####### SECURITY AWARENESS OVERSEAS AN OVERVIEW

######## Overseas Security Advisory Council

######### U.S. Department of State

[Chapter I. Introduction 1](#chapter-i.-introduction)

[Chapter II. Preparing To Travel 2](#chapter-ii.-preparing-to-travel)

[Have Your Affairs in Order 2](#have-your-affairs-in-order)

[Important Papers 2](#important-papers)

[Useful Information 2](#useful-information)

[Emergency Notification 3](#emergency-notification)

[Miscellaneous Tips 4](#miscellaneous-tips)

[Chapter III. In Transit 6](#chapter-iii.-in-transit)

[On the Plane 6](#on-the-plane)

[At an Overseas Airport 6](#at-an-overseas-airport)

[Public Transportation 7](#public-transportation)

[In-Transit Accommodations 7](#in-transit-accommodations)

[Hotel Crime 7](#hotel-crime)

[Civil Unrest 8](#civil-unrest)

[Hotel Fires 8](#hotel-fires)

[If a Fire Starts 9](#if-a-fire-starts)

[Chapter IV. Terrorism 11](#chapter-iv.-terrorism)

[U.S. Policy 11](#u.s.-policy)

[Terrorist Demands 11](#terrorist-demands)

[Terrorist Surveillance 11](#terrorist-surveillance)

[Hijackings 13](#hijackings)

[Armed Assault on the Ground 13](#armed-assault-on-the-ground)

[Kidnappings 13](#kidnappings)

[Captivity 13](#captivity)

[Behavior Suggestions 14](#behavior-suggestions)

[Avoidance of Capture or Escape 15](#avoidance-of-capture-or-escape)

[Rescue 15](#rescue)

[Additional Precautions 15](#additional-precautions)

[Chapter V. Overseas Crisis Planning
17](#chapter-v.-overseas-crisis-planning)

[Culture Shock 17](#culture-shock)

[Symptoms 17](#symptoms)

[Successful Handling 17](#successful-handling)

[Chapter VI. Helping Children Adjust
19](#chapter-vi.-helping-children-adjust)

[Before the Move 19](#before-the-move)

[Relocation Crisis 19](#relocation-crisis)

[Stress During Crisis 20](#stress-during-crisis)

[Chapter VII. Security for Children
21](#chapter-vii.-security-for-children)

[Rules for Children 21](#rules-for-children)

[Rules for Parents 21](#rules-for-parents)

[Child-Watch Checklist 21](#child-watch-checklist)

[Checklist for Babysitters 22](#checklist-for-babysitters)

[Chapter VIII. Evacuation 23](#chapter-viii.-evacuation)

[Preparation 23](#preparation)

[If Evacuated 23](#if-evacuated)

[Chapter IX. Residential Fire Safety
25](#chapter-ix.-residential-fire-safety)

[Smoke Detectors 25](#smoke-detectors)

[Fire Escape Plan 25](#fire-escape-plan)

[Fire Drills 26](#fire-drills)

[Fire Extinguishers 26](#fire-extinguishers)

[Use of Window Escapes 26](#use-of-window-escapes)

[A Summary of Fire Safety Reminders
27](#a-summary-of-fire-safety-reminders)

[The Final Word 27](#the-final-word)

[Chapter X. Community Participation in Security
29](#chapter-x.-community-participation-in-security)

[Safety in Numbers 29](#safety-in-numbers)

[What You Can Do 29](#what-you-can-do)

[Chapter XI. Conclusion 31](#chapter-xi.-conclusion)

#  

## Chapter I. Introduction

Personal security abroad is a major concern of individuals and companies
and thus, a natural forum for an OSAC publication. This booklet, along
with such previous OSAC publications as Security Guidelines for American
Families Living Abroad, will surely find a wide audience and make a
strong contribution to the security and well-being of American citizens
who live and work abroad.

We gain a great sense of security and self-confidence knowing we are
prepared for potential crises. This booklet provides assistance in
preparing us to face those emergencies we may encounter while living or
traveling overseas. Many potential overseas crises may be eased or
averted by taking the time to read and study the information that
follows.

Cultural misunderstandings and inadequate local support services often
make crises abroad more intense than similar situations in the United
States. Overseas, we must assume greater responsibility for our own
safety.

Information and suggestions in this booklet have been collected from
several government and private sources. Personal experiences of those
who have been through particular crises abroad have added substantially
to the store of ideas and advice. The experience of each-whether
hostage, crime victim, evacuee, or other-is distinct. Yet there are
common threads that provide guidelines on how to handle crises
successfully. We hope, in this booklet, to pass those guidelines on to
you.

Although we have attempted to organize tips and information according to
whether your stay will be temporary or permanent, most apply to either
situation.

## Chapter II. Preparing To Travel

### Have Your Affairs in Order

Many hostages have expressed regret that their affairs were not left in
better order for their families. An evacuation, illness, or death can
often place a family in a similar situation. Three actions, taken before
you depart, will alleviate this potential problem:

-   Discuss and plan with your family what should be done in the case of
    any emergency separation. All adult family members should be aware
    of these plans.

-   Supply family and close friends with the emergency notification
    numbers found on page 4. They serve both to notify you while you are
    overseas in the event of an illness or death in your family in the
    United States and to provide your family in the U.S. with
    information about you in case of a crisis abroad.

-   See that all important papers are up-to-date. List papers and leave
    originals with a family member or attorney in the United States.
    Carry only copies to your overseas assignment. Safe deposit boxes
    and bank accounts are very useful but may be sealed on the death of
    an owner. Therefore, make sure your representative has joint right
    of access.

