Health & safety of International Students

Health

Your student year can be ruined by a medical emergency or sudden illness while studying in Canada. Without an adequate coverage, the medical expenses could ruin you and your family. Some hospitals in Canada do not even admit patients without proper health insurance. An adequate medical coverage protects you against such emergency situations.

As an international student you can be covered by:

• iMED for the first few months;
• MSP for the length of your stay;

iMED is a basic insurance plan. It is required as a condition of registering as an international student and serves to covers all new international students.

Getting your iMED Card

The iMED card of the students shall be sent to them via email. This mail should be printed and kept safely at all times. If you do not receive your card, you must contact David Cummings Insurance Services at info@david-cummings.com or call at 604.228.8816.

iMED Cover

Medical benefits under iMED Cover include emergency hospitalization and medical services (including outpatient treatment at a doctor’s clinic) for an unexpected sickness or injury.

Cost

Your UBC student account will be billed 0 (or 0 if you are a one-term exchange student). You must check if you have assessed student fees for health insurance.

When does the student get covered

One-term Exchange Students

The students are covered for their 4 month term as follows:

• Winter Term 1: August 31, 2009 - January 6, 2010*
• Winter Term 2: December 28, 2009 - May 3, 2010*

They will also be covered while traveling from their home country, or primary place of residence, to Canada, if their total travel is 10 days or less. Also, the students will be covered if the travel date is not earlier than the start date of the iMED coverage. You can purchase the extra coverage required if you arrive in Canada before the iMED start date for your study term.

Enrolling the Family

The student’s spouse, partner, or dependent children can also be covered by the Insurance Services for the duration of their stay or until they qualify for MSP.

Extending iMED Coverage

If you will stay in Canada less than six months, you can opt for extending your iMED coverage. At this stage you can also choose to continue with another health insurance provider.

Safety tips for International Students

• Be sure where you are going. Check for the bus/skytrain schedules and have a map. Beforehand ask for directions of the place you want to go and the way back home.
• Avoid carrying too much of cash ($$) use ATM interac bank card. Do not disclose or show anyone your pin number.
• Avoid taking the short-cuts or dark roads or paths. Prefer staying on the main road where there are lots of people and lights.
• Do get a photo identification card done at driver services, to avoid carrying your passport. Always keep your passport in a safe place like a rented bank deposit box.
• Let people know your schedule - school timetables, work times, or social life activities so they will know if something is not right.
• Do not forget your personal belongings alone on a bus or park bench, in a coffee shop, library, bus station or airport.
• Always go to parties or night clubs with a friend. Also, do not leave your drinks alone. This can lead you into trouble.
• Carry a cell phone with speed dial to “911”, personal alarm, penlight, or a whistle.
• Always notice of what is around you when you are outside. Observe the people, look for phone booths, public buildings, coffee shops as you walk. Walk with confidence.

Remember:

* Never leave handbags or wallets unattended in coats in your absence.
Take them with you or lock them away.

* Always keep money in a safe place
Even if it is only the coffee fund, never leave it in an unlocked drawer during the day. At night, put valuables in a safe or remove them from the building altogether.

* Be careful with keys
Always put them in a safe place and don't put spare keys for safes etc. in desk drawers. Deposit them at the bank.

* Fasten vulnerable windows in your absence It's easy to forget, particularly in the summer, and a thief can come and go in a couple of minutes.

* Never assume a stranger wandering in the building is a member of the staff
Challenge him/her. Even "Can I help you?" will often deter the dishonest.

* Don't just accept that a stranger is authorized to be in the building just because he/she says so
Check with someone in authority. If the stranger is from the Post Office or the typewriter company, someone in your firm will know. Never allow anyone to remove office equipment without checking first.

* Don't be overawed by callers
Even if he/she does want to see the Managing Director, make sure he/she is known and expected.

* Never leave callers alone in your office
Use the telephone to inquire whether someone can see him/her.

* Don't disclose confidential information to a stranger
No matter how important he may seem, always report any such request for information to your supervisor.

* Don't assume all are as honest as you
Take care of your property and that of your employer.

Safer Driving Tips:

Wear your seatbelt Almost 40 per cent of all vehicle occupants killed in 2002 were not wearing a seatbelt. So whether you're a driver or passenger, buckle up.

Slow down Excessive speed is a contributing factor in 20 per cent of occupant fatalities.

Each year, 25 per cent of deaths and 40 per cent of serious injuries from vehicle collisions occur at intersections. Be careful, even when you have the right of way, and remember to treat a non-working traffic light like a four-way stop.

In summer,there are more people on the roads in many different kinds of vehicles. Remember to watch out for motor bikes and bicycles and be courteous to these road users

The safest place for kidsunder 12 is in the back seat. Have kids travel in the back seat, especially when there is an airbag for the passenger seat.

Don’t Drink and drive.

Drivers are reminded to be aware of their speed at all times. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on all roads on campus is 30km/hr.

Prevention tips against assault:

These prevention strategies are designed to provide you with an understanding of prevention and response tactics that you can use to enhance your personal safety.

Detection

Offenders do not want to get caught, by increasing your visibility to witnesses or by drawing attention to the offender he is less likely to carry out his plan. Awareness strategies and detection devices also fall within this category.

Intrusion

An assailant can not assault you if he cannot get to you. These tactics involve securing your environment to inhibit the assailant's access to you. Keeping unwanted persons out of your home or vehicle or even placing an obstacle between you and your attacker are examples of this principle.

Isolation

Offenders are far more likely to attack you when you are alone. Research has revealed that 96% of rapist ALWAYS checks to see if the intended victim is alone. The greater the likelihood that an assault will be witnessed or interrupted, the less likely it is that it will be initiated.

Response

Responding is superior to reaction. Response is accomplished by paying attention your surroundings. It involves locating and identifying potential dangers and responding with actions that are most likely to discourage or de-escalated risky situations.

Reaction

Reaction involves immediate physical actions that are taken when you confirm that you are being profiled or assaulted.

Safety when away from home

It is important to take extra care in securing your home when you are going to be away for any length of time. Not only should your home be secure, but it should also appear lived in.

Prevention Tips

• Secure all windows, doors and garage before you leave.
• Leave a radio playing to indicate that someone is home.
• Leave one or two lights on timers or light-sensitive devices.
• Discontinue mail, newspapers and other deliveries.
• Arrange to have someone pick up any newspapers or mail that is left on your step.
• Leave a key with someone you trust.
• Let your neighbours know you're going to be away, for how long and where you can be contacted if necessary.

International Student Safety Project

This project aims to raise awareness of personal safety precautions in Vancouver's international student population by developing a framework which includes the following:

• Identification of key International Student Safety Concerns.
• Development of a "Safety Orientation Program". This program is meant to meet the complex program delivery challenges associated with international students.
• Development of a website: www.student-safety.ca
• Development of a Student Safety and Awareness Resource Bank to provide information on existing resources and tools that are currently being used.