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Travel Tips

The following commonsense travel tips will assist travellers to experience safe and secure travel, particularly whilst overseas.

Planning Your Trip

  • Please refer to Monash OHS & E's Guidelines for Occupational Health and Safety during International Activities
  • Obtain any visas that may be necessary in the countries you intend to visit.

Before Leaving Home

  • Make copies of your key documents, (passport, visas, tickets, traveller's cheques details etc) and keep the copies in a separate place to the originals whilst travelling.
  • Check the latest DFAT (Smart traveller) advice before you commence your trip. Where the available travel information reveals high risk or concern, contact the University Security Advisor for more specific advice.
  • Do not carry 'sharps' of any description on your person, or pack them in cabin baggage as they will be detected by the security scanners and confiscated by Airport Security Staff.
  • Do not pack hazardous items in your baggage - your ticket will explain hazardous items.
  • Do not take irreplaceable 'family heirloom' items overseas. Eg jewellery etc. unless absolutely necessary and apart from taking all precautions to ensure its safety, check that its value fits within the policy limits.
  • Do not store valuables, eg ( cash, jewellery ) in your luggage. Consider leaving non-essential credit cards at home.
  • Make sure your luggage is securely locked. Placing a strap around each bag can also be an excellent deterrent against pilfering. A uniquely coloured strap also makes it easier to identify your bags particularly as black bags are the predominant colour on the luggage carousel.

At the Airport

  • Never carry or agree to look after luggage or parcels belonging to someone else.
  • Never leave your luggage or personal effects unattended.
  • Do not tag your luggage with a business card or identify your position or employer on such articles. This can make them more attractive to a potential thief or they may attempt to extort money for their safe return. Just name and basic contact details.
  • If possible ensure you maintain visual contact with your personal items / laptop / mobile phone etc when they are going through the security scanning devices.
  • Hail buses, cars and taxis only at authorized pick up points and avoid anyone offering you supposedly cheaper transport.

Travel by Taxi

  • Always remove your luggage and personal items from a taxi before settling the< account. It is common in some countries for drivers to drive off with your property.
  • Be mindful of protecting your personal and business information when conversing with taxi drivers. Such information could make you a potential victim.

Travel by Car

  • Do Not drive if you are tired after lengthy air travel without having had adequate sleep.
  • Use only reputable car rental companies and take out the maximum liability insurance available.
  • Rent a model of car whose controls you are familiar with or if this is not possible ask the Rental Company to explain the controls to you.
  • Check the vehicle carefully for any existing damage / faults and ensure they are marked on the documentation before you accept the vehicle.
  • Get specific directions to your final destination before you leave the airport and use a map to plan your route.
  • If you become lost, go to the nearest public place to read your map or ask directions.
  • When stationary in traffic, try to leave sufficient manoeuvering distance between your vehicle and others to enable you to move off in case of an emergency.
  • When parking in a parking lot, always take your parking ticket with you. Leaving it in your car allows a thief to exit the parking lot with your car
  • Do Not leave your car engine running unattended
  • Activate your car's anti-theft system
  • Keep doors locked and windows up while driving. When parked, remember to do the same and take the keys with you.
  • Avoid leaving an extra set of keys in a 'secret' hiding place. It is difficult to fool a car thief
  • Never leave packages or valuables visible in a parked car
  • Never leave laptop computers or valuable luggage in the boot ( as thieves often break into vehicles with a rental 'logo'
  • While driving, if you are bumped from behind or flashed by headlights, or see someone who indicates they need help, do not stop. Drive to the nearest well lit public area and dial the police on the local emergency number
  • Never pick up hitchhikers
  • Sound the car horn if someone suspicious approaches your vehicle whilst stopped at a
    traffic light or sign
  • Park in well lit areas and check the interior of the vehicle and surrounding areas before entering the car
  • Understand the local 'rules' for response should you be involved in a traffic accident. In some cases, stopping for an accident could put your life at risk.

Whilst you visit, either on business or holiday, you should always endeavour to:

  • Register with the Australian Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting.
  • Avoid using handbags that do not have a secure closure. Try to keep your hands on the closure or your handbag tucked close to your body
  • Carry your wallet in an inside coat or trouser pocket. Never place it in a rear trouser pocket.
  • Be alert to where you have valuables whilst in crowds
  • Be alert to possible staged distractions by a pickpocket team. If you are jostled, bumped or crowded be aware that a pickpocket may be in action If your pocket is picked call out immediately for assistance
  • Never display large amounts of cash when making simple purchases. If possible use credit cards or travellers cheques for major expenses
  • Treat credit cards the same way you treat cash
  • In high risk environments consider carrying a secondary wallet to 'give up' if threatened.
  • Make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction
  • Educate yourself of any pending events, ( elections, demonstrations and anniversaries) that may cause civil disturbance and avoid unnecessary risks
  • Politely decline food and drink from strangers
  • Carry official identification with you at all times
  • Do not take shortcuts through remote or unlit areas
  • Travel with others when possible
  • If you are confronted don't fight back - give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot.

In Your Hotel

  • Do not open the door in your hotel or motel room without verifying who it is.
  • If a person claims to be an employee, call the reception and check that someone from staff is supposed to have access to your room
  • When returning to your hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the premises. Be observant and look around before entering the carpark.
  • Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices
  • Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewellery
  • Do not invite strangers into your room
  • Place all valuables in the hotel or motel safe deposit box
  • Check that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are locked
  • If you see any suspicious activity, report it immediately to hotel/motel security or to reception
  • When at the pool or beach never leave purses, wallets or keys unattended
  • Meet visitors in the lobby
  • Let someone know when you expect to return if you are out late at night
  • Read the fire safety instructions in your hotel room (refer to Hotel Fires)
  • Ask your hotel/motel for specific directions when you are driving and for the most direct and safe route to your destination.

