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For 2009, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is estimating a “50% chance of a near normal season,” with nine to 14 named storms, four to seven hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes. Assist America’s SecurAssist team has spoken with independent sources that are more specific in predicting 13 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. This forecast, if correct, would put 2009 activity above historical averages.

Seasoned travelers know that a single significant storm can cause drastic disruptions to transportation systems and local infrastructure. Vacationers to the Caribbean and Florida during peak storm months should stay vigilant about weather conditions, but business travelers to Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and much of the lower Eastern Seaboard are at equal risk.

Travelers to these areas during hurricane season should be aware that all storms, however minor, have the potential to cause severe delays. Airports can be damaged, and flights are likely to be cancelled. Roads can be washed away or blocked completely. In terms of physical safety, the U. S. State Department notes that looting and violence are not uncommon in the aftermath of natural disasters, and that the availability of security personnel may be limited in some locations.

The State Department recommends that travelers register with the nearest embassy or consulate when traveling to hurricane-prone areas, such as the Caribbean and Mexico. This way, travelers receive the security and safety updates that many embassies issue on a regular basis. Registering will also make it much easier for people to contact individuals in the event of an emergency. Travelers are also encouraged to keep family and friends updated on their whereabouts and to establish contact with local hospitality staff and safety officials while traveling. These people can provide safety and evacuation instructions for your location, often well in advance of landfall.

Pickpockets
A street vendor loudly accuses a woman of stealing. A crowd gathers as she strips to her underwear in an attempt to prove her innocence. The vendor apologizes, and the crowd breaks up—without their wallets, thanks to a team of pickpockets operating during sneakily during the diversion. This is just one example of how inventive pickpockets operate. Pickpockets will assume any identity to seem respectable, from a well-dressed businessman to a tourist complete with camera and guidebook. If you see a commotion anywhere while traveling, it could likely be a distraction by thieves. The best bet is to keep walking, but if you must stop, keep your hands in your pockets and your awareness high.

Taxi Cab Fraud
Beware taxi cabs and their drivers anywhere you go. Fraudulent practices include switching bills and receipts, charging night/weekend rates on a weekday, and even driving out of the way to increase fares. In Korea, many travelers enter Seoul’s Incheon International Airport exhausted from the strain and jet-lag of long flights, and the scam taxi operators zero in quickly. These criminals drive you to the middle of nowhere, and then charge an exorbitant amount of money to take you to your actual destination.

Minimize the potential for taxi rip-offs by using authorized airport taxi kiosks (ask if you are not sure), calling a cab from your hotel or restaurant, and by hailing only cabs that show a prominent taxi company logo and phone number. Insist on using the meter, and agree on a price up front and know the going rate.

Cash Scams
Chances are if someone offers you help at an ATM machine, they are just trying to get your PIN number. Politely refuse. If an ATM machine “eats” your card, check for a thin plastic flap hanging from the insertion slot—crooks use this tactic, and a good set of tweezers, to extract your card from the machine after you leave. Shady cashiers and bank tellers might make change haltingly, in the hopes that rushed travelers will gather up their money in haste without counting it properly. Familiarize yourself with a country’s currency before engaging in cash transactions:In Italy, for example, old, worthless 500-lira coins look like 2-euro coins worth nearly $3. 00 USD. Count your change accurately.

Palm Readers
In Spain, you may encounter “scruffy” women who will approach you and make a “friendship offering” of a rosemary sprig. When you reach out to accept, they grab your hand to read your fortune and then demand payment. If you come through an area where these women are operating, don’t make eye contact or accept any items from them. If they attempt to force the gift and/or palm reading on you, politely, but firmly, decline the offer.

Not So Official Officials
Looking official does not make someone official. In Italy, “Tourist Police” with bogus badges may stop you on the street and ask to check your bags for counterfeit bills or drug money. Then they go to town pocketing your cash.

Keep the door closed for “hotel inspectors. ”One will come in to look around, and while you are distracted with their search, another comes in from the hallway to take your stuff.

At some famous sites in Vienna, women in velvet capes impersonate opera house workers, selling phony, worthless tickets. In many other European cities, a “parking attendant” may approach you, handing you a seemingly legitimate, though very expensive, ticket to park. Later, may discover you parked illegally or that there is another fee to park in that spot— this time, the real one.

