Safety First

1. For flights, dress in tightly knit natural fibers such as cotton, denim, leather or wool.
2. Avoid restrictive clothing and synthetic fibers. Cover as much of your body as possible.
3. When in doubt, pack black. It’s easy to match and hides dirt.
4. Reduce to a bare minimum the amount of metal that you are wearing so you aren’t held up at the metal detector. Metal objects to consider include belts, key chains, etc.
5. Shoes should be low-heeled, laced, leather or canvas. No nylons, high heels or slip-ons.
6. Wear a safety strap for glasses and always have a back-up pair of glasses or contact lenses as well as medication in your carry-on luggage.
7. Carry a small flashlight with you.
8. Bring an essentials kit, moist towelettes, reading material, snacks and your flight schedule.
9. Take a copy of prescriptions should you need to have glasses or medication replaced.
10. Carry with you a list with your blood type, allergies, medical conditions and special needs.
11. Do not pack sensitive or proprietary information in your checked luggage. Double envelope the material and hand carry it.
12. Tag your bags, inside and out, with your business address and telephone number.
13. Consider shipping heavy items to your destination.
14. Seek out a pre-departure briefing and determine what special security precautions should be taken during your trip.
15. Do research on the country you will be visiting. Check with the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs and U.S. Customs regarding any special requirements.
16. Request a list describing customs restrictions or banned materials from the embassy of the country you will visit.
17. Learn the basics about the destination country’s history, culture, laws, norms, and language. For example, the OK sign which is done making a circle with the thumb and forefinger is considered terribly obscene in Spain and Brazil. In Japan, the hand movement tells the cashier you want your change in coins. Get educated.
18. Carry your international shot record, just in case
19. Do not publicize your travel plans. Leave an itinerary at the office and with a family member or friend.
20. Advise all parties of changes to your travel plans when they occur.
21. Make photocopies of your passport, visa and other important documents. Put copies in your carry-on and checked luggage and leave one at home and at the office.
22. When traveling with someone always use the buddy* system from the start of your trip to the end.

* The buddy system is a procedure in which two individuals, the “buddies”, operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other.