While the types of work and activities undertaken during overseas placement may vary from country to country, there are other aspects that can have potential health and safety implications. These include:

• The country’s own health and safety legislation and safety standards;
• The climatic conditions;
• Cultural and language differences (accepted practices, local laws and unfamiliarity with the placement locations and surrounding areas (personal safety, no-go areas, areas of high crime, safe use of transport, etc);
• Long-haul travel (jet-lag, fatigue, difference in local hours, deep vein thrombosis risks etc); and
• Contracting illnesses, receiving injuries and obtaining medical treatment (venomous animals, contagious diseases, vaccinations, contaminated drinking water, local health care arrangements, contacting emergency services)

These may also affect you during your own time while on placement.

It is important that, before undertaking any EU or international placement, you discuss the necessary arrangements that need to be in place and what you require to do in preparation with your Placement/Visiting Tutor. An additional consideration must be to ensure that you have sufficient insurance cover in place for your time abroad, sufficient time left on your passport and a relevant visa if necessary.

You may find the following websites useful:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk

National Health Service- health advice for travellers on How to get medical treatment abroad

Taking prescribed drugs abroad: Information from NHS Choices