Bad Cola
On the Indian subcontinent, be cautious of drinking unknown beverages when you choose a familiar Pepsi or Coca-Cola labeled bottle at a roadside café known as a “dhaba. ”You may receive a carbonated drink that looks and even tastes like the real thing, but the only thing genuine about it is the bottle and the cap. The drinks are made by street-smart youngsters who collect thousands of bottles and caps, and then mix and bottle drinks in unsanitary conditions. Even though many dhabas sell legitimate products, play it safe and purchase drinks at your hotel.

Rental Car Rip-Off
You return your rental car, but when the attendant tries to start it to move it, it won’t restart. The attendant then makes up a story that there is something wrong with the car (usually they have flooded the carburetor), and you are to blame. The cost of repairing the vehicle is often around the same price as the security deposit you paid. If you didn’t pay a security deposit, they may demand the money and even confiscate your luggage until you pay. They are counting on rushed travelers turning over their money to avoid delays. The attendant may even get aggressive when you refuse. To avoid problems like this, be sure to return your car with plenty of time to spare and if an issue comes up, ask to speak with a manager. Choose a reputable, well-known rental service with whom you can dispute any issues when you return home.

The CashSend Button
A new scam that has hit South Africa is the CashSend button scam. ATMs are equipped with a button labeled “CashSend” which enables users to transfer money to other people, even those without a bank account. They can then make the withdrawal from another ATM. This is a legitimate banking convenience, but scam artists can set up a transfer on an ATM before you use it. They then stand behind you, urging you to hit the CashSend button to speed up your withdrawal. Do not hit the button!

Scam artists prey on confused or flustered tourists, and travelers who are in such a rush they will do anything to avoid complications. Don’t be one of them. Be prepared, play it smart and always be alert, confident and assertive and you will be able to keep you, your family and your money safe.

Contact SecurAssist at info@securassist. com for additional information and resources

As reported recently in the media, Douglas Herbstsommer of Arizona was an airline passenger at 35,000 feet when he felt something crawling up his leg, swiped at it and was stung in the hand. The culprit--a bark scorpion indigenous to the Southwest--was one of several unlikely eight-legged, venomous stowaways that had escaped from the overhead luggage compartment. The flight landed and Herbstsommer was met and treated right at the airport.

Only about 25 types of scorpions worldwide have venom potent enough to be considered a threat to humans, with the most dangerous living in North Africa, the Middle East, South America, India and Mexico; the bark scorpion is the only North American scorpion of medical importance. (However, scorpions can “travel” to non-native destinations in luggage, on vehicles, etc. )

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 100,000 medically significant scorpion stings occur each year. Mexico leads the list of locations with most annual fatalities; other areas with high prevalence of reported scorpion-related deaths are Egypt, Brazil, Algeria, Tunesia and Venezuela. In the Khuzestan province of Iran, scorpion stings are the fourth leading cause of death every year.

Certainly, nobody expects to meet with scorpions on an airplane. But with travelers heading all over the globe into every habitat, the possibility exists of a tangle with a poisonous creature, so education and awareness is key.

Symptoms of a scorpion sting are immediate pain or burning, slight swelling, sensitivity to touch and numbness/tingling sensations. Serious complications of severe neurotoxin poisoning, which require immediate medical attention, include muscle spasms, convulsions, impaired vision or speech, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, impaired circulation and anaphylactic shock. Fatalities--which are rare--usually result from heart or respiratory failure hours after the sting. Children, the elderly and pets are most at risk for dying from a scorpion sting.

Of course, prevention is the best treatment for a scorpion sting. If you camp or hike, check backpacks, shoes, sleeping bags and clothes to make sure a scorpion has not made a home inside. At night, scan your area and belongings with a UV bulb (black light)--scorpions will fluoresce. If you or a companion are stung, follow these precautions:

Young children and older people who are stung by a scorpion should be taken to the emergency room immediately.

FROM THE ASSIST AMERICA CASE FILES: INSULIN EMERGENCY IN THE FAR EAST [Top Of Page]

Larry* and his wife, Helen, were touring through China over a two week time period, visiting several different cities in succession. Just as the couple arrived in a remote town on their itinerary, Larry realized that he had lost his insulin and only had one dose left for that evening. Being an insulin-dependent diabetic for the past 40 years, Larry needed his insulin to maintain control of his sugar levels. He went into a panic, thinking his trip would have to be disrupted, either to return to the United States immediately or to travel to one of the larger Chinese cities to find an English speaking doctor and the proper medication.