### Important Papers

Your collection of important papers might include:

-   Will

-   Birth and marriage certificates

-   Guardianship or adoption papers for children

-   Power of attorney for spouse or relative

-   Naturalization papers

-   Deeds, mortgages, stocks and bonds, car titles

-   Insurance papers-car, home, life, personal effects, medical

-   Tax records

-   Proof of termination of previous marriage(s)

-   Child support/alimony agreements

-   Proof of membership in any organization or union that entitles the
    estate to any benefits

### Useful Information

An information list might include:

-   Bank account numbers and addresses

-   Passport numbers

-   Duplicate passport pictures in case passport needs to be replaced
    due to loss

-   U.S. and local driver\'s license numbers

-   Insurance policy numbers and names of carriers

-   Social Security numbers

-   Credit card numbers

-   Travelers check numbers and issuing bank

-   Medical and dental information, distinguishing marks and scars, and
    medicine and eyeglass prescriptions

-   Assets and debts

-   Names and addresses of business and professional contacts

-   Updated inventory of household and personal possessions with
    pictures/videos

-   Employment records for each family member; resumes, references,
    commendations

-   Personal address list

-   Fingerprints, current photos/videos, voice recording, known
    handwriting samples of family members

### Emergency Notification

While abroad, you may need to be notified of an emergency involving
someone in the United States. And during a political, social, or natural
crisis abroad, your family in the United States will be anxious to get
news of you.

The appropriate telephone numbers below should be given to your family
for such purposes.

-   U.S. Embassy/Consulate

    -   (Day)

