Managing Safety on a Student Travel Program to

ChinaMatt Burton

Yin Shiqi

20 years of experience leading students to developing countries

Authentic and rugged Challenge students in some of the worlds

most remote destinations Over 200000 days in the field with students Fantastic safety record Work with high school students, college

students and educators

Where There Be Dragons

Go beyond being a tourist – be a traveler Opportunities for rich language study Transformative opportunities for students Higher rewards come higher risks Expect and plan for something to go wrong,

and when it does, you are ready

Experiential Education

Strong desire to see students go to China What are some of the major concerns?

Perspective of Mandarin Teachers

Transportation and driving Crime Social unrest Natural disasters

Main Risks in China

Multi-layered – each layer supports another 5 layers:

◦ Planning◦ Communications◦ Supervision◦ Judgment and decision making◦ Procedures and policies

Swiss Cheese Approach to RM

Planning

Staffing◦ 4:1 ratio ideal◦ Ways to share the workload (Intern, parents)◦ Training eg. WFA◦ Complementing each other

Planning - Staff

Materials – CPM and setting expectations Admissions – what are students bringing

◦ Allergies and examples◦ Other issues

Planning - Students

Know where you are going Know the risks of the areas Know the support you can likely see

Planning - Course Area Guide

Teach students about the pitfalls you know about China

Partner with them in RM – open their eyes. We can’t be with them at every decision.

Combine lessons on risk with fun experiential activities. E.g. Scavenger hunt

Cultural do’s and don'ts Roles of the day Example of another lesson in the handout

First 72 hours

Communications

Document important events Create contact cards Have a plan to contact HQ – if something

big goes down you’ll need support ‘Hotphone’ Keeping people in the loop back home:

◦ Yaks/blogs◦ Calls◦ Emails

Communications

Partner organizations – SOS International◦ Medical advice on facilities◦ Work with others in the field◦ Prescriptions◦ Evacuations and examples

Communications

Student Check-ins◦ Daily group◦ Individual (x3)◦ Trust and confidence to share

Communications

Supervision

Know thy students◦ Skills/knowledge/abilities

Remaining Aware◦ 2 steps ahead of the students◦ Red flags – behaviour, actions, etc.

Balcony Perspective

Supervision

Judgment & decisions making

Not everything will go according to plan Need to be making decisions on the fly

Judgment & Decision Making

Johari’s Window

GoStop and makeRM plan

No GOStop and makeRM plan

Low Consequence

High Consequence

Low Probability High Probability

Policies and Procedures

Medbag Student medications Unsupervised time Red rules – why and how. Letter example. Homestays Hospital checklist Transportation

Procedures and Policies

For further information contact:

matt@wheretherebedragons.com