Pub. 5 2016 Issue 3

The CommunityBanker 10 T he family came out of reception on the first day of their visit to Mexico City and onto the steps of the hotel where the souvenir vendors and taxis drivers waited. They were dressed as tourists would be on a sunny, warm day, in sneakers, shorts, and tops with university or college logos on them, or in the case of Dad, a Washington Redskins sweat shirt. The children, ranging from 10 to 16 years old were busy on their iPhones, earbuds in, listening to their tunes or playing a game. Mom had her handbag over her shoulder, open, and her jewelry glinted in the morning sun. Dad, a day sack over his shoul- der, glanced at his Rolex, and then looked through his wallet, declaring in a loud voice” I have 600 bucks which should be enough”. The family started to wander down the street and then stopped while Mom got out a map to check where they were going. The scene described above actually took place in Mexico City and while it is not known if anything untoward happened to the family, their behavior, dress, and lack of environmental awareness were all invitations for trouble. Travelling to new locations is always exciting and experi- encing new cultures is both educational and rewarding. How- ever, when those travelling are unaware or have not prepared themselves, what could have been a dream vacation can turn into a nightmare in seconds. No doubt, as you read the introduction, you will have al- ready spotted what the family’s mistakes were, but in case you missed something, what should they have done to minimize the risk and maintain safe behavior ensuring their security? Pre-trip Preparation - At all times ensure you are prepared for and aware of the security environment you are going to be entering. Just as you know where the dangerous locations are in your home town or city, read up on where you should avoid and make sure you have a mental note of where it is in regards to your hotel, the sites and locations you will want to visit, the area around your hotel. Make sure you have entered your details into the US State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Also, confirm you have the correct insurance in place for the locations you are visiting and also ensure your bank and credit card providers are aware of your travel plans. Think about arranging a separate bank account, charge card, and credit card for when you travel so should you fall victim to theft or an Express Kidnapping you can limit the losses. Local Preparation – Standing outside your hotel and look- ing at a map to confirm where you are going is not the right thing to be doing. Plan your day in your hotel room prior to going out. If necessary, check with the front desk or the con- cierge to confirm that what you are planning to do is feasible and safe. When planning your day, look for and identify on your map, or phone, locations which could be used as ‘safe havens’ should you become concerned, or something occurs. ‘Safe havens’ can be other hotels, shopping malls with good secu- rity, or even banks. They should be somewhere, where you and your family can go to regroup, check your plans, make a phone call, or secure immediate assistance, without compro- mising your safety and security by being in a family huddle on the street; a prime target for street criminals. Appearance – While it is not intended that you should have a totally different set of clothes for when you are travel- ling to new locations, it is advisable to take a look at how By Mark Harris, Vice President, Crisis Response Services Low Profile