📚 How to Ensure Personal Safety While Studying Abroad | 海外留学期间如何保障个人安全
Studying abroad is a life-changing adventure, but it also places you in unfamiliar environments where personal safety can become a real concern. From petty theft to natural disasters, international students must proactively manage risks without letting anxiety overshadow the experience. This guide offers practical, actionable steps to safeguard your well-being, covering everything from pre-departure research to daily habits and emergency preparedness.
海外留学是一次脱胎换骨的经历,但身处陌生环境也让个人安全成为必须正视的课题。从街头扒窃到自然灾害,留学生需要主动管理风险,又不必让焦虑掩盖留学的精彩。本指南提供实用可操作的建议,涵盖行前调研、日常习惯与应急准备,全方位守护你的海外安全。
1. Research Your Destination and Local Laws | 了解目的地与当地法律
Start by familiarising yourself with the safety landscape of your host country and city. Check reliable sources such as official government travel advisories, local police websites, and forums where current international students share insights. Identify neighbourhoods with higher crime rates, understand local scams targeting foreigners, and learn which areas to avoid after dark.
首先要熟悉留学国与所在城市的安全环境。查阅官方政府旅行警告、当地警方网站以及在校留学生分享的论坛帖子。识别高犯罪率街区,了解针对外国人的常见骗局,并明确哪些区域夜间应避免前往。
Knowing the local laws is equally crucial. Actions that are legal in your home country—such as jaywalking, drinking in public, or certain gestures—may be offences abroad. In some countries, even insulting the monarchy or carrying a penknife can result in severe penalties. Memorise the local emergency number (often different from 911 or 999) and know how to contact your country's embassy or consulate.
了解当地法律同样重要。一些在家乡合法的行为——比如乱穿马路、公共场合饮酒或某些手势——在海外可能构成违法。在某些国家,冒犯王室或携带小刀都可能导致严厉处罚。熟记当地紧急求助号码(通常不是 911 或 999),并掌握联系本国使领馆的方式。
2. Secure Your Accommodation | 确保住宿安全
Choose housing in a well-lit, populated district within a reasonable distance from campus. When renting private accommodation, verify that windows, doors, and locks are in good condition. If ground-floor windows are accessible, request additional security bars or sensors. Always check that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are functional, and ask about the building's fire evacuation plan.
选择距离校园合理、照明良好且人口稠密的街区居住。租用私人房源时,核实门窗和锁具完好。如底层窗户易于闯入,要求加装防盗栏杆或感应器。务必检查烟雾探测器和一氧化碳报警器是否正常,并了解楼宇的消防撤离方案。
Never let strangers into your building and avoid posting your exact address publicly on social media. If you lose a key, have the lock changed immediately. Consider using a doorstop alarm for extra security when inside, especially if living alone.
切勿让陌生人进入楼内,也不要在社交媒体上公开自己的确切住址。钥匙遗失应立即更换锁芯。独自居住时,可考虑在室内使用门阻警报器以增加安全保障。
3. Keep Important Documents Safe | 保管好重要证件
Store your passport, visa, and other official documents in a fireproof safe or a locked drawer. Carry a colour photocopy or a scanned digital version on your phone, but avoid carrying the original passport unless absolutely necessary. In many countries, police may request identification, so a student ID and a copy of your passport page should suffice for daily use.
将护照、签证等官方文件保存在防火保险箱或上锁抽屉中。日常出行携带彩色复印件或手机中的扫描件,除非必要不要随身携带护照原件。许多国家警察可能查验身份,学生证加上护照页复印件通常足以应对。
Keep an encrypted backup of all important documents in a secure cloud service. Share access with a trusted family member back home. In the event of theft or loss, having these copies will dramatically speed up the replacement process at your embassy or consulate.
将所有重要文件加密备份至安全的云服务中,并向国内家人分享访问权限。一旦被盗或遗失,这些副本能极大加快使领馆的补办流程。
4. Stay Connected and Share Your Itinerary | 保持联系并分享行程
Inform at least one friend or family member of your daily plans, especially if you are travelling to a new city or attending late-night events. Share your live location through a trusted app with a designated person for the duration of the outing. This habit can be lifesaving if you become lost, injured, or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.
每天至少让一位朋友或家人知晓你的行程,尤其当你前往新城市或参加夜间活动时。通过可信应用与指定联系人实时共享位置,持续整个外出过程。如果迷路、受伤或陷入困境,这一习惯可能挽救生命。
Schedule regular check-in calls or messages. If you miss a check-in, your contact back home should have a pre-agreed action plan, such as calling your landlord, contacting the international student office, or reaching out to local authorities.
