Safety Handbook

Introduction

A primary objective of experiential learning programs such as those offered by AFS is to help participants learn through observation, question, dialogue, discussion and experience. From experience, AFS staff and volunteers understand that the opportunity to learn is great, but it is not necessarily easy. Participants encounter complex situations along the way and there is the potential for confusion, fear and misunderstanding. If students are left to their own devices, the consequences could be very distressing.

For these reasons, with the help of host families, the local community, AFS contacts and school personnel, AFS has devised a system of program support for all participants, providing a wide range of supportive activities and services. The purpose is to provide a safety net, a consistently supportive environment in which participants can ask questions, obtain advice and help.

AFS cannot supply all the possible answers but through our support systems, we can help to guide participants towards asking appropriate questions. It is not possible to anticipate all possible situations pertaining to individual safety concerns. Many of these issues are specific to individual countries or parts of a single country.

In general, AFS recommends talking with the host family, AFS local committee members and staff from the host school soon after the student joins the host family home about any of the information in this guidebook and any question students may have about specific personal issues. AFS suggests that students ask their host family about any issue they are concerned or worried about, as the information about the host country prevalent in movies and in media publications may not be accurate for the entire country or the specific area in which the family lives. Within this context, what follows are some topics and general suggestions.

At Home Safety Issues

Your host family will probably not know what you are concerned or worried about. So do not hesitate to ask them questions about safety, e.g. Can I go out at night alone? Are there areas I should avoid? Although there are common safety issues in Switzerland, they may still vary from region to region. So ask your host family about their particular situation.

General Safety Questions

What should I do if an emergency occurs? Whom should I call?
Where do you keep the emergency telephone numbers?
Do you have first aid equipment? Where is it?
Do you have a fire extinguisher? Where is it?
How do you secure the house?
Do you lock your doors and windows? When do you do that?
Am I going to have a house key?
What do you advise me about answering the door when I am alone?
How do I react when a stranger calls at the door?

Answering the Telephone

If you feel uncertain about answering phone calls especially because you have to answer in a foreign language, ask your family: How do I have to respond when answering the phone? What information should I give? What information should I not give?

Outside the Home

Transportation

There is a great variety of transportation ranging from the train to your own bicycle. Public transportation is very common and usually safe. Switzerland is, in fact, a very safe country. In the following section, we will indicate some suggestions to you when using any kind of transportation.

Public Transport (Bus, Boat, Tram and Train)

It is very common to use public transport in Switzerland. Public transport in Switzerland is very reliable and safe.

However, be careful at night. Try to look for compartments with other people in it rather than being alone in a train carriage. It is also advisable to avoid being alone in train stations at night. Ask your host parents about the situation in your region, as they will know best.

Make sure that you always have a valid ticket. If you do not and get caught, you will get a fine of 90 Swiss Francs (approx. USD 110)! Ticket inspectors are usually pitiless even if you start crying and tell them a moving story of a lost exchange student who does not yet know how the ticket machine works.

As there are so many trains and buses in Switzerland, most host students are a bit overwhelmed at the beginning. Every year, some of them get lost at some point because Appendix 54 they take the wrong train. For this reason, make sure you have your host family's phone number with you when you start taking trains on your own. Do not be embarrassed to call them when you are lost. They will be able to guide you home safely.

Walking

Walking to and from places is usually safe. However, there are areas where you should be careful at night. Ask your host family about these specific areas, as they know best which places are safe and which are not. We encourage you to let your host parents know whenever you are concerned or frightened. When going out, inform your host family where you are going and how you can be reached, and how and when you intend to get back home.

When walking alone late at night, try to walk in streets that are well lit and that have a lot of people. In general, you should take your host parents' advice seriously and follow their recommendations.

Riding Your Bicycle

In Switzerland, you will see many people riding their bikes going to school, to work or just for fun. You will very likely have the possibility to borrow a bike from someone. Before you ride it in the streets, ask your host family about traffic regulations in Switzerland. They may be different than in your home country.

If you are not used to riding a bicycle, traffic can be challenging, especially in cities. We suggest that you ask a host family member to accompany you on your first attempts to conquer the Swiss streets with your bicycle. Make sure that your bike has good brakes and a functioning light. This is very important especially in winter because it gets dark very early. If you ride in the dark without a light, this is not only dangerous, but you can also be fined.

AFS Switzerland recommends wearing a helmet when you ride your bike.

Car

AFS participants are not allowed to drive cars. Do not get into a car with strangers. Hitchhiking is strictly forbidden. Participants either driving or hitchhiking will be dismissed from the program and must return home immediately.

The blood alcohol content (BAC) level in Switzerland for drivers is 0.5‰, which equals roughly one glass of beer or wine. Do not get into a car if you feel the driver has drunk more than the amount allowed by the law.

Please note that in Switzerland it is compulsory to wear seatbelts for all passangers in a car. You should therefore always fasten your seatbelt automatically when entering a car - even if you will not be driving long.

Public Places

Going to public places and walking around outside is usually very safe. As stated before, you should try to avoid being alone at night in train stations. There are also some other areas you should avoid (e.g. certain areas in Zurich). In general, you are safe if you do what the locals do. Therefore, take your host parents' advice seriously and follow their recommendations.

Weather

Skiing, hiking, climbing etc. in the mountains is very popular and it is certainly an interesting experience. However, the weather in the mountains is a factor you have to take seriously. It can change surprisingly fast: in a very short time a blue sky can be replaced by fog, snow or rain depending on the season. So remember, the weather in the mountains is quite unpredictable and it is therefore dangerous to risk anything and get lost.

When in the mountains, try not to be alone, but rather with your host family or with local people. They know best where and when you have to be careful. Always have your cell phone with you.

Theft

Because Switzerland is generally very safe, this might give you a false sense of security. But theft happens here as it does everywhere in the world, so it is wise to be careful:

Ask your host family, the school contact person or your school mates about the situation in your school and your host community.
Make sure you always lock your bicycle. Unfortunately, bicycle theft is very common in Switzerland.
Beware of pickpockets, especially in crowded places.
Do not to leave your wallet, money or other valuables unobserved in school. The best thing is not to take things of great value such as jewellery to school at all.

Authorities and emergencies

In Switzerland it is expected that citizens and visitors carry I.D. and/or a passport. Should the police stop you, and you are without I.D, you may be taken in for questioning. This is the decision of the individual police officer

Occasionally, the police may check and question people in the street. If this happens to you, there is nothing to worry about. Show respect and cooperation with authorities, even though you are innocent of any crime and may think that you are being treated unfairly.

If you do not understand what is being said, tell the police and tell them that you are an exchange student. Always carry your residence permit with you. This is important not only in the event of being questioned by authorities, but also in the unfortunate event of a personal accident.

In any kind of an emergency (accident, crime etc.) the best is to call the police first. Below, you will find the most important emergency numbers (any abuse of these numbers will be punished with a fine):


Police	117
Fire brigade	118
Ambulance	144

Also call your host family, the local contact person or the AFS office to inform them. Make sure you always carry the card with the important numbers with you.

In case of a national emergency you should follow the advice of the government or the local authorities. AFS Switzerland will immediately contact the students and host families in order to provide the necessary help. However, Switzerland is a very peaceful country and such a case is unlikely to happen.

Other Important Issues

Laws in Switzerland

AFS students are subject to the law of the host country. Neither AFS nor the national government of the students' home country has the ability to protect the student from punishment with respect to drugs, thefts and other illegal offences. We recommend reading the foreign travel advice about Switzerland published by your foreign ministry to find out if there are important differences between the laws in your home country and Switzerland.

Liability insurance

AFS Switzerland strongly recommends taking out a liability insurance which covers dama- 57 Appendix ges and injuries caused to third parties. If you break something or cause injury to someone, the costs can be enormous. It is very important that you have an insurance for such cases as these costs are not covered by AFS.

If you do not yet have liability insurance, look for options in your home country before the program starts. One option available to students from all countries is the travel benefits package for participants offered by:

Drugs

Unfortunately, drugs, especially marijuana, have become common in certain schools. The availability of drugs does not change the fact that they are illegal and dangerous.

The two most important pieces of advice AFS Switzerland can give you regarding this issue:

If someone offers you drugs, say no. AFS has a strict no-tolerance policy regarding marijuana and any other kind of illegal drugs. Usage of or involvement with drugs results in dismissal from the program and immediate return to the home country.
If you are worried that a friend might have a drug problem, talk to an adult you trust. Share your concerns with your host parents, a local AFS volunteer or a teacher.

Alcohol

According to Swiss law, teenagers, aged 16 and older, are allowed to buy wine and beer but no hard liquor before aged 18. There is no law that forbids the consumption of alcohol.

Alcohol is part of the everyday culture in Switzerland and will probably be offered to you on many occasions. It is, for example, quite usual to have a glass of wine for supper. Therefore, it is very important that you learn how to deal with this situation.

Despite the liberal approach, never forget that alcohol is a drug. For your own safety, excessive alcohol consumption is forbidden during the AFS program. For AFS Switzerland, excessive means more than 2 glasses of wine or beer. At official AFS events, alcohol is not allowed at all.