    -   (Night)

```{=html}
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-   U.S. Corporate HQ

    -   (Day)

    -   (Night)

-   Corporate Security

-   Local Legal Counsel

-   Local Police

-   Airline(s)

-   Red Cross

-   Department of State

-   Host Country Embassy, Washington, D.C.

-   Local Company Office

-   Residence

-   International Operator

-   Relatives

-   Before initiating calls, the caller in the United States should have
    the following information available:

-   Your name, company, and current location

-   Name and relationship of family member

-   In case of death-date of death

-   In case of illness-name, address, and telephone number of attending
    physician or hospital

### Miscellaneous Tips

The corporate traveler should also consider the following, which will
assist and possibly protect him/her during the actual journey:

-   Obtain International Driving Permit.

-   Prepare a wallet card identifying your blood type, known allergies,
    required medications, insurance company, and name of person to
    contact in case of emergency.

-   Remove from wallet all credit cards and other items not necessary
    for trip.

-   Remove unessential papers, such as reserve, military, or humorous
    cards, e.g., \"Honorary Sheriff.\"

-   Put a plain cover on your passport (covers available in stationery
    stores);

-   Use hard, lockable luggage.

-   Be sure luggage tags contain your name, phone number, and full
    street address; that information is concealed from casual
    observation; and that company logos are not displayed on luggage.

-   Inform family member or friend of specific travel plans.

-   Give your office a complete itinerary. Be sure to notify the local
    company manager of your travel plans.

-   Obtain the name(s), address(es), and telephone numbers of your local
    office(s).

-   Obtain small amount of local currency if possible.

-   Be aware of airline safety records when booking vacation trips while
    overseas; do not include company name in reservation.

-   When possible, mail personal papers to yourself at the local
    overseas office.

-   If you do not speak the local language have the name and address of
    each place you may want to go to written on a 3 x 5 card in that
    language, which you can show to taxi drivers if they do not
    understand English.

Stay informed! Check for any travel advisories pertinent to countries
you plan to visit. Call the Department of State\'s Citizens Emergency
Center (see page 35), or your company\'s Corporate Security Department.

## Chapter III. In Transit

Most of the following suggestions apply to any travel; several are
specifically directed at surviving a terrorist situation. It is
recognized that the level of risk varies from country to country and
time to time, so that you may need to choose among the suggested options
or modify the concepts to meet your needs.

If you plan to stay in one country any length of time while traveling,
especially in a country that is in a period of civil unrest, register
with the embassy or consulate and provide a copy of your itinerary.
Registration makes it easier to contact you in case of an emergency and
to evacuate you if necessary.

### On the Plane

Carry-on luggage should contain a supply of any regularly taken
prescription medicines (in original containers labeled with the pharmacy
name and prescribing physician), an extra pair of eyeglasses, passport,
and carefully chosen personal documents (copies only!).

Dress inconspicuously to blend into the international environment.
Consider wearing no jewelry.

On foreign carriers, avoid speaking English as much as possible. Do not
discuss business or travel plans with fellow passengers, crew, or even
traveling companions.

Select a window seat in the coach section. This position is less
accessible by hijackers inflicting indiscriminate violence.

Memorize your passport number so you do not have to reveal your passport
when filling out landing cards.

### At an Overseas Airport

Maintain a low profile, and avoid public areas as much as possible.
Check in quickly and do not delay in the main terminal area. Do not
discuss travel plans indiscriminately.

Survey surroundings, noting exits and safe areas. Stay away from
unattended baggage. Verify baggage claim checks before and after flight.
Always maintain custody of your carry-on bag.

If an incident occurs, survival may depend on your ability to remain
calm and alert. During a terrorist attack or rescue operation, you do
not want to be confused with the terrorists and shot. Avoid sudden
moves; hide behind something and drop to floor.

**Car Rentals**

Ideally, choose a conservative model car with locking trunk, hood, and
gas cap; power brakes and steering; seat belts; quick accelerating
engine; heavy duty bumpers; smooth interior locks. In a hot climate,
choose air conditioning. Keep the gas tank at least half full.

Before getting into the car, examine it for strange objects or wires
inside, around, or underneath it. If found, do not touch; clear the area
and call police.

When driving, lock the doors, keep windows rolled up. Neither you nor a
passenger should have an arm hanging out of a window, especially not if
you are wearing a watch or jewelry and you are in stop-and-go traffic.
Also, do not display a purse, hand-bag or briefcase on a seat in the
car-if they can\'t be kept out of view, lock them in the trunk.

Avoid being boxed in by other cars. Vary routes. Check for suspicious
individuals before getting out of the car.

Lock the car when unattended. Never let anyone place a package inside or
enter the car unless you are present.

### Public Transportation

Stay on your guard against pickpockets and petty thieves while in a
bus/train terminal or at a taxi stop. Avoid carrying a wallet in your
hip or easily accessible coat pocket. Carry a purse/handbag that you may
firmly grip or secure to your body. Beware of people jostling you at
busy stations.

Take only licensed taxis. Generally those found in front of terminals
and the better hotels are the safest. You may pay a bit more, but the
companies are more likely to be reputable and normally the drivers have
been screened. Be sure the photo on displayed license is of the driver.
Have the address of your destination written out in local language and
carry it with you. Get a map and learn the route to your destination;
note if taxi driver takes you a different or longer way.

Try not to travel alone in a taxi, and never get out in deserted areas.
If the door doesn\'t lock, sit near the middle of the seat so you will
thwart thieves who might open the door or smash a window to grab a
purse, briefcase, or wallet.

On subways, choose a middle car but never an empty car. On buses, sit in
an aisle seat near the driver. Stand back from the curb while waiting
for a bus.

Avoid arriving anywhere at night and using dim or vacant entrances to
stations or terminals. Utilize only busy, well-lit stations.

Take as little luggage as possible; ideally, no more than you can
comfortably carry.

### In-Transit Accommodations

Accommodations in many countries differ considerably from those found in
North America and Western Europe. Safety features required in U.S.
hotels, such as sprinkler systems, fire stairwells, and emergency
lighting, often are either lacking or inoperable. The following measures
will enable you to better plan for unforeseen contingencies in hotels.

### Hotel Crime

Stay alert in your hotel. Put the \"do not disturb\" sign on your door
to give the impression that the room is occupied. Call the maid when you
are ready for the room to be cleaned. Consider leaving the light or TV
on when you are out of the room. Carry the room key with you instead of
leaving it at front desk. Do not use your name when answering the phone.
Do not accept packages or open the door to workmen without verification
from the front desk.

When walking, remain on wide, well-lit streets. Know where you are going
when you leave the hotel-if on a tour, enlist a reputable guide.
Generally, the hotel will recommend or procure one. Do not take
shortcuts through alleys or off the beaten path. If alone, be back in
the hotel by dark. Never resist armed robbery; it could lead to
violence. Always carry some cash to appease muggers who may resort to
violence at finding no reward for their efforts.

### Civil Unrest

In some areas of the world, civil unrest or violence directed against
Americans and other foreigners is common. Travelers should be alert to
indicators of civil unrest and take the following precautions in the
event of such situations:

-   If in your hotel, stay there. Contact the U.S. Embassy, consulate or
    other friendly embassy. Hire someone to take a note to them if
    phones are out of order.

-   Contact your local office representative.

-   Do not watch activity from your window, and try to sleep in an
    inside room which provides greater protection from gunfire, rocks,
    grenades, etc.

-   If you are caught outside in the middle of a riot or unrest, do not
    take sides or attempt to gather information. Play the tourist who
    just wants to get home to his/her family.

### Hotel Fires

Many hotels abroad are not as fire-resistant as those in the United
States. Interior materials are often extremely flammable. Escape routes
may not be posted in hallways and exits may be few or sealed.
Firefighting equipment and water supplies may be limited. There may be
no fast method for alerting a fire department. Sprinkler systems and
smoke detectors may be nonexistent.

You must aggressively take responsibility for the safety of yourself and
your family. Think \"contingency plan\" and discuss it with your
dependents. Begin planning your escape from a fire as soon as you check
into a hotel. When a fire occurs, you can then act without panic and
without wasting time.

Stay in the most modern hotel; consider a U.S. chain. Request a lower
floor, ideally the second or third. Selecting a room no higher than the
second floor enables you to jump to safety. Although most fire
departments can reach above the second floor, they may not get to you in
time or position a fire truck on your side of the building.

Locate exits and stairways as soon as you check in; be sure the doors
open. Count the number of doors between your room and exit or stairway.
In a smoke-filled hallway, you could have to \"feel\" your way to an
exit. Form a mental map of your escape route.

If the hotel has a fire alarm system, find the nearest alarm. Be sure
you know how to use it. You may have to activate it in the dark or in
dense smoke.

Ensure that your room windows open and that you know how the latches
work. Look out the window and mentally rehearse your escape through it.
Make note of any ledges or decks that will aid escape.

Check the smoke detector by pushing the test button. If it does not
work, have it fixed or move to another room. Better yet, carry your own
portable smoke detector (with the battery removed while traveling).
Place it in your room by the hall door near the ceiling.

Keep the room key and a flashlight on the bedside table so that you may
locate the key quickly if you have to leave your room.

### If a Fire Starts

If you awake to find smoke in your room, grab your key and crawl to the
door on your hands and knees. Do not stand. Smoke and deadly gases rise
while the fresher air will be near the floor.

Before you open the door, feel it with the palm of your hand. If the
door or knob is hot, the fire may be right outside. Open the door
slowly. Be ready to slam it shut if the fire is close by.

If your exit path is clear, crawl into the hallway. Be sure to close the
door behind you to keep smoke out in case you have to return to your
room. Take your key, as most hotel doors lock automatically. Stay close
to the wall to avoid being trampled.

Do not use elevators during a fire. They may malfunction, or if they
have heat-activated call buttons, they may take you directly to the fire
floor.

As you make your way to the fire exit, stay on the same side as the exit
door. Count the doors to the exit.

When you reach the exit, walk down the stairs to the first floor. Hold
onto the handrail for guidance and protection from being knocked down by
other occupants.

If you encounter heavy smoke in the stairwell, do not try to run through
it. You may not make it. Instead, turn around and walk up to the roof
fire exit. Prop the door open to ventilate the stairwell and to keep
from being locked out. Find the windward side of the roof, sit down, and
wait for firefighters to find you.

If all exits are blocked or if there is heavy smoke in the hallway, you
will be better off staying in your room. If there is smoke in your room,
open a window and turn on the bathroom vent.

Do not break the window unless it can not be opened. You might want to
close the window later to keep smoke out, and broken glass could injure
you or people below.

If your phone works, call the desk to tell someone where you are, or
call the fire department to report your location in the building. Hang a
bed sheet out the window as a signal.

Fill the bathtub with water to use for fire fighting. Bail water onto
your door or any hot walls with an ice bucket or waste basket. Stuff wet
towels into cracks under and around doors where smoke can enter. Tie a
wet towel over your mouth and nose to help filter out smoke. If there is
fire outside your window, take down the drapes and move everything
combustible away from the window.

If you are above the second floor, you probably will be better off
fighting the fire in your room than jumping. A jump from above the third
floor may result in severe injury or death.

Remember that panic and a fire\'s by-products, such as super-heated
gases and smoke, present a greater danger than the fire itself. If you
know your plan of escape in advance, you will be less likely to panic
and more likely to survive.

## Chapter IV. Terrorism

Although for most of us it is not a probability, terrorism is a fact.
The likelihood of terrorist incidents varies according to country or
area of the world, generally depending on the stability of the local
government and the degree of frustration felt by indigenous groups or
individuals.

Although the number of incidents worldwide has increased at the rate of
10 percent per year, less than a quarter of these have been directed
against American businesses or their employees. Most acts of terrorism
are directed against citizens of the country where they occur.

When an act of terrorism does occur, it often has dire consequences:
murder, hostage taking, property destruction. Much has been learned
about the mentality of terrorists, their methods of operation, and the
behavior patterns of both victims and perpetrators.

Alert individuals, prepared for possible terrorist acts, can minimize
the likelihood that these acts will be successfully carried out against
them. While there is no absolute protection against terrorism, there are
a number of reasonable precautions that can provide some degree of
individual protection.

### U.S. Policy

U.S. policy is firmly committed to resisting terrorist blackmail.

The U.S. Government will not pay ransom for the release of hostages. It
will not support the freeing of prisoners from incarceration in response
to terrorist demands. The U.S. Government will not negotiate with
terrorists on the substance of their demands, but it does not rule out
contact and dialogue with hostage takers if this will promote the safe
release of hostages.

In terrorist incidents abroad affecting Americans, our government looks
to the host government to provide for the safety of U.S. citizens in
accordance with international agreements.

The U.S. Government is prepared to offer terrorist experts, specialized
assistance, military equipment, and personnel should the foreign
government decide such assistance could be useful.

### Terrorist Demands

U.S. Government policy is to make no concessions to terrorist demands.
However, such a decision on the part of private individuals or companies
is a personal one and in some special circumstances may be made by the
family or company of the victim. Whatever the decision, it should
conform to local law.

### Terrorist Surveillance

Terrorists may shadow an intended victim at length and with infinite
patience before an actual abduction or assassination is attempted.
Initial surveillance efforts may be clumsy and could be spotted by an
alert target.

In most cases, more than one individual is a likely candidate for the
terrorist act. Usually the choice is based on the probability of
success. In one documented instance, both an American and another
country\'s representative were under surveillance. Though the American
was the first choice of the terrorists, their surveillance showed that
it would be more difficult to kidnap him. Consequently, the other
individual was abducted and spent a long period in captivity.

Precise risks of surveillance and popular local tactics can be explained
by your company\'s security representative. However, you must also learn
to cultivate a \"sixth sense\" about your surroundings.

Know what is normal in your neighborhood and along your commute routes,
especially at choke points. If you know what is ordinary, you will
notice anything extraordinary-people who are in the wrong place or
dressed inappropriately, or cars parked in strange locations.

Be particularly observant whenever you leave your home or office. Look
up and down the street for suspicious vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds,
etc. Note people near your home who appear to be repair personnel,
utility crew teams, even peddlers. Ask yourself if they appear genuine.

Become familiar with vehicle makes and models; learn to memorize license
numbers. Determine if a pattern is developing with specific vehicles.
See if cars suddenly pull out of parking places or side streets when you
pass. Cars with extra mirrors or large mirrors are suspicious.

Be aware of the types of surveillance: stationary (at residence, along
route, at work); following (on foot, by car); monitoring (of telephone,
mail); searching (of luggage, personal effects, even trash); and
eavesdropping (electronic and personal). An elaborate system involving
several people and cars might be used.

Make their job tougher by not being predictable. Eat at different times
and places. Stagger professional and social activities; do not play
tennis \"every Wednesday at three,\" for example.

Know the choke points on your routes and be aware of other vehicles,
vans, or motorcycles as you enter those bottleneck areas. Search out
safe havens that you can pull into along the route.

Drive with windows rolled up to within 2 inches of the top and lock all
doors. Report any suspicious activity promptly to law enforcement.

Avoid using unlicensed cabs or cabs that appear out of nowhere. Do not
permit taxi drivers to deviate from desired route.

Be circumspect with members of the press, as terrorists often pose as
journalists. Do not submit to interviews or allow photographs to be made
in or of your home.

Always speak guardedly and caution children to do the same. Never
discuss travel or business plans within hearing of servants.
Surveillants consider children and servants to be a prime source of
information. Always assume that your telephone is tapped.

In elevators, watch for anyone who waits for you to select your floor,
then pushes a button for the one just above or below yours.

If you become aware of surveillance, do not let those watching you know
you are onto them. And certainly never confront them. Immediately notify
your appropriate company representative.

Memorize emergency numbers, and carry change for phone calls.

### Hijackings

The experience of others will be helpful to you if you are the victim of
a hijacking. Blend in with the other airline passengers. Avoid eye
contact with your captors. Remember there may be other hijackers
covertly mixed among the regular passengers.

Although captors may appear calm, they cannot be trusted to behave
reasonably or rationally at all times. Stay alert, but do not challenge
them physically or verbally. Comply with their instructions.

If interrogated, keep answers short and limited to nonpolitical topics.
Carry a family photo; at some point you may be able to appeal to
captors\' family feelings.

Minimize the importance of your job. Give innocuous reasons for
traveling. Never admit to any accusations.

### Armed Assault on the Ground

Hostages taken by ground assault are in a situation similar to hijacking
except that it occurs within buildings. Business offices, banks,
embassies, and trains have been targets. The same advice for dealing
with hijackers applies to ground assaults. Should shooting occur, seek
cover or lie flat on the floor.

### Kidnappings

Kidnapping is a terrifying experience, but you possess more personal
resources than you may be aware of to cope with the situation. Remember,
you are only of value to them alive, and they want to keep you that way.

The common hostage responses of fear, denial, and withdrawal are all
experienced in varying degrees. You may be blindfolded, drugged, handled
roughly, or even stuffed in the trunk of a car. If drugs are
administered, do not resist. Their purpose will be to sedate you and
make you more manageable; these same drugs may actually help you to get
control of your emotions, which should be your immediate goal. If
conscious, follow your captors\' instructions.

### Captivity

A hostage-taking situation is at its worst at the onset. The terrorists
are nervous and unsure, easily irritated, often irrational. It is a
psychologically traumatic moment for the hostage. Violence may be used
even if the hostage remains passive, but resistance could result in
death.

If taken hostage, your best defense is passive cooperation. You may be
terrified, but try to regain your composure as soon as possible and to
organize your thoughts. Being able to behave rationally increases your
chances for survival. The more time that passes, the better your chances
of being released alive.

### Behavior Suggestions

Each captivity is different, but some behavior suggestions apply to
most:

-   Try to establish some kind of rapport with your captors. Family is a
    universal subject. Avoid political dialogues, but listen attentively
    to their point of view. If you know their language, listen and
    observe; and if addressed, use it.

-   Plan on a lengthy stay, and determine to keep track of the passage
    of time. Captors may attempt to confuse your sense of time by taking
    your watch, keeping you in a windowless cell, or serving meals at
    odd hours. However, you can approximate time by noting, for example,
    changes in temperatures between night and day; the frequency and
    intensity of outside noises-traffic, whistles, birds; and by
    observing the alertness of guards.

-   Maintain your dignity and self-respect at all times.

-   Manage your time by setting up schedules for simple tasks,
    exercises, daydreaming, and housekeeping.

-   Build relations with fellow captives and with the terrorists. If
    hostages are held apart, devise ways to communicate with one
    another. Where hostages are moved back and forth, to bathrooms for
    example, messages can be written and left. However, do not
    jeopardize your safety or the safety or treatment of others if
    attempting to communicate with fellow captives seems too risky.

-   Maintain your physical and mental health; it is critical to exercise
    body and mind. Eat food provided without complaint; keep up your
    strength. Request medical treatment or special medicines if
    required.

-   Establish exercise and relaxation programs. Exercise produces a
    healthy tiredness and gives you a sense of accomplishment. If space
    is confined, do isometrics. Relaxation reduces stress. Techniques
    include meditation, prayer, daydreaming.

-   Keep your mind active; read anything available. Write, even if you
    are not allowed to retain your writings. If materials are not
    available, mentally compose poetry or fiction, try to recall
    Scripture, design a house, even \"play tennis\" (as one hostage
    did).

-   Take note of the characteristics of your captors and surroundings:
    their habits, speech, contacts; exterior noises (typical of city or
    country); and other distinctive sounds. This information could prove
    very valuable later.

If selected for early release, consider it an opportunity to help
remaining hostages. Details you have observed on the terrorists and the
general situation can assist authorities with a rescue.

You can expect to be accused of working for the government\'s
intelligence service, to be interrogated extensively, and to lose
weight. You may be put in isolation; your captives may try to disorient
you. It is important that you mentally maintain control.

### Avoidance of Capture or Escape

Efforts to avoid capture or to attempt escape have in most cases been
futile. The decision, however, is a personal one, although it could
affect fellow hostages by placing them in jeopardy. Several other
considerations should be weighed.

To have any chance of success, you should be in excellent physical
condition and mentally prepared to react before the terrorists have
consolidated their position. This, also, is the riskiest psychological
time. You would need to have a plan in mind, and possibly have been
trained in special driving tactics or other survival skills.

If you are held in a country in which you would stand out because of
race or other physical characteristics, if you know nothing of the