安排定期的报平安电话或信息。如果错过报到,国内联系人应能按预案行动,比如联系房东、国际学生办公室或当地警方。
5. Practice Street Smarts and Avoid Risky Areas | 街头安全意识,避开危险区域
Walk confidently and with purpose, even if you are unsure of directions. Use your phone's map with earphones in only one ear so you remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid displaying expensive jewellery, high-end electronics, or large amounts of cash in public. Thieves often target those who appear distracted or wealthy.
即便不辨方向,也要保持自信地行走。使用手机导航时仅戴一只耳机,保持对周围环境的警觉。避免在公共场合显露贵重首饰、高档电子产品或大量现金。盗贼常盯上那些看起来心不在焉或穿戴奢侈的人。
At night, stick to well-lit main roads, walk facing traffic, and stay away from alleys and parks. If you must walk alone, carry a personal alarm and hold your phone ready to dial the emergency number. Trust your intuition—if a place feels unsafe, leave immediately.
夜间出行坚持走灯光明亮的主路,面向车流行走,远离小巷和公园。若必须独行,随身携带个人报警器,并将手机预拨好紧急呼叫。相信直觉——如果感觉不安全,立即离开。
6. Use Public Transport Safely | 安全使用公共交通
Research the public transport system before your journey; know the last train or bus times, and identify official taxi or ride-share options. When using ride-hailing apps, match the licence plate, car model, and driver's photo before entering. Sit in the back seat and share the trip details with a friend.
出行前熟悉公共交通系统;了解末班车时间,并确认正规出租车或网约车选项。使用网约车时,上车前核对车牌、车型和司机照片。坐到后排,并将行程详情分享给朋友。
On buses and trains, choose seats near the driver or in carriages with other passengers rather than empty sections. Keep your bag on your lap and loop the strap around your arm to deter snatch-and-run thieves. If you feel harassed, move to a different carriage or alert transport staff at the next stop.
在公交和列车上,选择靠近司机或与其他乘客同厢的座位,避免空荡车厢。背包放大腿上,并将背带绕在手臂上以防抢包贼。感觉受到骚扰时,移往其他车厢或在下一站告知工作人员。
7. Protect Your Digital Life and Privacy | 保护数字生活与隐私
Use strong, unique passwords for your university accounts, banking apps, and personal email. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions; if you must, use a reputable VPN service. Cybercriminals often target students through phishing emails disguised as university or government notices—always verify the sender's address.
为大学账户、银行应用和个人邮箱设置强且唯一的密码,并尽可能启用双重验证。避免使用公共 Wi-Fi 进行敏感交易;必要时,使用信誉良好的 VPN 服务。网络犯罪分子常通过伪装成大学或政府通知的钓鱼邮件攻击学生——务必核实发件人地址。
Be mindful of geotags and check-ins on social media. Posting real-time locations can alert potential stalkers or burglars that your accommodation is empty. Adjust privacy settings so your posts are visible only to trusted friends, and avoid sharing details about your financial situation or daily routines.
注意社交媒体上的位置标签和签到。实时发布地点可能让跟踪者或盗窃者知道你住所无人。调整隐私设置只让信任的朋友看到动态,避免分享财务情况或每日作息细节。
8. Be Cautious with Alcohol and Social Events | 饮酒和社交活动中保持谨慎
Drinking is a common part of student life in many countries, but overconsumption dramatically increases your vulnerability. Never accept drinks from strangers or leave your drink unattended. Drink spiking can happen anywhere, and symptoms like dizziness or confusion can be mistaken for normal intoxication, so remain vigilant.
饮酒在许多国家的学生生活中很常见,但过量摄入会大幅增加你的脆弱性。绝不要接受陌生人递来的饮料,也不让自己的饮品离开视线。酒水偷加药物在任何地方都可能发生,头晕或神志不清等症状易被误认为正常醉酒,因此要保持警惕。
Plan how you will get home before going out. Share your location with a trusted friend and agree to leave together. If a friend becomes overly intoxicated or ill, seek medical help immediately without fear of getting into trouble—many universities have an amnesty policy for alcohol-related emergencies.
