Health
The UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School hires a program nurse who will maintain regular office hours in the Rössl dormitory on all class days. She can care for minor ailments. The nurse cannot administer shots of any kind nor can she dispense medications. More serious illnesses are directed to a local English-speaking doctor. Emergency situations are referred to the Innsbruck Hospital.
Health recommendations and information for participants on the UNO-Innsbruck Summer School:
Program Nurse
Kathy Shaw, DNP, RN, CDE
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Insurance
All UNO-Innsbruck International Summer School participants are covered under our Study Abroad Insurance Plan. The cost for this insurance is built into the program fees. Details about our insurance plan can be found here.
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COVID-19
Please note that we require all program participants to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, including any boosters that may be required by program administration, local partners and authorities in advance of travel to Austria. No waivers are accepted.
As announced in our orientation sessions, note that we strongly recommend that any participant who is not “up-to-date” with their COVID-19 vaccines gets the booster shot before departure to Europe. If you have any questions or are unsure if you are “up-to-date,” please review this information by the CDC.
Updated information about COVID-19 in preparation of, during, and after the program (June 2023)
FAQ's on Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 related expenses (June 2023)
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Disability Accommodations
The University of New Orleans is committed to providing for the needs of enrolled or admitted students who have disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
University policy calls for reasonable accommodations to be made for students with documented disabilities on an individualized and flexible basis. However, it is the responsibility of students to seek available assistance at the University and to make their needs known. Persons requiring disability-related accommodations for study abroad must notify the program administration at the earliest possible date so that their needs may be properly assessed and reasonably accommodated. -
Visiting the Doctor while Abroad
Every student is covered by the Study Abroad Insurance Plan provided through the program. The insurance will try to arrange Guarantee of Payment with the medical provider so you don’t need to pay out of pocket. If this is not possible, you will need to pre-pay and file a claim with the insurance. Make sure to keep all bills and documentation!
If you go to a doctor in Innsbruck, the cost is approximately 30-50 Euros to see a private doctor. There are clinics available at the hospital, but there is usually a waiting process. There is an emergency room that is open 24 hours a day.
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Prescription Medications
U.S. prescription medicines CANNOT be refilled in Austria or elsewhere in Europe. If you take one or more of the medications listed below, or a derivative, please bring enough of your medication - or extra in case of damage or loss - to last for your entire time in Europe. These medications can also NOT be sent in the mail as they would very likely be confiscated in customs. Specific medications are as follows :
Microgestin
Vyvanse
Beyaz
Lexapro
Loestrin
Finasteride
Adderall
Flurazepan
Remeron
Dexmethylphenide
Generess
Minastrin
Intuniv
Prozac
Reclipsen
Trazadone
Concerta
Omeprazole
Celexa
Asthma inhalers
Migraine medications
Or any other medications that require a prescription
- To be able to bring enough medicine for 6 weeks (or longer), ask your insurance for a “vacation override” to be able to fill more than one prescription at once.
- Always bring prescription medication in your carry-on luggage.
- Do not have prescription drugs sent to you. They will be held up in customs and may be confiscated.
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Over-the-Counter Medications
Bring any over-the counter medication you are used to taking, especially cold medicine. Many students develop a cold at some point during the program and you will feel better more quickly if you can take the medicine you are used to. Local Austrian pharmacies will not have American brands you are familiar with.
Bring the following U.S. drugstore items:
Cough Syrup
Headache and general pain medication
Cold and flu medications
Multivitamins
Band-Aids
Imodium
Antacid tablets
Analgesics like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen)
Nasal decongestants and Sinus medications
Antibiotic cream
Cough drops and sore throat lozenges
- If you have diabetes and are on insulin, please bring an extra pump or extra injectables in case of breakage or loss.
- Talk to your family doctor about getting a prescription for – and bringing - a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- If you frequently get strep throat or bronchitis, pink eye, or migraines, please bring the medicines you usually take for these problems.
- The nurse does not have medications to dispense.
- The nurse cannot administer shots of any kind.
- Pepcid, Prilosec, Tums, and Benadryl are nearly impossible to get in most European countries.
- Pain medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen is rather expensive in Europe.
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Specific Precautions
Innsbruck is in a valley, surrounded by the Alps. The weather can change quickly so bring a warm jacket and rain gear, preferably something with a hood. Air conditioning is rare, so bring clothing for hot days and for travel to southern countries.
Austria is one of the European countries where Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is found. TBE is an illness caused by a virus spread through tick bites. You can also get TBE by eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy products (such as milk and cheese) from infected goats, sheep, or cows. Students should familiarize themselves with this information from the Center for Disease Control on TBE and how to prevent it. Additional information will also be made available to students on site in the “Innsbruck Guide” handout and on the guided hike with mountain safety instructions.
Water shoes ……beware of sea urchins and their spines especially if you are planning a trip to the beaches in Croatia.
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Tips to Prevent & Overcome JETLAG
Get a good night’s sleep for several nights before your departure. Go to bed a little earlier and get up a little earlier than usual to help prepare your internal clock for the time change.
The time change between CST and CET is 7 hours+. Set your watch when you arrive in Europe.
Drink lots of water on the plane. Buy a big bottle of water after you get through security. Drink 2-3 liters of water on a travel day. Avoid caffeine.
On arrival day, do not take a nap. Exercise and natural light help overcome jetlag. Enjoy the fresh mountain air in Innsbruck by taking a stroll through Old Town or a jog along the Inn river.
Power through the day and go to sleep at about 10:00 pm.
Don’t drink alcohol! Re-hydrate from the long flight with lots of water.
Safety
All students travelling abroad are encouraged to complete the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), an initiative by the U.S. Department of State: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist you in an emergency. https://travelregistration.state.gov
Students are also encouraged to review the State Department's recommendations for people travelling abroad.
Another good handout on Safety and Security for US Students Travelling Abroad was prepared by the FBI.
The University of New Orleans Division of International Education does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or effectiveness of the following information. This information is presented only as suggestions for a safe trip and is intended generally to help students and their families in planning their international travel and education experiences.
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Travel Advisories
You should realize that anytime you travel abroad there is potential for danger due to crime, political unrest, unforeseen "Acts of God," strikes that will delay your travel plans, etc. Therefore, we recommend that, if you have any concerns about traveling to a particular place, check the US Government Travel Advisories.
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General Safety Recommendations
- Familiarize yourself with the State Department’s travel site and recommendations: travel.state.gov
- Make sure you have a working cell phone for your entire time abroad and share your number with the program administration.
- Beware of becoming intoxicated and do not get involved in drugs.
- Buddy system – stay together, travel in SMALL groups.
- Be cautious when you meet new people and NEVER bring them into the dormitory or your accommodations while travelling on weekends.
- Blend in: Be mindful of appearance and behavior. Don’ be loud and obnoxious. Avoid expensive accessories when traveling. Don’t flash money/passport.
- Be aware of your surroundings: “If you see something suspicious, say something.”
- Know the local emergency numbers: Always carry your UNO-Innsbruck ID!
- Remain up-to-date on current events – at your destination and at home.
- Photocopy important travel documents – leave a copy at home.
- Report any unusual activity or suspicious persons to the UNO-Innsbruck Administration.
- Be aware of the political situation wherever you are. Stay away from places that are experiencing political unrest.
- Keep away from areas known to have large concentrations of residents aligned with interests unfriendly to the United States.
- Avoid events with large crowds, such as concerts, sporting matches, or demonstrations of any sort.
- Avoid the media and don't feel like you have to comment or give an interview.
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Safety Recommendations for Independent Travel
The general recommendations are still in effect.
- Let program administrators and your family know where you are going.
- Make sure your cell phone is working while you are travelling (charger, credit, not airplane mode).
- Avoid events with large crowds, such as concerts, sporting matches, or demonstrations of any sort.
- Keep your passport safe! Don’t keep all your travel documents and money in one place.
- Inform yourself about the local U.S. embassies and consulates.
- Don’t leave your bags or belongings unattended at any time.
- Don’t let anyone give you anything to carry when traveling.
- Have sufficient funds and/or a credit card on hand to purchase emergency items such as transportation tickets.
- Don’t flash your money and be discreet when showing your passport.
These are just a few general rules you should be aware of. Most often, common sense will tell you what to do. Therefore, it is imperative that you avoid a situation in which common sense does not prevail--being intoxicated and using drugs.
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Suggested Guidelines to Ensure a Safe Trip : Students
In study abroad, as in other settings, participants can have a major impact on their own health and safety through the decisions they make before and during their program and by their day-to-day choices and behaviors.
- Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for their personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.
- Read and carefully consider all materials issued by the sponsor that relate to safety, health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country(ies).
- Conduct their own research on the country(ies) they plan to visit with particular emphasis on health and safety concerns, as well as the social, cultural, and political situations.
- Consider their physical and mental health, and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program, and make available to the sponsor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.
- Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.
- Inform parents/guardians/families and any others who may need to know about their participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed of their whereabouts and activities.
- Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of the program.
- Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health and safety concerns to the program staff or other appropriate individuals before and/or during the program.
- Accept responsibility for their own decisions and actions.
- Obey host-country laws
- Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others, and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.
- Avoid illegal drugs and excessive or irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
- Follow the program policies for keeping program staff informed of their whereabouts and well-being.
- Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and legal system services in the host country.
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Suggested Guidelines to Ensure a Safe Trip : Parents/Guardians/Families
In study abroad, as in other settings, parents, guardians, and families can play an important role in the health and safety of participants by helping them make decisions and by influencing their behavior overseas:
- Be informed about and involved in the decision of the participant to enroll in a particular program.
- Obtain and carefully evaluate participant program materials, as well as related health, safety, and security information.
- Discuss with the participant any of his/her travel plans and activities that may be independent of the study abroad program.
- Engage the participant in a thorough discussion of safety and behavior issues, insurance needs, and emergency procedures related to living abroad.
- Be responsive to requests from the program sponsor for information regarding the participant.
- Keep in touch with the participant.
- Be aware that the participant rather than the program administration may most appropriately provide some information.