Know Before You Go
It's always a good idea to do a little research before you travel. U.S. passport holders can check the State Department website travel.state.gov - read the consular information sheet, check the country, regional and worldwide cautions. For countries with higher risk, especially those where warnings or cautions have been issued - contact the regional specialist via the phone number provided on the website. These specialists can provide detailed information and guidance. Clients of CMM can check country risk ratings in the World Risk Guide. The Guide assigns risk ratings for Overall, Crime, Kidnap/Ransom, Terrorism, Disease and Medical Care. For travel to countries with significant risks, obtain capable security advice and consider retaining the services of a security company that can provide trained driver, security personnel and crisis response.
Develop a Plan
You should always have a contingency plan. What would you do in a crisis such as a terrorist attack, coup, or a major natural disaster? If your company has a security, travel or risk management department they should be able to guide you on corporate policy and resources. For an independent traveler or someone who works for a smaller firm, think about:
- How do a protect myself in the immediate aftermath?
- Is it possible to shelter in place at my hotel or other facility?
- Will it be necessary to evacuate?
Make sure you have an adequate supply of cash on hand. In an emergency, banks, ATMs, credit card terminals, etc may be out of order. Even if they are not, 'CASH ONLY' becomes the rule in most disaster zones...
Protect Yourself
Provide a copy of your itinerary, passport, prescriptions, doctor contact information and travel/health insurance information to a family member or trusted friend. Register with the US embassy so they know when you will be in the country and can add you to the warden message system. The warden system is designed to notify US passport holders about potential threats, provide guidance in emergencies, etc.
It's also a good idea to contact the Consular Affairs office at the embassy and request a travel brief prior to arrival in country. They can advise you on potential issues and threats as well as being a point of contact in the event of problems.
Make sure you have travel medical insurance. Most US health insurance does not provide coverage outside North America. Even where coverage is provided few foreign hospitals will bill or accept the insurance in lieu of immediate payment. Many medical facilities will deny treatment or transfer the patient to a charity hospital unless they are assured of payment in cash, wire transfer or local insurance. Many travel medical policies provide for immediate payment or guarantees that the hospital will accept. The policies also can provide medical evacuation, access to English speaking doctors, and even pay to have a family member travel to your bedside if needed. Individual and company policies are surprisingly affordable and can be purchased on a per trip or annual basis. You can contact me at CMM to learn more.
Medical Emergencies
While many countries have good quality medical care, in developing nations or in remote areas of even highly developed countries, medical care may be of poor quality or non-existent. Where State Department and/or CDC information indicates that medical care is substandard, consideration must be given to how serious illnesses or injuries will be treated. The embassy can provide names, addresses and phone numbers of English speaking physicians and clinics in the country. This information should be obtained in advance and kept with the traveler at all times, since locating this information in an emergency may be difficult due to language barriers or incapacitation.
In some cases, local medical treatment may be inadequate for serious illnesses or injuries and medical evacuation may be necessary. Again, the embassy usually has names and numbers for medevac companies and can recommend the nearest country with adequate medical facilities. Insurance for medical evacuation (also called ‘repatriation’) should be considered, especially if the location is remote or if the traveler has significant pre-existing medical conditions. The cost of repatriation can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Foreign Workers Compensation insurance often covers this expense for work related injury or illness - contact your risk management department or insurance broker for details. For individuals, there are also several insurance plans for this coverage - contact your travel agent or corporate travel department for information.
Equip Yourself
You should have a good travel first aid kit with medicines for pain, cold symptoms, diarrhea, as well as a good supply of any prescriptions you take. If you are traveling to a country with poor medical care, ask your doctor about prescribing a supply of emergency drugs such as antibiotics that you can take with you in the event of infection or illness. Fill any prescriptions before leaving home and carry a supply adequate for the duration of your trip since drugs may not be available at your destination or may not be of acceptable quality. For travel to countries with poor medical care, consider taking a more comprehensive medical kit that includes syringes and needles and other basic surgical equipment. Be aware that to bring such equipment into many countries, you will need a letter from your physician authorizing your possession of hypodermic needles.
Stay Informed
One of the most important ways of protecting yourself is to be well informed about conditions in the country and developing threats. In many countries local media may be unable or unwilling to provide detailed information on unrest, natural disasters such as approaching hurricanes or other threats. Your business contacts, hotel management, embassy personnel or friends can be valuable resources in helping you identify which media sources can be relied upon. I always travel with a shortwave radio so that I can obtain news and information from multiple sources. It's also a good idea to check in with the embassy when potential problems are developing. Consular Affairs can guide you in your decision process of sheltering in place, evacuating or other precautions.
More in Part Two - Kidnap/Ransom and Crisis Response
