Health & Safety
While at Purdue, exchange students
must practice the same safety and health precautions they would at home. Some
ways students can practice health and safety are:
- Use common
sense
- Stay away
from dangerous areas
- Do not
travel alone
- Keep
informed about the local news
- Inform
others of plans to go to town or travel
- Be aware of
surroundings
- Do not
drink excessively
- Eat healthy
- Use caution
interacting with strangers
- Avoid
illegal drugs
- Be cautious
in giving a phone number, address or email address
- Get enough
rest
- Do not
leave luggage, purses, book bags unattended
- Keep money
and other valuables in a safe place
- Stay in
well-lit, heavily traveled streets
- Accept
responsibility for decisions and actions made
- Do not
hitchhike
- Travel
light
- Keep
emergency numbers handy
Safety around Purdue
Purdue University and the greater
Lafayette community are relatively safe. Most crimes that take place involve
personal belongings. As in all cities, you are advised to be sensible and to
walk accompanied rather than alone at night.
The Purdue police department provides
information on safety and security initiatives, services on campus, local
hospitals, and local media outlets. Purdue police protect and serve the
university.
At Purdue, there are yellow
emergency call boxes all over campus. They are regularly spaced yellow posts
marked by a blue light on top. Students can call the Purdue police from these
emergency boxes if the student is in danger or needs help.
Safety when Traveling
When traveling, exchange students
should keep travel documents and money close. Keeping a photocopy of the
passport separate from the passport is a good plan. Students need to take extra
caution when traveling to a major US city.
Health Insurance
Purdue University
requires exchange students to have health insurance coverage effective during
the entire time in the United States. Exchange students can complete an
insurance waiver
form if they already have insurance that meets the
requirements. International students can purchase the Purdue University
Student Health Insurance plan if they do not have
insurance.
Culture
Shock
Culture shock is the
feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to
an unfamiliar culture, way of life or set of attitudes. For some people the
bout with culture shock is brief and hardly noticeable. For most people,
culture shock is something to deal with over a period of at least several
months. To lessen the culture shock students should focus on goals being
abroad, learn about the location beforehand, see new things, meet new friends,
appreciate the difference, establish a routine, be flexible and ask questions.
Emergency Contact
Information
In the US, people can dial
911 for an emergency. Dialing 911 will call the police, fire, or an ambulance
for an emergency. The Purdue police number is 765-494-8221. The International
Programs in Agriculture office phone number is 765-494-6876.