Has anyone been on or heard about these training courses you can go on to learn about "essential" safety info? They teach you how to behave in hostage type situations and first-aid etc. I am a first-time traveller and am pondering whether it is worth ppaying for one of thees courses? Do you know of anyone who as been on one that i could talk to? I would be soooooooooo grateful!!!!
Unless you are going to Iraq or somewhere that the FCO or DFAT etc have warned against travelling it is not worth it.
I have looked at some of these courses as we were planning on Iraw and Afghanistan but now everything we'd like to see has been bombed.
As a first time traveller you would be better pushed to buy a good book telling you not to do silly things where you are going. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide do some, Fielding's Dangerous Places do an interesting book also. In fact the SAS even have a book you can buy.
I really believe that these sorts of courses are a waste of money. The safest thing you can do as a first time traveler, or experienced traveler is to be aware of your surrounding and use common sense. There is no magic answer regarding safety... and as long as you are aware of the local customs and laws, pay attention to what is going on around you... you will be fine.