language or your location, or if you are held in a country where
anti-American or anti-Western attitudes prevail, you should consider the
consequences of your escape before attempting it.

If you conclude that an escape attempt is worthwhile, take terrorists by
surprise and you may make it. If their organization has a poor track
record of hostage safety, it may be worth the risk.

### Rescue

The termination of any terrorist incident is extremely tense. If an
assault force attempts a rescue, it is imperative that you remain calm
and out of the way. Make no sudden moves or take any action by which you
could be mistaken for a terrorist and risk being injured or killed.

Even in a voluntary release or surrender by the terrorists, tensions are
charged and tempers volatile. Very precise instructions will be given to
the hostages, either by the captors or the police. Follow instructions
precisely. You may be asked to exit with hands in the air, and the
rescue team may search you. You may experience rough treatment until you
are identified and the situation has stabilized.

Finally, it\'s worth keeping in mind three facts about terrorism:

-   The overwhelming majority of victims have been abducted from their
    vehicles on the way to or from work.

-   A large number of people taken hostage ignored the most basic
    security precautions.

-   Terrorist tactics are not static. As precautions prove effective,
    they change their methods. There is a brief \"window of
    vulnerability\" while we learn to counter their new styles.

### Additional Precautions

Do not settle into a routine. Vary times and routes to and from work or
social engagements.

Remember, there is safety in numbers. Avoid going out alone. When
traveling long distances by automobile, go in a convoy. Avoid
backcountry roads and dangerous areas of the city.

A privately owned car generally offers the best security. Avoid luxury
or ostentatious cars. Keep your automobile in good repair and the gas
tank at least half full. Driving in the center lane of a multiple lane
highway makes it difficult for the car to be forced off the road.

## Chapter V. Overseas Crisis Planning

### Culture Shock

Culture shock is the physiological and psychological stress experienced
when a traveler is suddenly deprived of old, familiar cues-language,
customs, etc. Both the seasoned traveler and the first-timer, whether in
transit or taking up residence, are susceptible. The sensation may be
severe or mild, last months or only hours, strike in a remote village or
in a modern European city, in one country, but not another-or not at
all.

Culture shock is most prevalent in the second or third month after
arrival when the novelty of the new country fades. Symptoms typically
disappear by the fourth to sixth month, when the family has settled in
and a sense of equilibrium is restored.

Traveler disorientation is a form of culture shock. You may encounter so
many strange sounds, sights, and smells upon arrival in a country new to
you that you may be more vulnerable to accidents or crime. You may
experience this disorientation on a fast-paced business trip to several
different cultures.

You can combat traveler disorientation by gathering, in advance,
information of a practical nature-knowing the routine at the airport,
which taxis are recommended, knowing the exchange rate, etc. Pay
particular attention to any host nation cultural behavior, which may
affect your security or safety.

As with any type of stress, culture shock may manifest itself both
physically and emotionally. If you should experience it at a time when
you need to be alert to security concerns, your awareness could be
impaired. But if you understand it, you can successfully deal with it.

### Symptoms

In children, you may notice a drop in school work and disruptive or
regressive behavior. Teens may rebel with drugs or sex.

Symptoms to watch for in adults and children include:

-   Sleepiness, apathy, depression

-   Compulsive eating or drinking

-   Exaggerated homesickness

-   Decline in efficiency

-   Negative stereotyping of nationals

-   Recurrent minor illnesses

### Successful Handling

The trauma of culture shock is most successfully dealt with if you:

-   Realize that operating in a new setting with strange sights, sounds,
    smells, and possibly a new language, is a different experience for
    each person in the family.

-   Communicate with each other; have patience and understanding; be
    sensitive to each other's feelings and difficulties.

-   Exercise! Lack of proper rest, diet, and exercise aggravate culture
    shock stress symptoms. Establish a daily exercise schedule quickly.

-   Use the support system of experienced associates at first. Begin to
    participate in the life of the new country to whatever extent
    possible. There are many possibilities for family or individual
    activities within the American and international communities and in
    the new country. Sightsee, join a tennis club, enroll at the
    university, join a church, go to a concert, volunteer with the Red
    Cross, join Rotary.

We never build up an absolute immunity to culture shock. Yet that same
sensitivity to change also means that we have the capacity to be
enriched by the new experience travel brings us. Remember, each positive
effort at stepping into the local culture usually opens yet another door
of opportunity and diminishes the effects of culture shock.

If severe culture shock symptoms persist past six months, seek
professional help.

## Chapter VI. Helping Children Adjust

### Before the Move

Set the stage with children before the transfer process begins. Discuss
the contents of this booklet with them and share what you have learned
about the new country. Keep discussions informal. Bring up selected
subjects during routine activities-dinner or a weekend hike. Be careful
not to be apologetic about any restrictions that living overseas may
place on them.

Talk to them about:

-   Cultural restrictions. Teens need to understand any dress or
    behavior restrictions ahead of time. Help children accept the local
    mores rather than resent them. Make your guidelines clear.

-   Health precautions. It may be the first time children have not been
    able to drink tap water or eat the local fruits, vegetables, and
    meats. They may require shots or pills to prevent the onset of local
    diseases.

-   Stress factors. Discuss with them the stress placed on a family by
    such a move and how they can relieve it. Many children instinctively
    reduce stress through play with others or a pet or by spending hours
    on the phone with friends. Still, they may express anger at
    relocation and anxiety about what the future holds. Flashbacks and
    nightmares are not uncommon in these situations.

### Relocation Crisis

Children are creatures of habit. Settling them into a daily routine
helps them adjust more successfully to any situation-whether it\'s a
normal move, an evacuation, a separation, or a catastrophic disaster
that has affected the whole community.

Give them information on the crisis appropriate to their age level.
Listen to them. Talk to them. Let them express their anxieties.
Acknowledge their feelings.

Encourage them to be physically active. Little ones can play games,
teenagers can help with community needs related to the crisis, such as
organizing activities for younger children or cleaning up earthquake
damage. Vigorous exercise and sports are good for everyone during
periods of high stress.

Make opportunities for them to be with peers. The older the child the
more important this is, but most need to interact with children their
own age. Insist they attend school, as this is the center of life with
peers.

Let them feel that they have complete parental support. In times of
crisis, children regress to earlier developmental stages. Young children
can become almost infantile, forget toilet training, cling to parents.
School-age children may refuse to go to school, be disruptive. Even
teens, who have begun to break away from parents, may need reassurance
that they are still securely within the family circle.

### Stress During Crisis

A crisis is best handled collectively. Parents, teachers, family, and
friends can play a part in helping any child handle a crisis. Adults
should support each other in guiding children through the crisis; there
is no need to feel you are in this alone. Playgroups or support groups
may be formed.

Parents and teachers are models. If they handle a crisis calmly,
children will be less anxious.

Children \"borrow\" strengths from adults around them. Help them put
