Before You Travel
Checklist
Here’s a checklist to help you plan a safe trip.
The Destination
Learn about the area you are travelling to:
What are the security and health risks?
What are the common crimes and scams?
What is the political and economic situation?
Make sure to complete a security briefing and get the Security Welcome Pack from the country team.
The Culture
Learn about the culture:
How are visitors perceived by community members?
What behaviours draw unwanted attention?
What is the local perception of gender differences?
Culturally, what is the appropriate clothing to wear?
Your Health
Complete the IFRC health briefing.
Learn about the health requirements and mitigations.
Organize health insurance and Medevac.
Consider getting a medical checkup. For some travel insurance arrangements, this is a requirement.
Check that your medications are allowed and available in-country. If they are difficult to procure, ensure you bring enough with you for at least twice the length of your stay.
If you require contact lenses, ensure you also bring enough supply to avoid having to procure them in-country.
Scan your prescriptions and send them to your email.
Ensure your vaccinations are up to date.
Your risk profile
Identify the characteristics of your personal profile that might put you at risk, e.g., your gender, religious affiliation, age, ethnicity and organization.
Think about whether your risk level is impacted by the purpose of your mission – is your mission potentially perceived by others as sensitive or controversial?
Adapt your mental attitude. Visualize how you will react to the common risks.
Your Travel
Get your manager’s approval.
Get required visas and meet all visa requirements.
Give family or friends your itinerary and contact details.
Scan your passport and tickets and send them to your e-mail.
Carry a hard copy of your address and phone numbers of key contacts.
Determine the appropriate amount of local currency to bring, as well as US dollars.
Bring a first aid kit.
Pre-arrange your pickup from the airport. Keep their phone number on you, and plan ahead for how you will be able to contact them upon arrival.
Your luggage
Carry anything valuable (e.g., important information, medicine and valuables) in your carry-on hand luggage (not in the luggage that will be checked-in).
Use colourful or highly identifiable bags. Using a colourful bag or marking your bag in a unique way makes it stand out, which is not what a thief wants.
Lock your bags. This will prevent anyone from removing or putting something into your bag.
Pack medicine, valuables and key documents in your hand luggage (see above).
Keep (most) valuable items on your person (like your passport).
Pack and wear appropriate clothing and footwear (low profile, according to culture and climate). Pack an appropriate change of clothes in your hand luggage.
Hide emergency cash/backup credit card.
Pack a first aid kit.