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What to Do: If You're Robbed
Ouch, this one adds insult to injury. It’s always wise to carry small bills and spread out cash between the hotel safe and your wallet, and also keep a hidden stash among your personal belongings (with your dirty laundry, perhaps?). Leave pricey jewelry at home and don’t flash your valuables while in public. Keep a copy of your passport with you, and a picture of it in your smart phone as a backup. If your passport is stolen, you’ll need to file a police report before the embassy can issue you a temporary travel document. It’s worth putting password locks on computers and smart phones, and installing the Find my iPhone app. Take photos of your valuables before you leave; your insurance company may partially reimburse you for stolen electronics and clothes if you have a record of their existence.
What
to Do: In the Case of a Natural Disaster
It
might seem obvious, but if there’s a hurricane, tornado, tsunami, earthquake,
flood, fire, volcanic eruption, or other epic natural disaster near you, listen
to local reports and follow their directions. Many hotels train their staff on
how to deal with an emergency. Ideally, you’ve already taken serious note of
the evacuation routes (a smart habit to get into no matter where you’re
traveling). When a disaster strikes, leave belongings behind and remain calm.
It's a good idea to travel with a small flashlight, and those traveling
particularly far afield should pack a grab-and-go mini-survival kit.
What
to Do: If You're Stranded in the Airport
One
of the best pieces of travel advice is to have as many airline phone numbers
programmed into your cell phone as possible. If your flight is canceled once
you're at the airport, get in line with everyone else to speak to an agent, but
call the airline directly as well. Someone on the phone might be able to rebook
you more quickly. If there aren’t any available flights for rebooking until the
following day, airlines are no longer required by law to put stranded travelers
up in a hotel (especially if the delay is due to weather), but a few still will
if you ask for a voucher directly. Always travel with a cell phone charger (battery
powered options are best for emergencies when everyone is
huddled around the one outlet in the terminal floor), snack, clean change of
clothes, and basic toiletries in your carry-on, no matter how quick the flight
is supposed to be!
What
to Do: In the Case of a Political Coup
Ideally,
you’ve already checked the State
Department’s travel warning website before heading to a country
that’s politically unstable; these things rarely happen overnight, although
anything is always possible. If the government is overthrown (of there are
riots and political unrest), getting to the U.S. embassy -- FAST -- is the best
way to deal with this less-than-ideal situation. But don’t put yourself or
fellow travelers in harm’s way; use your best judgement, which may mean you
choose to stay in your hotel room and call the embassy until you get the all
clear. Avoid large groups of protestors on the streets.
What
to Do: If You're Hospitalized
Check
with your insurance company before you leave the country to find out what it
covers overseas. You may need to purchase supplemental insurance, as most
policies won’t cover a medical evacuation to the United States, which almost
always costs tens of thousands of dollars. U.S. embassies and consulates
maintain lists of local hospitals and doctors, which can be found on their
public websites. If you’re feeling ill, but perhaps not sick enough to warrant
a visit to the hospital, it may be more effective to check yourself into a
luxury hotel. Upscale properties often provide on-call doctors (for a fee, but
it’s more comfortable than any emergency room). Be sure you’re up-to-date with
all your vaccinations and check with your doctor before leaving to see if you
need any prescriptions for anti-Malarial medication, the Yellow Fever vaccine,
or other medications that might be more necessary when abroad. Leave an
"in case of emergency card" in your wallet (in both English and the
native language of the country you’re visiting) that you can give to hospital
staff so they can contact your family back home. The consulate should be
reached in serious cases, and this is why you should leave an itinerary with a
family member or friend, and check in once in awhile. If you have a
prescription, bring extras and keep all of them in their original containers.
What
to Do: If You're Kidnapped
While a
kidnapping is a highly unlikely occurrence, we can’t stress enough how
important it is to check in with a contact at home on a regular basis and leave
an itinerary with someone, so they have a general idea of where you should be.
Apps like I’m Getting
Kidnapped might save the day. Hit one button and the app
automatically sends a customized message (like, "Laura is in danger, here
is is her last location. Please alert authorities.") to the numbers you
previously programmed into your phone. The message will be sent every 15
minutes. The app is available in 14 languages, but only on Android devices.
It’s probably best to alert family and friends about the app before dropping it
on them, and, of course, if you have access to your cell phone, calling local
authorities should be the first priority. Also, always put up a fight from the
beginning. Studies show that more kidnapping victims escape when they try to
get away as early as possible, versus those who think that going along with
their abductors will eventually lead to freedom.
What
to Do: If You're Stranded on a Cruise Ship
The
last few years have been tough for the cruiseline industry, with everything
from an Ebola scare
on a ship headed for Belize, to the infamous “poop cruise”
that left Carnival Triumph passengers at sea for five days without working
toilets. In response, Cruise Lines International Association drafted a passenger
bill of rights, which includes everything from the right to an
emergency power source in case of a main generator failure, to the very
important right to disembark a docked ship if adequate food, water, and
restroom facilities become unavailable onboard. While there isn't much that
stranded passengers can do if there's an emergency onboard, listening to the
crew and remaining calm are good first steps.
What
to Do: If You're Arrested
Tune
into “Locked up
Abroad” on the National Geographic Channel and you'll be amazed at
how seemingly simple it is to end up in the slammer overseas. Of course, in reality,
odds are pretty slim that you’ll be arrested (especially, ahem, if you don’t
break the law). It’s important to remember that laws vary from country to
country and that every person visiting that country must follow them. If you do
find yourself behind bars, the State Department should know about it: ASAP. The
arresting officer may contact the consulate if you announce that you’re a U.S.
citizen, but if you can get one phone call, make it to the American Embassy,
not your mom back in Illinois. Consulate officers monitor foreign prisons for
abuse or unfair treatment towards U.S. prisoners, and will do what they can to
provide assistance to the citizen, as well as his or her family back home.
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