Planning For Safety When You Travel

Several articles came to my attention recently on travel safety. One of the articles showed ten new gadgets to travel with that included some unusual key chains. One of them had a metal cat head with sharp pointy ears I assume for poking and gouging an attacker and another that looked like brass knuckles gone wrong. I doubt either would make it through TSA so if you are so inclined, I would keep them in checked luggage.

The device that made me chuckle thought was a "slap hat." It's a ball cap with the back side weighted with something heavy so you can whip it off your head and whack your attacker. A little less inventive were pepper spray that looked like a ball point pen and small portable tazer guns. Again--not gonna make it through security.

Rather than worrying about defending against an attacker, I'd take the advice the CIA hands out to employees in the field. Plan ahead. Another article, a little more useful I thought was 10 Travel Tips You Can Learn From the CIA. Basically it has to do with planning ahead and planning to stay out of trouble. These were common sense tips like trying to blend instead of standing out like a tourist. You do this by researching the country and learning a bit more about its customs and traditions. With Google maps you can also get a feel for where you are going to be out and about.

Dress appropriately. Don't wear your Caribbean clothes in Europe. You will stand out as a tourist for sure.

Stay aware of your surroundings. Good advice no matter where you are.

Make sure someone knows of your plans and where you are going and when you are expected back. You know, the same kind of instruction you give to your kids.

The wisest advice is to travel in groups whenever possible especially when it is in unfamiliar and totally foreign territory. Even CIA agents have contacts.