Here are some important facts on the negative effects of alcohol:

Studies have shown that teenagers are more sensitive to alcohol than adults. But many teenagers overestimate themselves and think they can handle it. This increases the risk that they drink too much and lose control.
Alcohol affects your ability to judge situations adequately. You might do things that you regret afterwards. You can also easily be taken advantage of or even become a victim of crime, e.g. sexual abuse.
If you drink too much, you cannot control your movements anymore. The risk of accidents increases.
You put your health at risk. Alcohol intoxication is dangerous. You may need medical attention, and in the very worst case, it can even kill you.

For your own safety, AFS Switzerland expects you to stick to the following rules:

If you want to try alcohol, that is fine. A glass of wine or beer at a party or during dinner is ok. But do not exaggerate.
If you do not want to try, that is fine too. Never let anyone talk you into drinking alcohol.
Never drink more than two units (1 unit = a glass of beer or a glass of wine).
No hard alcohol. Do not touch vodka or other hard liquor, also when mixed with soft drinks.
Do not drink more than once a week.
Never drink when you have taken medicine (no matter if prescribed or over-thecounter).
Say no when you do not feel like drinking or if you do not like the taste of alcohol.
Look out for others: Tell your friends to stop if they are being excessive. If you think that a friend has an alcohol problem, share your concerns with an adult you trust.

Any student who violates the above rules risks immediate dismissal from the program and being sent home. If you have any doubts or questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to talk to your host family, a local AFS volunteers or a staff member at the AFS office.

Sexual Harassment

Cultures differ in their views of appropriate sexual behaviour and practices of young people. Often clarification of attitudes may be necessary, and here again the advice of people you have come to know and trust is very valuable. Knowledge about the people you socialize with is important, and this is acquired best through immersing yourself into your host culture. Equally important are your own values and beliefs regarding your behaviour. Do not compromise them, especially not regarding your sexual behaviour. Have the courage to say no at any time!

Especially at the beginning of your exchange, you may be unsure how to interpret certain situations. You may ask yourself if you are being sexually harassed or if a particular person's behaviour would simply be considered friendly by Swiss standards. Trust your own instinct and feelings. If something makes you feel uncomfortable, it is important that you take your feelings seriously and share them with your host siblings/ parents and friends. In many cases, they will be able to help you understand if someone's behaviour is appropriate or not and give you useful advice. You can also turn to teachers at school, local AFS volunteers or the AFS staff at the office for advice or help.

Unfortunately, sexual harassment can happen in any country. Especially young women are subject to harassment, e.g. if a man should whistle after you, you should avoid eye contact with him. If a car pulls up beside you, do not get in. If you realize that someone is following you, try to go to a public place (e.g. shop, restaurant) and ask someone for help. If you experience a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, the most important thing is to share it with an adult you trust. Rest assured that AFS volunteers and staff will take you seriously, so do not be embarrassed or afraid!

HIV/AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

AIDS means “Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome“. A cure for this illness has yet to be found. HIV is transmitted by sexual contact only. HIV is NOT transmitted by contact such as drinking or eating from somebody else's glass or plate, touching, kissing etc. Sexually active participants should use condoms. Condoms are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, consistent and correct use of condoms reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The contraceptive pill does NOT protect against HIV or other STDs. For further information, there are many associations in Switzerland that can give you advice. Here are the most important ones with many branches all over Switzerland:

Aids-Hilfe Schweiz, Tel. 044 447 11 11

aids.ch, aids@aids.ch

Fondation Profa, https://www.profa.ch/

https://www.jugend-sexuelle-gesundheit.ch/

Checkpoint Zürich https://www.cpzh.ch/en/

Weapons

Civilians are prohibited from carrying firearms in public unless they have a special licence. However, any Swiss man who is found eligible has to do military service. Most conscripts have occasional training sessions until they have fulfilled their duty around the age of 30. Between training sessions, they have the option keep their service rifle at home. So do not be afraid if you see a weapon in your host family‘s cupboard or if you see soldiers with their service rifles in public. It is also possible that you will see people in civilian clothes with an army weapon on their back on their way to the compulsory annual shooting practice.

Conclusion

The best advice AFS Switzerland can give you regarding issues of personal safety is the following:

Learn the language as quickly as possible in order to be able to understand what is going on around you.
Get to know your host culture well through questions, dialogue and discussion with your host family, peers, AFS local contacts, AFS camp leaders etc.
Take any concerns from your host family and school seriously and follow their advice.
And remember: Express your concerns!