What do you do if you are sent on a business trip, or even worse asked to relocate abroad? Panic.
At least you would be forgiven for doing so if you took to heart the advice on offer in a new business travel survival guide.
Forewarned is Forearmed: or How to survive in some of the riskiest business travel destinations in the world, published by Merchant International Group, offers advice on staying alive away from familiar surroundings.
It seems death is lurking in many corners of most countries in the world.
The report opens encouragingly, saying that as globalization continues, business people are more likely to travel to countries where life is cheap and they may then encounter danger from criminal gangs, terrorists, and fanatics.
"The world is a far more perilous place and the safety of executives is in jeopardy whenever they travel, work away from safe places or pass close to areas of concern or risk," the report warns. "It is of little comfort to be reminded that, for every executive or manager harmed in any way, literally thousands remain totally unscathed."
The report aims to make management aware of potential risks to their employees when abroad and to offer guidance to executives "that may well save their lives and those of their families." Which is reassuring.
Religious fundamentalism poses the biggest threat to world peace, according to MIG. "Impoverished and politically disaffected Muslims in Indonesia, Nigeria, north Africa and the Middle East have been attracted to the appeal of Fundamentalism, which blames the 'infidels' and the 'Great Satan' in the West for all their society's problems," it thunders.
But it's not only emerging markets that present dangers. The UK also suffers from terrorist threats: "In London, a bomb was planted under Hammersmith Bridge. High-profile companies must take this into account when reviewing their security measures in the UK and elsewhere."
Individual countries are singled out as particularly dangerous. "Because of the security situation, it is inadvisable to travel to the Chechen Republic," we are told.
Colombia, with an estimated 23,000 homicides in 1999 "maintains its position as one of the world's most dangerous places." To counter the threat in Bogotá, armour-protected vehicles are essential as attacks will involve Firearms. "Foreign business people face a high risk of being kidnapped" here so knowing anti-kidnap techniques is essential.
Travellers are advised to avoid visiting commercial farms in Zimbabwe, not to try removing Firearms from Libya, or importing alcohol, narcotics or pork products into Saudi Arabia.
There is also a cautionary tale from Iran where "behaviour regarded as innocuous in other countries can lead to serious trouble."
One German businessman was apparently detained there for two years for having "intimate relations with a local Muslim woman."
Some might feel that the application of simple common sense would stand them in as good stead as reading the report. However they might then underestimate the ingenuity of pickpockets in Argentina who employ "a variety of ruses to trick the unwary." Assiduous readers of the report, on the other hand, will have the advantage of knowing that: "Conmen have frequently robbed tourists while an accomplice pretends to help remove ketchup or mustard which has been 'accidentally' spilt on them."
Other helpful hints include: not talking to fellow passengers, memorizing your passport number "so as not to reveal your passport when Filling in landing cards" and not staying above the eighth Floor because "few cities have Fire appliances that can reach above the eighth Floor."
Finally, and perhaps most important: "Wear loose clothes and shoes that are easy to walk and run in. Women should kick off their shoes if they are too high to run in."
Don't say you haven't been warned.