Students are beginning to plan their summers, and those wanting to go abroad should be aware and prepared for travel safety issues.

Although going overseas offers an exhilarating chance to view things from a different perspective, there are also many dangers that students should be aware of. According to U.S. Department of State, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested each year in foreign countries. Countless more are victims of crimes.

Andrea Siefers, senior in materials engineering and current teacher of study abroad orientation, said victims of a crime can follow a few steps to remedy the situation. She said local authorities are usually good to contact, but it depends on the country.

“Some authorities expect a bribe. Everyone wants something for themselves,” Siefers said.

According to the U.S. Department of State, students should obtain a copy of the police report if they do go to local authorities.

Rachel Bartels, senior in Spanish, said another valuable resource was the U.S. Embassy, which can help with stolen or lost passports or visas and other emergency situations.

As for replacing stolen items, Siefers said a lot of times insurance companies will cover an item.

However, citizens are not always the victims of crimes. According to the U.S. Department of State, arrests are due mainly to law misunderstandings and drug trafficking.

Siefers attributes a lot of the arrests to situations involving alcohol. She said if a student is arrested, the best thing to do is contact the embassy immediately for assistance in obtaining a lawyer.

According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, there is little the U.S. government can do if someone is arrested other than find a lawyer and visit the person in jail.

Students traveling with the Study Abroad Program have easier methods.

Trevor Nelson, program manager of the Study Abroad Center, said there is an ISU staff member available to students on the trek whose job is to help students with such issues.

The best method of protection is simply to avoid these situations all together. Siefers said having a knowledge of the country’s customs, culture and laws is crucial to keeping safe.

Nelson said many students fail to take their surroundings into account. Things like securing money, carrying small amounts of money and having copies of important items are smart measures to take.

“Students need to realize that it’s not going to be like Ames,” Nelson said.

Blending in with the local people as much as possible is a good way to avoid being a victim Siefers said.

Nelson said he recommends using the buddy system, especially when going out at night.

Bartels, who has studied abroad in Mexico, said females should stick with a trustworthy male.

“There were a lot of times that I didn’t really feel safe,” Bartels said.

Students should know their insurance policy for medical purposes. Bartels said students should be aware of what insurance companies cover and how it might operate in a foreign country.

Siefers said the chance of getting into mischief can be greatly reduced by avoiding drinking and drugs. Most of the time alcohol can turn a non-threatening situation into something that seems like it could lead to trouble.

“Sometimes you have to deal with anti-American sentiment, and you need to be in the right frame of mind to deal with these comments,” Siefers said.