labels on their reactions; encourage them to verbalize feelings. Play is
a natural form of communication for children; it will discharge
bottled-up feelings. If allowed to work through their fears, most
children will emerge strengthened from a crisis.

Children need to see you express your feelings of fear and grief, too.
By example, parents and other adults can show children how these
feelings are handled. It\'s important that they see not only the
expression of grief and sadness, but that they understand that the
feeling will pass.

Some parents attempt to protect children by not allowing discussion
about a crisis. The healthy route is to let them discuss it until they
can get some psychological distance from it. Verbal repetition is a
natural cathartic process.

Give them information-real details in language appropriate to their
ages. Children are more painfully aware of what\'s going on than adults
realize. And, if it\'s not discussed, what they do know, or think they
know, can become unpleasantly distorted in their minds.

If a child requires medical attention, someone from the immediate family
should stay with him or her. See that the procedures that are to be done
are explained to the child.

## Chapter VII. Security for Children

### Rules for Children

Children must be taught:

-   To keep a parent in sight in public places and to go to a store
    clerk if lost and in need of help.

-   Not to go anywhere with anyone without a parent\'s permission.

-   A password known only to family and close friends.

-   Not to accept packages or letters from people you do not know.

-   To know at least key phrases in the local language.

-   To let someone know their location and plans.

### Rules for Parents

Parents need to:

-   Teach your child never to get into a car or go into a house without
    your permission. Do not leave your child alone in a public place,
    even for a moment.

-   Teach your child your home address and telephone number. Children
    should know how to use public phones. Keep a list of emergency
    numbers by your phone and make children aware of them.

-   Train children not to give personal information over the phone, even
    though the caller purports to be a friend. \"Personal information\"
    includes whether family members are away, travel plans, where
    parents work, or recreation and school routines.

-   Explain the importance of never divulging any information in front
    of strangers.

-   Caution children to always keep doors locked, and never to unlock a
    door to a stranger without adult approval.

-   Listen when your child tells you he or she does not want to be with
    someone; there may be a reason. Have the child present when you
    interview a servant who will be caring for him or her; observe their
    reactions.

### Child-Watch Checklist

Post an information list by each phone. Your sitter should be familiar
with every item.

-   Family name

-   Address

-   Phone number

-   Fire

-   Police

-   Medical

-   Poison

-   Neighbor\'s name

-   Neighbor\'s address

-   Neighbor\'s phone

-   Nearest fire call box

-   Miscellaneous information of importance

### Checklist for Babysitters

Ensure all doors and windows are locked and that doors are not opened to
anyone.

Do not give out any information over the telephone. Simply state that
Mr./Mrs. X cannot come to the phone right now. Take a message.

Never leave the children alone, even for a minute.

Know the dangers to children of matches, gasoline, stoves, deep water,
poisons, falls.

Know the locations of all exits (stairs, doors, windows, fire escapes)
and phones in case of emergency.

List the names and ages of children.

## Chapter VIII. Evacuation

Many evacuations have taken place in past years for reasons of political
instability, acts of terrorism, and natural disasters. In a number of
cases, people have gone back to their new home after a short time; in
others they have not returned at all. Notification times can range from
a couple of hours to several weeks.

No two evacuations are the same. But there are common threads that run
through all; knowing them can make an evacuation easier. What we have
learned, both as a government and from individuals who have been
evacuated, is distilled here for you.

### Preparation

Be prepared. Assume an evacuation could occur at any point and have
everything in place to execute it. It is better to be ready and not need
it, than to need it and be unprepared.

Determine the \"who and where\" with your family. Who should be
contacted and where your family would go in case of an extended
evacuation. This is especially important for single parents; employees
could be required to stay in the new country while children must leave.
Parents should make arrangements for emergency child care before leaving
the United States.

Establish a line of credit to cover emergencies. Obtain individual
credit cards for you and your spouse. Open two checking accounts; use
one as an active account, and keep the other in reserve. If possible,
arrange for your paycheck to be deposited in a U.S. bank. Keep only a
small account in a local bank for currency exchange or local purchases.

Know the emergency evacuation plan of the school. If there is none, be
an active parent organizer and ensure that one is instituted. Join or
start a safety network of parents.

Keep a small bag packed with essentials-clothing changes, snack food
(dry, nonperishable), bottled water, and medications. Small means small;
anything over 10 pounds is not small.

In your residence, group important papers together along with
checkbooks, U.S. credit cards, some traveler\'s checks, a small amount
of cash, and U.S. driver\'s licenses. Maintain a basic emergency supply
of food, water, gasoline, and first-aid supplies.

Meet your neighbors. Learn the location of the nearest hospital, police
station, and friendly embassy or consulate.

Remember pets; have inoculations current and arrange for a suitable home
in case they must be left behind.

### If Evacuated

In the event an evacuation order is given, it is crucial for parents to
discuss with children what is going to happen. Even if there is very
little time before a departure, talk with them about the parent who will
be staying. Reassure them; explain what will take place in the
evacuation. They also need to know that the same rules and routines that
structured their lives during normal times will continue.

Establish a daily routine with the children as soon as possible after
evacuation and relocation. Be sure to incorporate family rituals-bedtime
stories, family meals, church, and pancakes on Saturday morning,
whatever! Accentuate any advantages of the alternate location-museums,
amusement park, proximity to grandma and grandpa.

Minimize separation from the remaining parent as much as possible. Try
not to use day care for a while. The child\'s fear of abandonment will
be intense for a time.

## Chapter IX. Residential Fire Safety

Although fire does not sound as dramatic as terrorism, in fact it kills
far more people each year than does terrorist activity overseas. In many
countries fire regulations do not exist, firefighting equipment is
antiquated, water sources are inadequate, and buildings are constructed
with minimum standards.

Each year thousands of people die in home fires, half of them killed in
their sleep by the toxic gases and smoke. Many who do survive spend
months in hospitals and suffer lifelong physical and emotional scars.
Children are often killed because they panic and try to hide from fire
under beds and in closets.

Most of this devastation can be prevented. In only a few years, the use
of smoke detectors in the United States has cut in half the number of
annual fire fatalities. Fire prevention education is gradually making
the odds even better.

Take these basic steps to protect your family from fire, whether you are
in the United States or overseas:

Use smoke detectors in your home.

Prepare a fire escape plan with your family.

Conduct a fire drill at least once every six months.

### Smoke Detectors

If fire occurs in your home, you may never awaken; smoke and toxic gases
kill quietly and quickly. Yet the same smoke that can kill you if it
activates a smoke detector can save you.

A smoke detector sounds a warning before you can even smell the smoke or
see any flames. Smoke detectors should be installed, on each floor of
the residence. If you have only one, place it on the ceiling outside the
sleeping area.

Smoke detectors must be tested once a month and whenever you return from
