Below are some examples of what you can do daily to reduce your vulnerability:
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Have emergency numbers programmed into your mobile phones and written down near your home phone.
• Vary departure and arrival times and routes to and from work, residences, and performing repetitive errands. Even as little as 5-minutes of variation can be enough to disrupt any group or individuals who might be targeting you for harassment or violence.
• Don’t set a pattern of frequenting the same hotels, restaurants, shops, or clubs, especially if they are largely patronized by expatriates or diplomats.
• Keep a low profile and do not draw attention to yourself.
• When crossing heavily trafficked crosswalks or service lanes beware of impatient, possibly hostile motorcyclists, scooter riders, and cyclists.
• Make sure your colleagues and family are aware of your daily plans and that they know how to reach you.
• Always lock your car (even when driving) and don’t leave valuables in plain view. Use the “clean car” policy.
• In pedestrian traffic, always be aware of personnel in front and behind you, and try to scan their hands and eyes.
• If you are being followed or harassed, try to find the nearest police station, hotel, or other public facility, and call the police at 110. Never lead the person back to your home. Try to avoid direct confrontation with the individual.
• Keep your doors locked and windows closed in your residence, hotel, or vacation lodgings.
• Have conversations with your family members on security measures and best practices.
Assistance:
· U.S. Embassy Beijing, China
Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: BeijingACS@state.gov
· U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou, China
Telephone: +(86)(20) 3814-5775
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov
· U.S. Consulate General Shanghai, China
Telephone: +(86)(21) 8011-2400
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: ShanghaiACS@state.gov
· U.S. Consulate General Shenyang, China
Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(24) 2322-1198
Email: ShenyangACS@state.gov
· U.S. Consulate General Wuhan, China (Emergency U.S. Citizen Services ONLY)
Telephone: +(86)(27) 8555-7791
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(86)(10) 8531-4000
Email: WuhanACS@state.gov
· Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates