trip can be avoided or minimized with up-to-date immunizations. In addition, routine medical procedures such as dental are much more simple & safe when performed in your home state with your personal physicians versus while travelling.
- Research CDC suggested immunizations
Check for latest list
- Acquire all immunizations, boosters, and updated Tetanus
Check for availability list
Contact Personal Physician orCommunityHealthCenter
- Get complete dental exam & all fillings, crowns, or extractions
Contact Personal Dentist
- Get complete physical exam, blood work-up, & eye exam
Contact Personal PhysicianorCommunityHealthCenter
Monitor oldinjurieswhich can re-flare during your trip
`Keep prescription medication in original container
Acquire & bring extra contacts, eye-glasses, or medications
Have instructions for treating any allergies or unique medical conditions
Check Your Travel Itinerary:
Right up to the minute you leave, the traveller should verify each stage of his or her travel plans.
- Verify your flight & train reservations
Check withCommercial Carriers
Make duplicates of all tickets—leave one MCF---put other in “Go Bag”
- Verify and question your transportation from the airport/train station
Checkfor specifics of target country—click Dangerpedia
Check for specifics of target city
Check for info
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your local escort & sponsor then verify contact info, & location
Check and entersponsorfor open source information
Check Chamber of Commerce in target city
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target country
- Research your local accommodations then verify contact info, & location
Check for info
Check website of specific accommodations
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research public transportation & identify “best options, contact info/location
Check for info
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
Check Your Documentation:
As early in the planning process as possible, the traveller should verify the accuracy & presence of all required official documents for the entire trip.
- Verify & acquire valid State Driver’s License from your home State
Contact Department of Motor Vehicles in home State
- If you don’t need Driver’s License, acquire State Issued Photo ID from local DMV
Contact
- Acquire any specific ID required for the target project or organization
Contact project entity in target city
- Acquire & bring copies of specific correspondence with target organization
Contact project entity in target country
Create paper trail of who, what, where, & when on their letterhead
- Acquire documentation of Medical & Immunization Record and keep with you
Check for availability list
Contact Personal Physician orCommunityHealthCenter
Check Your TargetCity:
As early in the planning process as possible, the traveller should begin to research & repeatedly monitor the political, social, environmental, regional conditions of the target city. As this information is gathered, the Safety Plan must evolve to take this new information into consideration.
- Research your target city’s political stability and recent history
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s social/ethnic composition & conflicts
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s geography & neighboring states borders
Check and type in target country
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s weather patterns and recent history
Check and type in target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s laws regarding alcohol, drugs, behavior
Check and enterTargetCity & Statefor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s infrastructure & development
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s road conditions & public transportation
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Check for info
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Research your target city’s street crime history & victim profiles
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
Check Your Money:
As early in the planning process as possible, the traveller should verify where & how to acquire money/local currency before the trip & within the target country.
- Verify the target city’s for branches of your bank
Check for info
Check and enterTargetCityfor open source information
- Verify the location of Western Unionwire transfer sites within the target city
Check for info
Check and enteryour bankTargetCityfor locations
- Verify the type of travellers checks accepted location in the target country
Check for info
Check and enteryour bankTargetCityfor locations
- Verify the location of ATMs for your debit/credit cards in the target country
Check for info
Check and enteryour bankTargetCityfor locations
Check Your Safety Net:
As early in the planning process as possible, the traveller should put into place “safety nets” for all potential crisis/emergency situations.
- Make 2 copies of critical documents--leave 1 at MCF & hide the otherin gear
Drivers License, Stae Issued ID, Visa, Airline Ticket, Immunization Record, etc
- Acquire travellers checks--hide in various places in gear & person
Use your personal bank to acquire these if applicable to target country
- Acquire two prepaidcalling cards—1 in “Go Bag” and keep other on you
Acquire at major retailor
- Acquire, if possible, prepaid cellphone capable of local calls
Acquire at major retailor
- Construct “Go Bag” --money, contact info, first aid, ID, map, clothing, signal
Acquire “Joggers Bag” at Sports Store or a Small “Day Pack” for this purpose
- Purchase Wind-up Short Wave Radio
Check we suggest Sony® ICF-SW7600GR
Check for stations
- IdentifyEmergency Medical Facilities near your location in target city
Check for specifics of target country
- Build or Purchase an Emergency Medical Kit
Check for info
- Plan “Alternate Project/Site” in case the original one proves to be unsafe/false
Realistic self-reflection & speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
- Use the “Buddy System”—travel & work with team mate whenever possible
Check with MCF Coordinatorother MCF Scholars who will work in target city
- Learn location/contact info of all other MCF Scholars in target country
Check with MCF Coordinatorother MCF Scholars who will work in target city
- Learn location/contact info of other U.S. student programs in target city
Check and enterNGOfor open source information
Check and enterColleges/Universities in target city
Check Chamber of Commerce in target city
Speak to other MCF Scholars who worked with this NGO/Project
Check for info on NGOs
- Seek-out Personal Safety Program & any security awareness information
Check for specifics of target city
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Check and enter target city & crimefor links
Realistic self-reflection & speak to other MCF Scholars who worked in target city
Fully participate in MCF Personal Safety Program
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