Travel Safety Advice

Political instability

WORLDWIDE | Wednesday, 10 May 2006 | Views [754]

If you intend visiting a potentially volatile region familiarise yourself with the place you intend to visit. Try to find out if there have been any recent violent demonstrations at your destination. Find out what the demonstrations were about and how the authorities handled them. In some countries the authorities do not tolerate dissent and use excessive force.

1. Keep abreast of current news or contact your embassy and request regular updates if you are in a volatile area
2. If you hear that a demonstration is taking place, avoid the area or stay in your accommodation until you are sure that it is safe to go out
3. Before you go out, establish where the demonstration has taken place and if possible avoid the area. Take along and consult a map so that you will know where you are at all times
4. If you come across a demonstration, don’t become inquisitive, just leave the area and find another route to your intended destination
5. Should you need to go to an area which experiences a lot of demonstrations, try not to go alone. Where possible take someone with you and operate as a team looking out for each other. Keep close and maintain visual contact
6. Avoid any place where police or security forces action is in progress

If caught in a civil disturbance

1. If you find yourself caught up in a demonstration keep to the edge of the crowd where it is safer. Try not to be identified as being one of the demonstrators by keeping well away from the leaders/agitators
2. At the first opportunity break away and seek refuge in a nearby building or find a suitable doorway or alley and stay there until the crowd passes
3. When leaving the fringe of the demonstration just walk away – don’t run as this will draw attention to you
4. In the event that you are arrested by the police/military do not resist. Go along peacefully and rather contact red24 or your embassy to help you resolve your predicament
5. If you are caught up in the crowd, stay clear of glass shop fronts, stay on your feet and move with the flow
6. If you are swept along in the crush, create a space for yourself by grasping your wrists and bracing your elbows away from your sides; bend over slightly – this should allow you breathing room
7. If pushed to the ground, try to get against a wall and roll yourself into a tight ball and cover your head with your hands until the crowd passes
8. Remember to keep calm – the crowd should sweep past in a short space of time
9. If shooting breaks out, drop to the ground and cover your head and neck, and lie as flat as you can

In Accommodation

Accommodation could be a hotel, guest house, apartment or house.

1. Do not leave the accommodation and go into the street
2. Contact your embassy or consulate and advise them of your situation and whereabouts
3. On hearing gunfire or explosions outside, stay away from the windows. Do not be tempted to watch the activity from your window. Draw the curtains or blinds to prevent shards of broken glass entering
4. If you are in premises which have doors or windows opening on to the road side of the property, ensure that all windows and external doors are closed and locked
5. Sleep in an inside room which will provide greater protection from gunfire, rocks, grenades etc.
6. If you are in business premises, secure your area (lock doors and safes; remove files, vital records and expensive equipment to a safer part of the building)
7. If a demonstration is taking place outside your hotel, liaise with hotel management to keep updated on the situation outside the hotel

If in a car

1. Never drive through a crowd

2. If you find yourself in the path of a crowd, turn down the nearest side road, reverse or turn around and drive away calmly

3. If you cannot drive away, park the car, lock it and leave it, taking shelter in a side street or doorway

4. If you don’t have time for this, stop and turn the engine off. Lock the doors and remain calm. Be sure not to show hostility or anger

Action after an incident

1. If it is unsafe to stay where you are seek a place of safety in a less volatile area

2. If you have suffered injury seek medical assistance. Report any loss or damage to your property to the police

3. Report your situation or whereabouts to family/friends/business associates

4. Report incidents to local police and obtain a report reference · Where applicable, report and claim on insurance

Tags: travel safety, political instability, civil disturbance, security, red24

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