Dangerous situations abroad are posted as travel advisories by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. The Bureau also can assist US citizens abroad with emergency medical treatment, legal counsel and financial aid.

The Citizens Emergency Center in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs can be contacted anytime at 202-647-5225.

The Director of the CEC cautions: "Be aware of problems before you get involved in them yourself."

Other advice from this experienced source:

1. Never take anything with you that you can't afford to lose.
2. Be aware and alert; stop, look and listen, then ask questions or speak up.
3. Never leave your pack or baggage unattended, ever.
4. Register with the U.S. Embassy in your host country, if your program sponsor does not register you.
5. Keep your 'street smarts' about you: avoid demonstrations, trust your instincts and move away from uncomfortable situations, positively identify individuals before you allow them into hotel rooms, refuse to carry packages across borders or through customs, learn how to use local phones and report emergencies.
6. Carry your valuable documents on your body and pack photocopies of all of them in a separate pack or luggage.