A single phone call to Assist America solved the problem. By morning, he received our fax containing the name, address and mapped directions to the nearest emergency room. A physician at the hospital was already informed of Larry’s situation and had prepared the prescription for insulin. Larry made his way to the hospital with the help of his Chinese guide, received his supply of insulin without and was able to enjoy the remainder of his tour of China uninterrupted. Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!

In less than 30 minutes and less than $25. 00 American dollars, I was out the door with a vial of Chinese insulin in my hands. I was able to complete my trip without missing a beat. Your company called back that evening to make sure I was “OK” and everything went as they had coordinated. Truly incredible customer service.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would not have been able to obtain that medication in this “small” town in China without your company’s intervention and assistance. Although there may have been other alternatives, I can honestly say that this course of events, coordinated by Assist America, was the best possible outcome of a very scary situation. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of your staff. In my mind, you not only saved my trip, but very possibly saved my life.

Nobody wants to travel out of the country without their cell phone, but international roaming and long-distance charges—sometimes shockingly high—can make anyone think twice about using their mobile device abroad. With the right preparation though, it is possible to bring, and use, your personal cell phone while traveling internationally. Some tips:

Service provider matters. Mobile carriers vary in the amount and quality of service they provide in different parts of the world. In the U. S. , wireless operators use two main cellular technologies:

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is used throughout much of the world, including Europe (where it is the standard), Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as well as much of Asia and the Middle East. T-Mobile USA and AT&T use GSM networks, and offer the most extensive networks abroad as a result. Even with GSM, for maximum coverage on the varied frequency bands in different regions of the globe, make sure your phone is triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) or quadband (GSM 850/900/1800/1900).

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), used by Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless, has less robust worldwide coverage. If you use these carriers, investigate their “world phones” that have both CDMA and GSM radios built in, such as the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, the BlackBerry Storm and the Samsung Renown, the Samsung IP-830w and the HTC Touch Diamond.

Exceptions in Asia. Travelers in Japan and South Korea will likely need a new phone since carriers in those countries do not use GSM. Carriers in Japan and South Korea do use the same 3G standard though, so GSM phones supporting a technology called UMTS, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System using 2100 MHz spectrum band will work in Japan and South Korea. If you don’t have a phone that supports this technology, you can rent one from your service provider or buy a prepaid phone once you get to your destination country.

Confirm details in advance. Before leaving on an international trip, call your wireless provider to make sure your phone is ready to make and receive calls in a foreign country. For subscribers with U. S. cell phone service, domestic plans do not apply when traveling to another country, so use this opportunity also to confirm exact per-minute rates for the countries in which you will be traveling—this will vary by carrier.

Save with SMS. Text messaging (SMS) is typically the cheapest way to communicate with people in the country where you are traveling, as well as with people back home. Be very aware of data transfer charges, which are far more expensive than roaming calls or text messages, and can add up quickly at $10-$15 per megabyte.

Unlocking the savings. “Unlocked” GSM phones allow you to use the SIM card from a local carrier at your destination for inexpensive local phone calls and texting. AT&T and T-Mobile customers, and Verizon and Sprint customers who use world phones with GSM radios, can unlock their phones by calling the carrier’s customer support number to get a special code that enables activation of the local SIM card. Once your phone is unlocked, it is unlocked for good and can be used on future trips. Make sure to call you wireless provider in advance as it can sometimes take up to a week for customer support to send you an unlock code. Unlocked phones can also be purchased from independent websites such as Amazon or eBay, and loaded with the local SIM card upon arrival at your destination.

For more information about international usage policies, visit your mobile carrier’s website or contact a customer service representative.

The pandemic that began in Mexico and the U. S. has truly made its way around the globe, and according to a U. N. agency, is impossible to stop from circulating. Authorities are monitoring the pandemic closely for signs of mutation or combination with other flu viruses. Travelers can expect to encounter H1N1 screening methods anywhere in the world, even the most remote of locales, and should continue to practice healthy habits while traveling to minimize chances of transmission:

For the latest, up-to-date information regarding key regions, click on the links below: