Was hiker killed by her own rucksack?

Title – Was hiker killed by her own rucksack?
Source – Daily Mail
Date – 10th March 2007

This tragic accident left a young adult dead and a family in mourning and forever destroyed by the most devastating memories.

The suggestion is that the weight of her backpack was a contributing factor in this accident and that a desire to retrieve lost equipment started the sequence of events that resulted in the loss of a young life full of promise.

Although the events leading to this accident may not have been foreseeable, the causes are more common then you might expect. Poor choices of equipment and over packing as well as an emotional attachment to often cheap and unnecessary equipment that is about to be lost, does result in many injuries that could easily be avoided.

During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop we examine the equipment that is useful and what you should pack and those items manufacturers will try and force upon you that are a real waste of money and you can afford to leave behind. The everyday benefit is simply the inconvenience of an excessively heavy backpack that holds you back, as well as a better understanding of the actual value of your equipment and the problems that can result if you try and stop it being lost or stolen.

We offer these workshops to help travellers going anywhere in the world to prepare effectively for their adventure from the very basics to specific needs at your destination. We examine your equipment needs and how to avoid spending hundreds of pounds on equipment you will rarely or never use.

Accidents and tragedies can not always be avoided and sad stories such as this one will continue to be written, but the more people that inform themselves about potential risks the less families will have to come to terms with loosing a brother, sister, son or daughter.


Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Ethnic violence flares in Vanuatu

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Title – Ethnic violence flares in Vanuatu
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 8th March 2007

Vanuatu is a nation of small islands in the middle of the pacific ocean. Rarely visited except by intrepid travellers and experienced divers, it has a wealth of attractions just waiting for the experienced traveller; world class wreck diving, accessible active volcanoes, friendly dugongs, cargo cults, great beaches, blue holes, authentic south pacific culture and is the birth place of the Bungee Jump in the land (vine) jumpers of Pentecost island.

Vanuatu recently shot to fame coming top of the Happy Planet Index (www.happyplanetindex.org) a new way of looking at the ecological efficiency with which human well-being is being delivered. So is Vanuatu really the happiest place on earth?

Certainly it has traditionally been a typical south pacific island, with a pace of life equivalent to a turtle on land, a people that smile when they meet you and are happy to talk and find out about you and your life at every opportunity, the palm trees to finish off the perfect picture postcard. But ask some of the locals and they may have a different point of view, most are certainly happy, but they still like anyone want to improve themselves. Better health care, better education and better prospects for their children, the same ambitions that people all over the world work for. Your tourist dollar can make a difference and help local people, if you use local facilities.

But even in the happiest place on earth, trouble seems sometimes to be just below the surface and modern life creeps up and does the same damage that it has done for centuries in all corners of the world. Coming in search of work in the capital and in the main tourist hotspots, people from different ethnic groupings are forced to live together in conditions not fit for purpose; the negative elements seem to surface and the result is always the same, fighting and civil unrest. Even in paradise where the police carry no weapons, they have to draw on the worst of mankind’s inventions (the gun) to try and protect the happiness of the people.

Beyond The Blue provides details on your chosen destinations, examines the cultural experiences you need to be aware of and the risks you are likely to face when you reach your destination. During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop, we examine whole hosts of subjects essential to having a positive travel experience.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Five Britons kidnapped in Ethiopia’s ‘land of death’

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Title – Five Britons kidnapped in Ethiopia’s ‘land of death’
Source – The Independent
Date – 3rd March 2007

As tourists and travellers seek out ever more remote and unvisited destinations they increasingly find themselves in areas where they simply don’t have the skills or information to guarantee their own safety, but you don’t have to go to the remote and bandit ridden north of Ethiopia to put your own safety in danger, common destinations have their own threats.

Travelling is and should remain one of your life’s best and most memorable experiences, every corner of the world has fascinating sights, sound, smells and spectacles, but increasingly people are pushing their own boundaries are realising that they are under prepared for what they face when they arrive.

We appreciates that the average person could be scared to death if they were presented with all the facts relating to their chosen destination, civil unrest, theft, kidnapping, disease, natural disasters, war, industrial accidents and every day accidents are just the tip of the iceberg. But we are not here to scare you we are here to present these fact and figures in context and show you that most of the world is as safe as your home town, if you approach it in the right manner and prepare effectively for your forthcoming adventure. We want everyone attending our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop not only to leave feeling more confident, but to be excited about the adventure they are about to face. We want you to return home with just tales of fun and new experiences rather than horror stories.


Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Dengue sparks Paraguay emergency

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Title – Dengue sparks Paraguay emergency
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 2nd March 2007

Dengue is becoming an increasing problem in many parts of the world. In endemic countries it remains a constant threat but it is this type of outbreak that presents the biggest threat to travellers.

Having a good understanding of the dangers faced in the countries you are visiting and taking prevention measures is always sensible even when an outbreak has yet to be widely reported. Many simple measures can reduce the risks you face at your destination and keeping up to date with the latest information means you can avoid areas where the risks are unacceptable. In areas suffering an outbreak, local medical facilities will already be stretched with local casualties and don’t need the added burden of travellers adding to already difficult conditions.
Through our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop we offer individuals planning a trip to any part of the world advice and guidance on personal safety issues, as well as Travel Health and Destination Advice and information.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

The Gap Year gone wrong

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Title – The Gap Year gone wrong
Source – www.ft.com
Date – 2nd March 2007

This story of every parent’s worst nightmare, fortunately turned out to have a happy ending; but it doesn’t take away from the horror of the experience that this whole family had to go through. It all started with one of the most common accidents that young travellers experience; the scooter or motorbike accident. This time the results were serious and devastating for all concerned, more commonly these accidents are minor, but they can still cost individuals a fortune and ruin the experience of a lifetime. However some accidents are serious and often this is a result of inexperience and over confidence and ignoring the basic safety rules that are enforced by law at home and flaunted by travellers to other countries.

Few people would ever consider getting on a motorbike in the UK without a motorbike license, insurance and most importantly a helmet. But too many people get to their holiday destination and ignore all three of these basic rules and speed around resorts without a care in the world. Add to these risks, the danger of many of the world’s roads being impossible to navigate safely without the experience of having grown up understanding that it is normal to negotiate 5 lanes of traffic when there are only 3 lanes marked on the road…

There are many dangers for the average traveller setting off on a Gap Year, some are unavoidable and need to be addressed by good planning. Others such as your transport options are entirely in your own hands, certainly accidents happen, traffic accidents happen in Sri Lanka as well as Swindon. We can help you reduce the risk, but only you can implement the precautions you need to put in place to eliminate the risk that are simply not worth taking.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop will help anyone planning a trip to any part of the world to understand the risks and the way they can be reduced in all the areas of travel. As part of the workshop we examine Transport Options and personal safety issues.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific

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Title – Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th February 2007

Having a good understanding of the environment you are visiting allows you to plan your trip and gives you a greater chance of it being successful in making it the experience of a lifetime, rather then a missed opportunity.

Tanna Island in Vanuatu is truly the other side of the world form almost everywhere you start and in every sense of the phrase. Active volcanoes, cargo cult tribes and a village culture and social higherachy that goes back thousands of years. Understanding your destination will help your to appreciate the significance of your impact on this fragile way of life and experience it without disturbing it.

It is easier then ever to travel and you can travel almost anywhere, but you’ll never understand everything. But if you consider it a great honour if you are even given the slightest of insights into the way that other people live in their home country, you can learn a great deal from your hosts. Travel in the knowledge that even the smallest insight makes you a very lucky person and not pushing your luck keeps you safe and often result in even more acceptance.

Arriving by accident in a village and seeing a village meeting taking place is not an invitation to get out you cameras and flash away. In Vanuatu it may be a very serious matter and village meetings solve problems from how to share a harvest to dealing with “crimes” and acting as court and sentencing processes for those involved. You wouldn’t walk into a court house at home and if you mistakenly did, you would make every effort to remove yourself without being noticed, the same should apply when you visit a new country.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop concentrates on developing individual’s skills to allow them to travel well prepared, safely and with a sense of Cultural Awareness, allowing you to have a positive impact on your destination.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Vanuatu cargo cult marks 50 years

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Title – Vanuatu cargo cult marks 50 years
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 15th February 2007

The world is a fascinating place full of fascinating people; there are still places where time seems to have stood still and nowhere more so then Tanna on Vanuatu in the South Pacific. As these remote locations become ever more accessible travellers need to understand the places they are visiting before they get there.

This approach reduces the considerable culture shock you can encounter and prevents your visit distressing local residents and ruining what is often a very fine balance between accommodating and benefiting from tourism and maintaining their traditional and preferred lifestyle.

The Cargo Cult in Vanuatu is certainly no exception they have a unique and strange existence that is almost the same as it was 60 years ago when John 'Frum' America first landed on their shores and they started this strange phenomenon of worshipping cargo. But the village remains secretive and tries to protect itself from outside influence and the ridicule that often comes with it. But if you try and understand and befriend the villagers you might just be lucky enough to be invited to a village sing-sing (festival) and experience what lies past the hype, a very traditional and respectful South Pacific Community.

