how to manage safety on a student travel program to china
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20 years of experience leading students to developing countries
Authentic and rugged Challenge students in some of the worlds
most remote destinations Over 200000 days in the field with students Fantastic safety record Work with high school students, college
students and educators
Where There Be Dragons
Go beyond being a tourist – be a traveler Opportunities for rich language study Transformative opportunities for students Higher rewards come higher risks Expect and plan for something to go wrong,
and when it does, you are ready
Experiential Education
Strong desire to see students go to China What are some of the major concerns?
Perspective of Mandarin Teachers
Multi-layered – each layer supports another 5 layers:
◦ Planning◦ Communications◦ Supervision◦ Judgment and decision making◦ Procedures and policies
Swiss Cheese Approach to RM
Staffing◦ 4:1 ratio ideal◦ Ways to share the workload (Intern, parents)◦ Training eg. WFA◦ Complementing each other
Planning - Staff
Materials – CPM and setting expectations Admissions – what are students bringing
◦ Allergies and examples◦ Other issues
Planning - Students
Know where you are going Know the risks of the areas Know the support you can likely see
Planning - Course Area Guide
Teach students about the pitfalls you know about China
Partner with them in RM – open their eyes. We can’t be with them at every decision.
Combine lessons on risk with fun experiential activities. E.g. Scavenger hunt
Cultural do’s and don'ts Roles of the day Example of another lesson in the handout
First 72 hours
Document important events Create contact cards Have a plan to contact HQ – if something
big goes down you’ll need support ‘Hotphone’ Keeping people in the loop back home:
◦ Yaks/blogs◦ Calls◦ Emails
Communications
Partner organizations – SOS International◦ Medical advice on facilities◦ Work with others in the field◦ Prescriptions◦ Evacuations and examples
Communications
Know thy students◦ Skills/knowledge/abilities
Remaining Aware◦ 2 steps ahead of the students◦ Red flags – behaviour, actions, etc.
Balcony Perspective
Supervision
Not everything will go according to plan Need to be making decisions on the fly
Judgment & Decision Making
Johari’s Window
GoStop and makeRM plan
No GOStop and makeRM plan
Low Consequence
High Consequence
Low Probability High Probability
Medbag Student medications Unsupervised time Red rules – why and how. Letter example. Homestays Hospital checklist Transportation
Procedures and Policies