Central America

Nicaragua

Location

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras.

Violent outbursts and bandit like activities do take place preceding major political events. Watch out for pickpockets. Local militia groups, weapons (various), vehicle security, personal security, ambushes, kidnappings, bandits / corruption, gunfire, checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters. Do not take photos of any military buildings. Do not walk alone at night.

Use bottled water outside the capital.

Extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes.

Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands.

Destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes.

Cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis A, leptospirosis, malaria, methanol poisoning (do not drink locally produced alcohol), polio, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever.
Hospital: La Mascota, Managua. Tel: 2-2897700

Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution.

Road safety, or lack of it, is probably the biggest single hazard in Nicaragua. Road conditions are poor. Local driving standards are erratic and poor. Running red stop lights is common. Drink driving is a severe problem.

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.