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© 2016 Dwellworks
Page 19
Discovering Brazil
Do not keep your documents, credit cards, checkbooks, and your money together in
the same pocket or wallet; also take photocopies of all your documents to keep at
home
If an assault occurs, try to keep calm; remember the thief is more nervous than you
and if you react their attitude may be aggressive; observe their face very well in case
you may need to identify the assailant
Helpful Hint:
You may want to determine a moral strategy for how you want to
address beggars. You may choose, for example, to keep candies in the car to give to
child beggars or some change that is easily accessible. If you choose to donate
change or small coins, do not open your wallet to take out money, and do not open
the vehicle windows all the way.
In Case of Theft
Telephone the nearest police station and call a patrol car, or go to the nearest police
station to report the situation (you will receive a report on the occurrence for
insurance purposes)
Do not resist handing over valuables. Cancelling credit cards or personal checks
after the incident is a safer alternative
Advise your bank of any loss or theft of credit cards or checkbooks immediately after
a theft occurs
In the Car
While driving, make sure to lock your doors and windows and try to keep windows up
at traffic intersections
Inside automobiles, keep your packages and personal belongings out of the sight of
other people, leaving them on the vehicle floor or in the trunk to reduce visibility
Always have a mobile phone – not only for safety but for a mechanical emergency.
Using mobile phones while driving is prohibited in major cities and will receive a fine
At night, try to park your car near a street light and avoid empty streets
In case of a flat tire, keep going until you find a safe place to change to a spare
Unfortunately, faking car accidents is a common scam, so do not stop behind
vehicles which have had an accident or if someone is injured. Contact emergency
services such as the police to report what you see so that the proper assistance will
arrive
Tell your children never to accept rides from people they do not know
Emergency Numbers
National Emergency Services: dial +190 (911 and 112 redirect to 190 when used on
cellular phones in Brazil)
National Ambulance Services: dial +192
National Fire Services: dial +193