Health and Safety Matters

Disclosure

The first step to staying healthy in India is to fully disclose any pre-existing health issues or concerns on the Medical Form before you go.  This allows Alliance to be sure that your needs can be accommodated in the local context, and to anticipate any care that you might require.

Failure to fully disclose any and all physical or mental preconditions might not only impact our ability to provide adequate care in India, it might be grounds for you to be sent home.   Please know that all medical information is treated confidentially by Alliance staff, and shared only on a need-to-know basis. 

Prescriptions

If you plan to take any prescription drugs while in India, we recommend that you take a supply to last you the entire term.  Also pack a prescription from your doctor for any medications you take to India.  You should consult your doctor prior to departure about the need for any monitoring while in India, and inform the Alliance staff if you anticipate that any might be required. 

If you plan to purchase a medication in India, you will need to bring a copy of your prescription and possibly see an Indian physician to obtain a new one.  Be sure to have your physician note whether generics or alternatives are acceptable in case the brand name is not available in India.  Prescriptions may be sent through the mail, but they may be stolen or held up in customs. It is best to bring all of the medication you think you will need for the term.

Over-the-counter medications

Most over-the-counter medications are available in some form in India, and are usually much less expensive.  Be sure to consult your physician before departure if you have any concerns about allergies to over-the-counter medications or generic versions of brand names that you use in the U.S.  

Food and water

Paying attention to the food and water you consume is the number one way to stay healthy in India.  You'll be given a thorough overview  of do's and don'ts during your onsite orientation, and travel guides such as the Lonely Planet offer good standard rules to live by, but the first rule of thumb is: HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!  Dehydration is a leading cause for students having to seek medical attention, and is the most easily preventable.  

Of course, you want to make sure that the water you consume does not make you sick.  Filtered water will be available at the program center and in your housing placements.  Plan to carry a plastic bottle around with you to fill up wherever you can, and to always have handy.  When you are eating out, always ask for bottled water instead of drinking whatever is provided to you. Bottled water is inexpensive and widely available. 

Also pay attention as you are showering--try not to let the tap water inadvertently pass your lips--and when you are brushing your teeth, use filtered or bottled water. 

Be aware of plates or glasses that are still wet, and watch out for juice drinks that have water blended into them--even ice cream scoops left in water can be the cause of great discomfort.  Coffee and tea are always safe choices, as they have been boiled.  Soft drinks, too, are a safe bet.

For food, fruits and salads are the main culprits.  Rule of thumb: if it is cooked, it is okay.  Another rule of thumb: if it can be peeled, then peel it and it should be okay.  Grapes, for example, are not a good idea, nor the tempting salad fixings you may see. 

That said, chances are good that at some point you will succumb to something food or water-borne.  In most cases, though it will not be fun, it will pass within 48-72 hours.  The key is to keep yourself well-hydrated to flush it out of your system.  Many students like to bring Emergen-C electrolyte packets with them from the U.S. to help combat dehydration, either heat- or stomach-related. 

As with all health-related matters, keep the resident staff fully informed about how you're feeling, even if you don't think it's anything serious.  Our staff is familiar with the kinds of medical issues U.S. students experience in India, and it is important that they be able to keep tabs on how you are doing. 

Street smarts

Staying safe in India involves many of the same behaviors as staying safe anywhere in the world.  Be aware of who and what is around you, avoid putting yourself in risky situations, and dress and behave in culturally appropriate ways in order to avoid making yourself a target. 

Another component of personal safety that students often neglect is road safety, which is actually the number one cause of American fatalities overseas.  India in particular has very high rates of road-related fatalities, and students should maintain high vigilance as they are walking (on streets which rarely have sidewalks), speak up if you are in a vehicle with a driver who is behaving recklessly, and use seatbelts wherever available. 

Alliance resident staff will provide a thorough orientation to personal safety matters, with local and culture-specific tips for minimizing risk. 

We want you to stay safe and healthy throughout your study abroad experience, so please never hesitate to let Alliance staff know if you have any concerns about your health or safety.   

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