Preparing for Emergencies Abroad
In an emergency, always contact the local authorities and study abroad staff at your overseas site first. They are in the best position to provide you assistance quickly.
Once initial, onsite help has been received and you are in a safe place, then please contact your family and, if necessary, the Purdue Study Abroad Office.
The best thing to do is to prepare for emergencies before you are in an emergency situation. While you can never predict exactly what may happen or how you can react, knowing what to do and who you can call in an emergency will help you know what to do if something does happen.
Plan ahead how you will handle emergencies and have the local emergency contact information handy at all times, including the emergency number or equivalent of 911 in your country, police, fire, and on-site staff emergency phone numbers. Take a few minutes to ensure you know this information, and program it into your phone. You may also want to keep a card with this information in your wallet or bag, in case you become separated from your phone.
How will you contact family at home if there is an emergency? Do they have the required travel documents to get to you, should they need to? Family members may also want to consider ensuring they have valid passports, just in case.
Click here to access Purdue's Emergency Contact Page.
Preparing for Emergencies at Home
It is also important to speak with your family before you leave about how you will want to handle any emergencies or family situations that may come up at home while you are gone.
As with any unexpected situation, having some plans in place ahead of time can make the situation a bit less stressful in the moment. Should a family emergency occur, decide now what steps should be taken. If an emergency occurs, you should also notify on-site staff so they can help support you, answer questions, and inform you of any resources that may be helpful to you.
Ask yourself: In what circumstances would I want to return home? If I need to return home, what steps would I need to take? What resources may be available to me to help process while abroad?
Of course, many of these things are dependent on what has happened and when it occurs - if you find yourself in any situation where needing to leave your program may become necessary, it is important to notify Purdue Study Abroad and your on-site program staff right away. We can help make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision, as well as help you understand any consequences for academics, finances, or grades.
Personal Emergency Action Plan
Creating a personal action plan can be a good first step in helping keep yourself safer and preparing for any possible emergencies.
The best personal emergency plans take into account the following:
- Knowing where to go
- Knowing emergency contact information
- Having a back-up plan
- Preparing an emergency health kit
- Having a financial back-up option (reserved money)