Rift valley fever deaths in Sudan

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Title – Rift valley fever deaths in Sudan
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 15th November 2007

Rift Valley Fever is just one of the many afflictions parts of Africa have to deal with and it sometimes seems that Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from the scourge of almost every tropical disease know today.

Travel to the Sudan is not common, the reputation of a country synonymous with war, famine, Dafur, Al-Qaeda and so many more news headlines means that most people cross it off the list early when deciding where to travel to, but it is still on the list of some intrepid travellers mostly on organised tours.

Disease is prevalent on every continent except Antarctica and no travel should ever be planned without an in-depth look at the dangers disease causes the locals and therefore travellers to those areas. Fortunately instances of Rift Valley Fever are relatively rare, but the same can not be said for Malaria, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Typhoid, heatstroke, altitude sickness and many more.

A trip to any part of the world needs to be planned in conjunction with a programme of appropriate vaccinations, prophylactic drugs and most importantly sound preventative measures. A basic understanding of the symptoms and incubation periods of diseases from the areas of the world you are travelling to also helps, when it comes to diagnosis. Malaria for example can have an incubation period of several months; the symptoms are initially similar to a common cold, so when you visit your doctor with a cold 3 months after you return from your tropical adventure, the knowledge you have will allow your doctor to make a more accurate diagnosis.

Making plans is more than just choosing which countries to visit, it’s about planning for the worst case scenario and leaving as little to chance as is practicable. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshops help you achieve this goal.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Libya changes tourist entry rules

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Title – Libya changes tourist entry rules
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 13th November 2007

Travel is often not straight forward, different countries change their entry and exit rules on a regular basis, often on a tit-for-tat basis as a result of arguments between governments and those it affects most is the travellers simply seeing what the world has to offer and what they can learn along the way.

Fortunately this type of sudden unannounced change which results in plane loads of tourists being refused entry doesn’t happen very often and you are generally warned before your departure by your tour operator or airline.

But visa and documentation requirements can be a nightmare in the planning stages of any trip, especially when travelling to a number of different countries on the same trip. Even a stamp from another country in your passport can raise an eyebrow or lead to unending questions of where you have just come from, the reason for your visit and remember customs officials tend not to have a sense of humour when they listen to your answers.

Our two day Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop prepares those candidates attending with all the information they need to start their trip preparation, including visa applications and requirements. This allows you to plan effectively for your trip and not make the simplest mistakes such as not allowing enough time to get all the visa applications filed and thus resulting in sometimes hundreds of pounds worth of extra costs being added to your budget. We also help you to be aware of some of the more dangerous aspects of travel and the course provides skills to deal with these as well, including; personal safety techniques, Travel Health, dealing with crime abroad, Travel Equipment, Cultural Awareness and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Backpacker hostels are ‘death-traps’

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Title – Backpacker hostels are ‘death-traps’Source – Times online
Date – 1st November 2007

When you are travelling, especially in countries you are unfamiliar with there are often days when you look forward to getting to your accommodation at the end of the day not only because you are tired or need a wash, but also because your accommodation is often your sanctuary, you feel safe on arrival and the stresses and strains of the day are left outside your door.

So the last thing you want to worry about is the safety of your hotel or hostel, but should you?

The answer to that question is no you should not worry; you shouldn’t worry because you should know a simple few steps and checks to take to put your mind at rest. These steps don’t have to take a long time or be difficult and you’ll soon find them becoming routine, so you hardly even think about them. When was the last time you consciously thought of looking left and right before you crossed the road? Probably a long while ago or maybe when teaching your children; yet nearly every time any of us cross the street we do look both left and right, probably several times.

Fire safety standards in many parts of the world are much more lapse then in the UK; in many places they are effectively non-existent. Your destination will dictate the level of risk, but don’t think that your budget does. Some of the more expensive places I have stayed have been the biggest death traps and some of the cheapest have been the easiest to get out of…

The key is to decide for yourself where it is safe to stay and where you should avoid; have the courage to ask for a different room; ask for the fire safety guidance from the hotel / hostel; and ultimately if you are unhappy stay somewhere else.

Fires in hotels and hostels are far from rare, many go unreported. In the UK we tend only hear about fire where UK citizens are hurt or killed. For the sake of a few minutes observation and a few checks when you check-in, you can dramatically reduce the risk you face.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop (GYITSA) examines all aspects of Travel Safety from personal safety to Travel Health and Cultural Awareness to Transport Option. During the travel safety section of the workshop we examine the simple steps you can take when checking your accommodation to reduce your risks from fire and other harm. Whereas most people will check general cleanliness and speak up if it is unacceptable, some will go a step further and check under the sheets for bedbugs, we recommend you go even further and carry out a few fire safety checks that should also form part of your pre-check-in procedures.

Please visit our website please visit at

www.safegapyear.com