vacation. Never paint them. Once a year they should be vacuumed to
remove any dust or cobwebs inside that would interfere with their
functioning.

Be sure everyone in the family recognizes the sound of the alert; test
it with all members in the bedrooms with doors closed to be sure that
they can hear it.

### Fire Escape Plan

Since fire and smoke travel quickly, you have, at most, only minutes to
escape. It is imperative that each member of the family knows what to
do, automatically.

A fire escape plan is your best bet. With your family, draw a floor plan
of your house marking all possible exits. Since fire could block any
exit, always have an alternative way to escape. Know in advance where to
go. Double check exits to be sure they open and that children can handle
doors or windows by themselves.

Show all windows, doors, and outdoor features. Note escape aids such as
a tree or balcony; check to ensure that they would work.

Locate the nearest fire alarm box or the neighbor\'s house. Teach your
children how to report a fire.

Designate a meeting place outside the house. You must know immediately
who may be trapped inside.

Tape a copy of the floor plan by the telephone. Advise household
employees/babysitters (see page 24).

### Fire Drills

Practice your plan! Regular fire drills assure that everyone knows what
to do. Change the imaginary situation from drill to drill. Decide where
the \"fire\" is and what exits are blocked. When small children learn
what to do by rote, they will be less likely to panic in real life
situations.

Pets cannot be considered. The dangers of a fire are overwhelming, and
the primary consideration is saving human lives. Often pets will escape
before you do, anyway.

### Fire Extinguishers

Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher and one smoke
detector. Be sure that the extinguisher works and that you know how to
operate it.

Portable fire extinguishers can be effective on a small, confined fire,
such as a cooking fire. But if a fire is large and spreading, using an
extinguisher may be unsafe; you risk the dangers of inhaling toxic smoke
and having your escape route cut off.

Use a fire extinguisher only after you:

-   Are sure everyone else is out of the building.

-   Have called the fire department.

-   Are certain you can approach the fire safely.

### Use of Window Escapes

Before using a window escape, be sure that the door to the room is
closed; otherwise, a draft from the open window could draw smoke and
fire into the room.

Use an escape ladder or balcony if possible. If there is none, do not
jump-wait for rescue as long as you can. Open a window a few inches at
the top and bottom while you wait; gases will go out through the top and
fresher air will enter through the bottom.

Children must know that it is all right to break a window. Discuss how
to do it, using a baseball bat or a chair. Stand aside to avoid flying
glass shards. Place a rug or blanket over the sill before crawling out.

Lower small children from the window. Do not leave first and expect them
to follow. If they panic and refuse to jump, you will be unable to get
them.

### A Summary of Fire Safety Reminders

After a smoke detector warns you of a fire, you have only a few moments
to escape.

Even concrete buildings are not fireproof. Virtually all the contents of
your home or office will burn very quickly and produce toxic gases that
can overpower you.

Sleep with bedroom doors closed. A closed door can hamper the spread of
a fire, and the chances of a fire starting in a bedroom are remote.

To escape, keep low and crawl on hands and knees. A safety zone of
cleaner air exists nearer the floor.

Once out, no one should be permitted to re-enter a burning house for any
reason. Hold on to children who may impulsively run back inside.

Children panic in fire and tend to attempt hiding as a means of escape.
Train them to react correctly. As you escape, try to close every door
behind you. It may slow the fire\'s progress.

Feel every door before you open it. If it is hot, do not open it. If it
is cool, brace yourself against the door and open it slowly, checking
for fire. A fire that has died down due to lack of oxygen could flare up
once the door is open. If that happens, close the door immediately.
Never waste time getting dressed or grabbing valuables.

If clothes catch fire, drop to the ground and roll to extinguish flames,
or smother the fire with a blanket or rug.

Never run. Teach children to stop, drop, and roll.

### The Final Word

Fires are preventable. The major causes of home fires are:

-   Carelessness with cigarettes. Never smoke in bed; poisonous gases
    from a smoldering mattress can kill long before there are flames.
    After a party, look under cushions for smoldering cigarettes.

-   Faulty electrical wiring. Many homes in lesser-developed countries
    are wired insufficiently to handle the simultaneous use of many
    electrical appliances. Do not overload circuits. Limit appliances
    plugged into the same extension cord. Major appliances should have
    their own heavy-duty circuit. Know where the fuse box is and
    instruct older children and household employees on how to shut off
    power in case of an electrical fire.

Household current and plugs/sockets in many countries are different than
in the United States. Transformers may be required to adapt U.S.
appliances to the local current. Be sure your appliance, transformer,
and the local current are compatible before using.

[Faulty lighting equipment]{.underline} - Check electrical cords for
cracks, broken plugs, poor connections. Use correct size bulbs in lamps,
and be sure shades are not too close to bulbs.

[Carelessness with cooking and heating appliances]{.underline} - Do not
leave food cooking unattended. Have heating system and fireplaces
inspected professionally once a year.

[Children playing with matches]{.underline} - Teach children fire
safety; keep matches and combustibles out of their reach.

## Chapter X. Community Participation in Security

### Safety in Numbers

As you consider the issues of safety and security, remember you are not
alone. Overseas, you have the support and guidance of your company, the
U.S. Embassy, colleagues, and their families. The best security results
from information and support flowing between these entities.

Remember, you also have a responsibility to them. Do your part to
contribute to the safety and security of the community.

### What You Can Do

Keep abreast of current events, not only in the country, but
internationally. Know what\'s going on in the country and in the world
that could affect that country. Watch TV news programs, read newspapers,
attend embassy security briefings periodically. It is your
responsibility to keep current.

Locate yourself in relation to emergency services and places of refuge.
Assist newcomers to do the same.

Other Useful Steps

-   Assemble a list of telephone numbers.

-   Maintain a set of local maps.

-   Meet neighbors and friendly people in your neighborhood.

-   Locate fire department and police stations.

-   Pinpoint nearest hospitals and clinics.

-   Know how to reach friendly diplomatic missions.

-   Know how to get accurate information.

-   Don\'t repeat rumors.

-   Establish an identification (I.D.) system for children.

-   Establish and participate in a neighborhood warden plan and a buddy
    system.

-   Prepare and keep current a telephone notification system.

-   Identify an alternative notification system in the event telephone
    service is lost.

-   Be a good listener. Be sensitive to special needs in your community.
    Single parents and employed couples may need help arranging security
    for their children. People who are ill, pregnant, or have new babies
    may have limited mobility. Elderly, dependent parents are a growing
    concern. Those who are isolated may need help in getting
    information. You can refer those with needs to the appropriate
    person.

## Chapter XI. Conclusion

Although this booklet contains many tips for successful travel and
residence abroad, it is by no means all-inclusive. Additional
information is available from a variety of sources, ranging from travel
brochures, magazines, and books, to conversations with persons who have
lived or traveled to your assigned country.

You can never know too much about what you\'re getting into. Prior
organization and preparation will significantly reduce your anxieties,
lessen the shock of adjustment, and enable you to settle in with
relative ease to a safe and enjoyable experience abroad.