Health and Safety

Rome home	Health and Safety
Rome home	Academics • Calendar • Life in Rome • Preparations • Rome Info • Pics • Contacts
	Health Rome is a modern, western, city with up-to-date standards of health and hygiene. There is an extensive network of hospitals and doctors located throughout the city. The food and the tap water do not contain harmful bacteria. Students are required to arrive in Rome with adequate health insurance. For Italian law, this means health insurance that will both cover medical needs in Italy and also pay directly to the Italian hospital in needed cases. Those planning to travel beyond Italy must have insurance that will cover them in whatever country they plan to enter. A list of doctors and hospitals.
	Safety The center of Rome, where students will spend all of their time, is in general quite safe. Crime that threatens personal safety is rare. Pick pocketing, and other non-violent theft is quite common, but people are rarely injured in such events. We strongly recommend that students, when going around the city after midnight, never travel alone and take taxis to return home. Terrorist acts are, of course, possible any where in the world. It is no more likely to happen in Rome than in any large city in the US. You are encouraged to check the US State Department travel page, to be updated on these concerns, especially in planning trips outside Italy. A list of police, fire, and other numbers. Pickpocketing Pickpocketing is very common in Rome. Unless you are lucky and very alert, you may very well be pickpocketed during your time here. Some precautions: Always keep your bag where you can see it and monitor it. Never put your luggage down unless you hold it tightly with your hand or legs, especially at the train station. Never go out into the city with more than you need for the day: a copy of your passport, a credit card, a student ID, some money. Make sure that you have your credit card/ATM card numbers and the number to call to cancel them some place where you can get to it easily. It is also a good idea to give this to someone at home so that they can cancel them for you. You will need your passport for travel outside Rome. Always keep it on your person in a place where you can keep it safe. The most common places for pickpocketing: the Metro certain crowded buses (those going to and from the train station and tourist spots) the train station crowds in tourist areas (even inside St. Peter’s) Mugging As of yet it is rare that anyone is threatened with physical assault in Rome, except in the distant areas of the periphery of Rome or in the parks of Rome after dark. Nonetheless, it does happen on occasion. When moving about the city after midnight, you should maintain the same standards of vigilance and care that you do in large cities in the US. Never travel alone at these hours; if you are alone, take a taxi back to your home. Call the police at any threat of physical assault. Notify Aurora and Dr. Dawson immediately. Sexual Assault The most common physical danger that American students experience in Rome is the danger of physical assault of a sexual nature. This is almost always connected with immoderate alcohol use and is usually directed to young women out alone. Do not go out alone, especially to bars that cater to Americans. If you are out in a group, especially in those bars that cater to Americans, be always aware of your friends and keep an eye on each other. If things begin to get out of hand, notify the personnel at the bar, call the police, or call Aurora or Dr. Dawson. Alcohol Policy The DePaul University in Rome Study Abroad Program and the CUA Rome Program abide by local laws in regard to alcoholic beverages and expect their students to do the same. Alcohol consumption is not permitted during program time, except during meals and free time. If use of alcohol causes you to miss class, impairs your class participation, or results in loud, disruptive, or offensive behavior, it will be considered a disciplinary offense and will be handled accordingly. Be aware that the consumption of alcohol in large quantities in the evenings is directly related to much of the problems students have with safety in Rome. In particular, women who drink considerable amounts are considered targets by those interested in taking advantage of such a situation. Immoderate alcohol consumption will also cause you to be less careful in returning to your homes or in your relations with others. Safety at Home Break-ins are common in Rome. For this reason it is extremely important to follow very carefully your hosts’ procedures for keeping the house safe. Never let anyone into your building that you do not know. Never give anyone your address or the telephone of your hosts. Never keep your address on your key chain. Always securely close windows with shutters and blinds and lock the house, according to your hosts’ specifications. Failure to do so may endanger your things and make you liable for your hosts’ valuables. If you have any emergencies or feel in danger, you can call Aurora at any time. If you cannot reach Aurora, please call Dr. Dawson. Traveling It is important that you let us know where you are going when you travel outside Rome. This is particularly true should your parents need to contact you. Please email Dr. Dawson with your travel plans before you leave. You may alternatively write them out and place them in his box. Also, be sure that your cell phone is charged and has enough money on it before leaving Italy. Passports and Travelling When traveling outside Rome, you will always need to bring your passport. Passports are legally required to check-in to hotels throughout Europe. Always keep your passport on your person or in the hotel safe. Should you lose your passport outside Italy, you will need to report to the closest US Embassy or Consulate on the next business day in order to get a temporary passport to return to Rome. If you lose your passport in Italy, you can get a new one at the US Embassy in Rome. Safety and Travelling You should be especially careful when traveling. While we can support you in many ways should something go wrong in Rome, when you are outside of Rome, you are outside of our reach. Of course, let Dr. Dawson know as soon as possible should something happen to you while traveling and he will do whatever he can from Rome.