Europe

Bulgaria

Location

South-eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey.

Organised crime groups are active in casinos, night clubs, prostitution and elsewhere. Most local crime, including occasional shooting and car bomb attack, is the result of turf battles. Be aware of young pickpockets in cities and on buses, trains and busy streets. Local authority and police officers do not speak English. Exercise caution in Sofia especially at night. Vehicle security, personal security, general travel, navigation, building/office security, cold weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation/sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, cultures/customs.

Use bottled water only.

Mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south-east.

Temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers.

Earth tremors, landslides.

Avian influenza, hepatitis A, polio, typhoid. Aids test may be required if your stay is longer than one month.
Hospital: Medical University hospital Sveta Anna, Sofia. Tel: 2-75 5124

Air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes.

Take care when driving, particularly at night. Driving standards are poor. Avoid confrontations with aggressive drivers who may be armed. Car-jackings are becoming more frequent. Criminals impersonate traffic police.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.