出门前就规划好如何回家。与信赖的朋友共享位置并约定一起离场。如果朋友过度醉酒或不适,立刻寻求医疗帮助,不必担心惹上麻烦——许多大学对饮酒相关的紧急情况有特赦政策。
9. Learn Basic Self-Defence and Emergency Phrases | 学习基本自卫与紧急用语
Taking a basic self-defence class before or after arriving can boost your confidence and provide simple techniques to escape dangerous grabs. Many campus recreation centres offer free or low-cost workshops. Physical confrontation should be the absolute last resort—your primary goal is to flee to a safe place.
出发前或抵达后参加基础自卫课程能增强自信,学会摆脱危险擒拿的简单技巧。许多校园活动中心提供免费或低价的工作坊。肢体冲突应是万不得已的最后手段——首要目标是逃到安全地带。
Learn key phrases in the local language beyond 'help': 'I need the police,' 'Fire,' 'I am lost,' 'I need a doctor,' and 'That person is following me.' Being able to shout these with correct pronunciation can attract timely assistance from bystanders who might otherwise ignore unfamiliar accents.
除“救命”外,学会当地语言的关键短语:“我需要警察”“着火了”“我迷路了”“我需要医生”“那个人在跟踪我”。能用正确发音喊出这些话,能及时换来旁人的帮助,他们可能原本会忽略带口音的喊叫。
10. Know Your School’s Support Services and Emergency Procedures | 了解学校支持服务及应急程序
Almost every university has an international student office, a campus security team, and a mental health counselling centre. Save their numbers in your phone and know the location of the nearest blue-light emergency phone or security booth on campus. Many institutions also offer a late-night escort service to walk you safely to your accommodation.
几乎每所大学都有国际学生办公室、校园安保队和心理咨询中心。将这些号码存入手机,并知道最近的校园紧急报警柱或安保亭的位置。许多学校还提供深夜护送服务,安全陪你走回住所。
Attend orientation safety briefings and register for any emergency alert systems your university uses. These systems can send SMS, email, or push notifications about threats such as severe weather, active shooters, or building evacuations. Familiarise yourself with the nearest exit routes in every building you use regularly.
参加迎新安全介绍会,并注册学校使用的各类紧急通知系统。这类系统可通过短信、邮件或推送通知发送威胁警告,如恶劣天气、枪击事件或建筑疏散。在每栋你经常出入的建筑内,熟悉最近的安全出口路线。
11. Build a Trusted Local Network | 建立可信任的本地社交圈
Forming genuine friendships with local students and other long-term residents can provide an invaluable safety net. Locals can warn you about dangerous streets, unreliable taxi companies, or cultural norms that might put you at risk inadvertently. Avoid isolating yourself within an expat-only bubble; integration boosts safety by increasing the number of people who look out for you.
与本地学生和长期居民建立真诚友谊,能提供无价的安全网。当地人能提醒你危险街道、不靠谱的出租车公司,或可能无意间招惹风险的文化禁忌。避免将自己局限在同胞小圈子里;融入当地生活能让更多人关照你,从而提升安全。
Get involved in student clubs, volunteer projects, or sports teams. These environments naturally generate a support system where members notice if you are absent or distressed. A trusted local friend can also help you navigate tricky situations, such as disputes with landlords or interactions with the police.
参与学生社团、志愿者项目或体育团队。这些环境自然形成支持系统,圈内人会注意到你的缺席或异常。一位可信的本地朋友还可以帮你处理棘手事宜,比如与房东的纠纷或与警察打交道。
12. Prepare for Natural Disasters or Health Emergencies | 应对自然灾害或健康紧急情况
Depending on your destination, you may face risks such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, or extreme heatwaves. Know the local early warning signals and identify the nearest shelter or high ground. Keep a basic emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, a torch, batteries, a first-aid kit, and copies of your key documents in a waterproof bag.
根据留学目的地不同,你可能面临地震、飓风、洪水或极端热浪等风险。熟知当地预警信号,并找到最近的庇护所或高地。准备一个基础应急包,装入水、不易腐烂的食物、手电筒、电池、急救包以及主要文件的防水复印件。
Register with a local doctor and understand how the health system works in your host country. Keep a digital record of your blood type, allergies, and pre-existing conditions, translated into the local language if necessary. Sign up for the study abroad health insurance recommended by your university and always carry the policy number and emergency hotline on your person.
在当地医生处注册,并搞清留学国医疗体系的运作方式。保存一份记载血型、过敏史和既往病史的电子档案,并将其翻译成当地语言。购买学校推荐的留学医疗保险,随身携带保单号和紧急热线号码。
Published by TutorHao | Study Abroad Safety Series | aleveler.com
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