Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Hospital sign
Middle
Police car
Right
No smoking zone
Security & Health
Hotel Room
Safety
When you've checked
into your room, look on
the back of the entrance
door for a map showing
the escape route to take
in case of fire. Always
leave the security latch in
place when in your room
and don't admit strangers.
Some hotels have floors
just for women - ask
when booking, if you are
a woman traveling alone.
regular stops. Tell the
driver at least one stop
ahead of where you want
to get off, and leave the
bus by the front doors.
The rear doors will
remain closed so that no
one can follow you off.
After office hours, go to
a hospital emergency
room. d
British Columbia
Dental Association
•
604 736 7202
Smoking
Vancouver is a smoke-
free city and smoking is
not allowed in public
spaces or workplaces.
However, smoking is
allowed on outdoor
restaurant and bar patios.
Know Your
Surroundings
Carry a good map with
you and check out the
route to and from your
destination before start-
ing out. If you plan on
returning late, make sure
you have enough change
and cash to call for and
pay for a taxi. Avoid dark
places such as parks and
alleyways at night, espe-
cially if you are on your
own, and avoid known
danger spots
(see p105)
.
Pharmacies
The majority of
pharmacies in Vancouver
and Victoria are open
from 9am to 9 or 10pm.
Some are open later.
There are three 24-hour
Shoppers Drug Mart
pharmacies in Vancouver.
The most central is on
Davie Street.
d
Vancouver: Shoppers
Drug Mart, 1125 Davie St,
604 669 2424
•
Victoria:
London Drugs, 911 Yates St,
250 360 0880
Food Safety
City health officials
inspect most Vancouver
and Victoria food estab-
lishments, including pubs
and delicatessens, regu-
larly. Reports may be
viewed online.
d
www.
foodinspectionweb.vcha.ca
Emergency Help
Various emergency
and helplines are avail-
able to call in a crisis.
d
Emergency and ambu-
lance: 911
•
Vancouver
Police Department: 604 717
3321
•
Victoria Police
Department: 250 995 7654
•
BC Nurseline: 604 215
4700
•
VictimLINK: 1 800
563 0808
Hospital Emer-
gency Rooms
Emergency treatment is
available 24 hours a day.
d
Vancouver: Children's
Hospital, 4500 Oak St, 604
875 2000; Lion's Gate
Hospital, 231 E 15th St,
604 988 3131; St Paul's
Hospital, 1081 Burrard St,
604 682 2344; Vancouver
General, 899 West 12th
Ave, 604 875 4111
•
Victoria: Royal Jubilee
Hospital, 1900 Fort St, 250
370 8000; Victoria General
Hospital, 1 Hospital Way,
250 727 4212
Theft Prevention
To help prevent theft
don't flash cash around.
Your wallet or valuables
should be stored close to
your body, not in your
backpack, back pocket, or
belt-pack, where they
can be easily pilfered. If
you carry a purse, ensure
it closes tightly. When
leaving your hotel room -
even just for a short time
- first lock up valuables
and important docu-
ments in your room's
safe, if it has one. If it
doesn't, have them put
in the hotel's safe.
Public Transit
Skytrain platforms
provide designated wait-
ing areas in Vancouver;
these are recommended
at night. Available on
most Victoria and Vancou-
ver buses and some
regional buses in BC,
Request Stop allows a
woman to get off a bus
at locations between
Dental
Emergencies
The BC Dental Associa-
tion can link you with a
nearby dentist during
regular office hours.
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