Hopefully these tips will ensure that you have a safe and secure trip.

Remember, Criminals work 24/7

Hotel Fires

Many staff members travel on business from time to time and stay in hotels and motels. In the same way that we induct new employees into the workplace acquainting them with the layout of fire exits and equipment, we should also make ourselves familiar with the location of fire escapes and fire equipment in hotels. All hotels display a location map in each room and it only takes a moment to check when first closing the door.

Many people die in fires around the world, because they do not know what to do, nor have they planned, beforehand, how to survive. They are probably in unfamiliar surroundings, they can't find the door or the fire escape in the dark, so here is what to do;

  • After you have booked into your room, immediately go back out into the hall and locate two exits on your floor. Do it immediately, you may never get another chance! How many doorways do you have to pass to get to it? Could you get to it blindfolded? ( your eyes may be smarting from the smoke, and you may not be able to see)
  • In your room, always put your key on the bedside cabinet - you may need to find it in the dark. Always take the key with you if you leave because it may be even more important for you to get back into your room.
  • Can you find your phone in the dark, ( you may need it to call the Fire Brigade)?
  • Do you have a vent in the bathroom ( it may be useful to clear the room of smoke)?
  • Inspect the window - where is it in relation to your bed? Does it slide up, down, left, right, is it hinged, is it locked (will it even open), how far are you from the ground? Where would you land if you jumped, are there any ledges or verandas?

If a Fire Occurs

If you become aware of a fire because of alarm bells sounding or you see or smell smoke etc, particularly in multi storey hotels, a few simple rules to follow are;

  • If you smell or see smoke, call the Fire Brigade immediately (don't assume others have done so - they may have assumed you have done it!) If you leave the matter for the switchboard to advise the Fire Brigade, they will probably have someone check the situation first - and the delay could be fatal!.
  • If you are aware of smoke, crawl on your hands and knees to the door ( that way you will keep your eyes free for seeing). Before opening the door, check the door knob and the door itself with the back of your hand - if either or both are hot, there may be a fire outside.
  • If it is obviously hot, stay in your room. Opening the door may cause a 'flashover' by providing oxygen ( from your room) to a fire outside the room.
  • If it is not hot, open the door, but do it slowly as you may need to slam it shut quickly. If you leave, remember to crawl and close all doors behind you to keep the fire and smoke from spreading. Stay against the wall, you will not only have a clearer idea where you are as you make your way to one of the exits you located earlier, but also be less likely to be injured by others rushing around in the dark. When you have counted the correct number of doorways, you will arrive at the exit - once again feel the door handle and door (after all the fire may be in the stairwell itself!).
    Hold the handrail firmly and proceed down the stairs, either walking or crawling. However as you go down, if the smoke gets more intense, don't go any further, because cool smoke settles downwards and you could become asphyxiated. Instead, turn round and walk up to the roof. Open the door and jam it open using anything you can find ( even your shoe), this way the smoke can now be vented into the atmosphere, and you can always get back into the stairwell again if you need to. Go to the side of the building where the wind is coming from (that way there will be less smoke) and wait to be rescued.

What if You Can't Leave Your Room

If you can't get into the passageway because of the fire or smoke, your room may be the only place to survive, or your only way to escape.

If you are on the third floor or higher and there is no fire escape or other way to climb safely down the building, then immediately plan to stay in your room. Fill the bath, hand basin, waste paper baskets and any thing else you can find with water immediately, because when the firemen arrive their pumps may cause your water flow to be reduced to a trickle. (There is even some water in the toilet cistern and bowl that you may have to use) Wet the sheets, blankets, pillows and anything else you can find, and use them to block cracks around the door and windows to stop smoke entering the room.

Feel the doors and walls to see if they are getting hot. If they are, splash the hot area with water (don't worry about the mess, it may save your life). You can even wet the mattress too, they may be handy to prop against a wall or door that is getting hot. If the smoke is still filtering through the cracks, a wet towel or pillow case around your nose is a good filter.

What Not to Do!

  • Don't break the windows if the fire is on a floor below you as this will provide an oxygen source for the fire and draw it into your room.
  • Don't smash the window unless you immediately intend to escape - the glass may injure firefighters and others below and if the wind should change you may have smoke pouring into the room to suffocate you.
  • Don't ever consider getting in an elevator in a fire situation - many passengers have died because the fire automatically summoned the elevator to the floor where the fire was worst, and were killed instantly by the searing blast that enveloped the lift when the doors automatically opened.
  • If you are above the third floor, if you jump you will almost certainly be killed.
    People generally don't jump out far enough - they hit the building and cartwheel to their death.

In a major fire in San Paulo in Brazil about 30 years ago 40 people jumped from windows and all died - the tragedy was that 90% of them jumped to their deaths after the fire was out!

If you jump from the third floor in all probability you will be seriously injured.

Second floor jumps may break a bone or two, but that may be better than being suffocated by the fire. However, if you are so close to the ground, probably the Fire Brigade will be able to rescue you.

Remember, the first thing to do after you have booked into your room is to locate two exits on your floor, work out where they are in relation to your room and envisage trying to find them in the dark.

The life you save could be your own!