Hamilton College - Study Abroad - Predeparture:Health and Special Needs

Skip Main Navigation Home Facts Academics Admission Alumni Campus Life News, Sports, Events Offices & Services Hamilton Home My Hamilton General Information The Student Body Academics Financial Information Athletics Services Contact Alumni Arts and Culture Areas of Study Library Academic Calendar Blackboard Course Catalogue Off-Campus Study Study Abroad Levitt Center Writing Center My Hamilton Visiting Campus Application Process Tuition and Financial Aid Request Info./Contact Us Information for Alumni Information for Parents Alumni Directory Make a Gift Events Alumni Review The Excelsior Campaign Many Voices, One Hamilton Upcoming Events Residential Life Student Activities Arts and Culture College News Events Calendar Athletics Commencement Departments and Offices Employee Directory Phone Numbers Job Opportunities Information for Parents
Skip Section Navigation Study Abroad Events Calendar Foreign Exposure Worldview Photo Contest Study Abroad Resources Off-Campus Study Home Guidelines for Study Abroad Application FAQs Contact Information Concentration Requirements Eligibility Finances/Scholarships Program Options List Transfer Credits Study Abroad in the Fall Pre-departure Resources Before You Leave Predeparture Checklist Culture Shock Health and Special Needs Safety Tips Travel Documents Required Forms Study Abroad Planning Form Academic Leave of Absence Form Housing Proxy Petition For Transferred Credit Study Abroad Evaluation Online Form
	Predeparture: Health and Special Needs Study abroad is an enriching and exciting experience, but changes in culture, food, language, and academic expectations can also be challenging. Those challenges can create or exacerbate both mental stress and physical symptoms. It is crucial to plan ahead to safeguard your health while traveling, and to be prepared for the stresses of adapting to a new situation. All students should be prepared to confront stresses such as jet lag, culture shock, and differences in nutritional and health conditions. If you have special needs (on-going medical condition, counseling, a learning or physical disability), discussing them with your doctor, counselor, or the study abroad advisor, as well as your program provider, is the best way to make sure you are choosing the program that can meet your needs and provide a positive study abroad experience. Here are some basic tips for preparing for a healthier and less stressful period of study abroad. You can find more detailed and country-specific recommendations at the Travel Health Clinic Locator. Physical Exam for Program Application Almost all programs require a physical examination, and many visas do as well. You can have a physical examination free of charge at the Health Center. If you require lab tests, these can be done at the Health Center and billed to your insurance. Immunizations Confirm that your routine immunizations are up-to-date when you have your physical exam. A Hepatitis A vaccination is also recommended for all travelers going abroad. You can make an appointment at the Health Center for this vaccination. If you are traveling anywhere outside Western Europe, you will most likely need additional vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control, your program provider, and the Health Center can help you figure out what immunizations you need. Diann Lynch, the travel nurse at the Health Center, can also tell you how much your immunizations will cost. Once you've been accepted to a program that will require immunizations, contact Ms. Lynch at the Health Center (315 859-4111) as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Most immunizations must be completed at least a month prior to travel, and some require several shots over a one-month period. Be sure to make an appointment early enough to complete all your immunizations in a timely fashion! This is also the time to ask about any special medications required for your destination, such as anti-malarial drugs. All your required immunizations should be recorded in your "yellow book," and you should carry that document with you. Predeparture Routine Medical Examinations Plan ahead and complete any medical checkups that would be scheduled while you are away. This includes dental, vision, and gynecological examinations. Be sure to obtain a copy of any important records (blood type, continuing prescriptions, vision prescriptions, x-rays) you might need for medical care abroad, and carry them with you. Also carry contact information such as phone and fax numbers for your health care providers at home. Medical Insurance Consult your insurance agent to make sure that you have appropriate medical insurance and any other travel insurance you wish to purchase. Be sure that you have coverage for medical evacuation, in the rare case that you would have to be flown back to the U.S. (or to a different country) for medical treatment. Also, check to make sure that your policy covers any continuing treatment you may need for newly acquired medical conditions after you return home. Packing: First Aid Kit You may wish to carry a small kit with bandages, antibiotic cream, aspirin or other non-prescription pain reliever, anti-diarrheal medicine, sun screen, insect repellent, and antihistamines. Packing: Glasses and Contact Lenses Take a back up pair of glasses and/or contact lenses! You should also carry a written prescription for the lenses. In many countries, contact lens solutions will be quite expensive if available, and you may not be able to find the type you need. Carry extra with you. Packing: Prescription Drugs Take enough of any regular prescriptions to cover the time you will be away. This includes any regular prescriptions you use and also special travel medications, such as anti-malarial drugs. Carry prescription drugs in their original containers. Carry written copies of the prescriptions, including the drug's generic name. Pack the containers and the written prescriptions in different places. Health Conditions Abroad Resources Department of State Travel Information World Health Organization (information about infectious disease outbreaks) Centers for Disease Control Student Travel Info	World View Photo Contest First Prize: Katya Hottenstein "Tangled in Color," Peru View winning photos Worldview Photo Contest F08 Share your Worldview! Deadline for entry is December 1. Read the rules and submit your photo!
Copyright © 2008 The Trustees of Hamilton College. All rights reserved. top of page \| printable page \| text: T T T