Understanding and respecting local cultures is a core aspect of our workshop, by examining the cultural traditions of your destination country, you can minimise your impact on the local community and maximise your experiences.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop addresses all your travel needs and sets you on the way to planning a carrying out a successful and unforgettable experience.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Euro emergency number 'unknown'

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Title – Euro emergency number ‘unknown’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 7th February 2007

It’s a simple fact; the number 112 will generate an emergency response within 27 EU countries. This fact alone might provide you with a way of seeking help when you most need it. Once you move outside of these countries the situation becomes more complicated. For example if you find yourself in South Africa the Police Number is 10111, The Ambulance & Fire Brigade 10177?

Destination information is a vital part of the trip preparation process, knowing some basic phrases and emergency numbers (not just the emergency services) will stand you in good stead when things don’t go according to plan.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop will give you all the preparation you need to start your trip planning in good time and allows you to arrive at your destination, feeling your trip can start on day one, with the confidence to discover all your host country has to offer.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Vets warn of rabies if quarantine rules are watered down

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Title – Vets warn of rabies if quarantine rules are watered down
Source – The Times
Date – 3rd February 2007

Rabies is a disease that the UK has so far been protected from. Thanks to the effective eradication schemes in continental Europe the threat of rabies in the UK has actually diminished, but as the countries where rabies is endemic move further and further away, the authorities are ever more aware that complacency is probably the main threat to it eventually finding its way on to our shores.

But just as the disease seems to be moving away from the UK’s shores, we are moving further a field in our holidays and travel experiences. Ever more adventurous travellers are seeking out more and more remote locations and venturing into areas where rabies is endemic. A vaccine that is readily available should be a real consideration following a risk assessment that you need to carry out prior to setting off. Will you be working with local people and in areas where stray dogs or other carriers are common? Is the country you are visiting on the list of high risk areas?

Over 10 Million people receive post infection treatment for rabies each year, but in many countries the treatment is simply not available and failure to have the vaccination makes infection substantially more dangerous. Rabies needs to be treated as soon as possible after the infection to have a better chance of success, having to fly home simply adds further risk.

Due to the expense and nature of the vaccination, the Rabies vaccination is often overlooked as an essential travel vaccine, but learning about risk allows you in consultation with you GP or Travel Clinic to make an educated decision regarding its necessity. Understanding the symptoms and method of transmission allows individuals to make safe choices when visiting endemic areas.

Thailand is a country with a Rabies problem, yet still 13% of visitors make physical contact with animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus. This is very uninformed behaviour considering the nature of the Rabies virus and the risk to those who travel without a vaccination.

Beyond The Blue’s Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop provides you with the information you require to start your Travel Health planning and information about specific risk at your destination.



Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Thai murder victim's final hours

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Title – Thai murder victim’s final hours
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 18th January 2007

Considering the number of people travelling independently every year these stories are still fortunately very rare and the dangers faced by the traveller is in many countries not significantly different to those faced by people in the UK. But every time a story like this hits our front page we note it and it adds to the impression we have that travel is inherently dangerous.

The tragedy of what happened to Katherine Horton who had travelled half way round the world in search of fun, excitement and adventure with her friend Ruth Adams, were widely reported in the press. The events that led to her death are horrific and those guilty were brought swiftly to justice, but the devastation of her family and friends can never be completely healed.

It is every parent’s worst nightmare and many people miss out on the potential experiences that travel can bring, because of situation like these.

One of the most frightening aspects for both the traveller and the parents is the huge distance they find themselves from their loved ones and the lack of understanding they have of local laws and the way local authorities deal with this type of incident. We expect serious incidents to be dealt with in the same manner as they are dealt with at home and that is not always the case. These stories may put some people off travelling and the local authorities know that they can represent a serious threat to the most valued “tourist dollar” and this source of foreign income is guarded jealously. As a result justice can sometimes be more about being seen to be doing something, than actually following specific procedures.

Ruth’s experience with the British Embassy is not necessarily a representative view, but equally it is not unheard of. The British representatives will try and help British citizens where they can, but British citizens are subject to local laws and ways of dealing with incidents. This can make the anxiety and fear substantially worse then the devastation of the incident in the first place.
Our Gap Years and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshops provide individuals and groups planning a trip to prepare their travel plans meticulously in advance. The workshop covers areas of personal safety, communication skills and managing violent and aggressive situations. Some situations are completely out of the control of the victims, but most can be dealt with in a positive manner with some basic skills and understanding of local cultures. We also examine Travel Equipment requirements, Travel Health and carry out country profiling looking at your specific destinations.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/