What to do in an emergency while travelling
Don’t panic! Things can go wrong when you’re travelling, but if you keep a cool head and know what assistance is available you can bring emergency situations to their best possible resolution.
Be prepared
The Goabroad website advises that preparation is key to a safe holiday. Before you even leave for your holiday, make sure that you’ve taken every precaution to ensure your safety. The Smartraveller website advises not to “base your decision about taking out travel insurance on the assumption that 'it will not happen to me'. Accidents do happen and comprehensive travel insurance could save you and your family thousands of dollars” . If you do take out travel insurance take all of the relevant details with you when you travel (like the policy number and the international phone number). You can also leave a copy of these details with a friend or family member at home who you can contact if yours go missing. Make copies or take a photograph of your passport and travel documents – this will assist should you need to replace them. Travel + Leisure magazine points out that emergency contact numbers aren’t the same all around the world. Familiarise yourself with the emergency contact number of the country you are visiting – you can’t call 000 in Thailand. Smartraveller recommends that you take down the number of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour emergency hotline. You can also register your travel plans on the Smartraveller website so that the government can assist you or your family in the event of a major crisis (like a cyclone).
First response
Once a crisis has occurred, hotel staff, tour guides, shopkeepers or restaurant staff should be able to assist in getting you to a hospital or police station. Travel Weekly recommends downloading the TravelSmart app before you leave as it will give you information about local hospitals and emergency services. At this first stage, ensuring that you have adequate treatment or assistance is the most important thing – don’t worry just yet if your insurance will cover it. If you find yourself caught up in a general emergency like a natural disaster or military action, follow the direction of local officials. When you are well and safe, you can look into what to do next.
Who to call
Once things have calmed down a bit, Smartraveller says your first call should be to your travel insurance hotline (most will operate 24 hours a day). In the case of a medical emergency, if for example you have Over60 Travel Insurance, you should get in contact for Over60 Travel Insurance as soon as possible and professionals can advise you on the best course of action. If your passport or travel documents are among stolen you will need to visit the local consulate to obtain emergency copies – the cost of this may be refunded by your insurer subject to the conditions set out in your policy. If you have been arrested, News.com.au advises you to call the nearest Australian consulate or the DFAT 24-hour emergency hotline based in Canberra. Smartraveller cautions that you must be aware that consular assistance cannot override local law and they cannot simply get you out of jail. They can however provide information about your rights, visit you in jail and assist with sourcing legal representation.
Document everything
Obtain copies of any documentation that you can get your hands on – it may make your insurance claims easier in the long run. Over60 Travel Insurance advises that different types of claims will require different types of documentation. To support any claim you should consider obtaining the following, but not limited to, police reports, valuations, medical reports, original receipts or proof of purchase and ownership. If required they may ask youto provide them with translations into English of any such documents to enable their consideration of your claim.