“Travel Planning and Emergency Preparedness for the Adventure Traveler” Philip D. White, Fire...

“Travel Planning and Emergency Preparedness for the Adventure Traveler”

Philip D. White, Fire Chief Ret.

[email protected]

URBAN SURVIVAL

Trekking in the Shadow of Everest

Exploring the Costal Waterways of the Sulu Sea by Dugout Canoe

Cruising in the Caribbean

INTRODUCTION

Whether you are traveling overseas for business, pleasure or study, the best way to ensure a carefree and relaxing trip it to prevent problems before they happen. The more you learn about the countries you are visiting, the hazards to be encountered, passports, visas, customs, immunizations, and other travel basics, the less likely you are to have difficulties during your travels…the devil is in the details!

Typical Problems/Emergencies

• Travel plans• Weather• Passport/visa • Theft• Illness/injury• Technological incidents (fires, hazardous

materials incidents, etc.)• National defense emergencies (civil unrest,

acts of domestic or international terrorism6

Essentials for Survival

• Air• Food• Water• Shelter• Medical• Security• Transportation

Accidents Aren’t

Accidents Aren’t

Survival is a State of Mind

The Decisions You Make in the First 4-6 Minutes, Often Will

Determine if You Will Survive

Rhode Island Station Club Fire

Prevention

• The role of prevention• Problems and or

emergencies will occur• Most big

problems/emergencies started out as small problems/emergencies

How to Call for Help

• Landline• Cell phone• Satellite phone• Radio• Alarms• Runners

Action Priorities

• Safety

• Isolate/deny entry

• Notifications

• Take command

• Identify the nature of the problem/emergency and the hazards that been created

• Review pre-event plan

• Develop and an incident specific plan

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE UNEXPECTED

BEFORE YOU GO

Research the areas you wish to visit:•Internet http://www.excite.com/travel/before you go

•Government

http://travel.state.gov•Tour operators and travel agents

concierge.com and disabilitytravel.com

“TRAVEL WARNINGS”

• Travel warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country

• travel.state.gov/warnings list.html

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“How to deal with the Unexpected”

• Personal needs• Notify family and friends if you change your

travel plans, miss your return flight, or extend your trip

• Notify the closest U.S. embassy or consulate if you find yourself in an area of civil unrest or natural disaster

WHAT TO BRING

• Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target dress conservatively

• Travel light• Carry the minimum amount of valuables• If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair.

Bring them and any medicines with your carry-on luggage

WHAT TO BRING (Cont’d)

• To avoid problems passing through customs, keep medicines in their original containers.

• Bring a copy of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs.

• If a medication contains a narcotic, bring a letter from your physician attesting to the need to take the drug


• Consider use of ATM/Debit Cards• Consider taking two credit cardsMake two

photocopies (or upload to the “cloud”) of your ATM/Debit and credit cards. Keep one with you, and leave the other with family or friends

• Obtain needed currency of the country you are visiting in advance (usually cheaper)


• Pack an extra set of passport photos along with two photocopies of your passport information page (consider uploading to the “cloud”). Keep one photocopy with you, and leave the other with family or friends

• Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage.


• Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality and if possible lock you luggage

• Use luggage anti-theft devices

“Survival Gear”

?

SURVIVAL GEAR

• 1 pocket CPR mask• Personal/family first-Aid kit• Comfort medications as appropriate• Water bottle (s)• Means to purify water• Energy bars• 3 sources of illumination (head lamp,

flashlight, cyalume stick, extra batteries)

SURVIVAL GEAR (Cont’d)

• Multi-tool pocket knife• 2-sources of fire starter with tinder• Money and change• 1-30 gallon trash bag• 1- locking caribiner• 70 feet of 8 mm kernmantle rope• 20 feet of 1 inch tubular, nylon webbing

SURVIVAL GEAR (Cont’d)

• Map, bus and train schedules as appropriate• compass• watch• sunglasses• Lip balm• Notebook with important telephone numbers

and addresses• Foreign language quick reference card(s)

“Traveling Light”

Protect Thy Passport!

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Passport (must be valid for at least six months or longer beyond the dates of you trip) or other proof of U.S. Citizenship

• Tourist card• Visa • Proof of financial viability (may require

certain amount of cash )

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Passport Issues”

• Protect your passport

• Passport fraud

• Safeguard your passport

VISAS

• Department of State publication “Foreign Entry Requirements” gives entry requirements for every country and tells where and how to apply for visas and tourist cards

• Many visas require a fee• travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Medical Emergencies-A Historical Perspective Cont’d

• More than 30 million U.S. citizens travel outside the United States each year

• Approximately half of all travelers to developing countries will experience some form of illness (travelers diarrhea)

• 5,000 Americans will die while traveling abroad (Travelers more than 55 years old constitute 65% of these deaths)


• Causes of travel-related morbidity differs significantly from travel related mortality

• 20-50% of travelers will become ill• The most common form of illness

experienced will be travelers diarrhea (TD) • Less than 1% of travelers will die abroad


• Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death (49%)

• Intentional (suicide/homicide) and unintentional death was second most common cause (25%)

• Infectious disease was the least common cause of death (1%)

CAUSES OF DEATH IN U.S. CITIZEN TRAVELERS

Adapted from Baker TD, Hargarten SW,Guptill KS: Overseas Fatalities of United States Citizen Travelers: An Analysis of Deaths Related to International Travel. Ann of Emerg Med 1991 June;20(6):623

INJURY DEATHS OF U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELERS

Adapted from Baker TD, Hargarten SW,Guptill KS: Overseas Fatalities of United States Citizen Travelers: An Analysis of Deaths Related to International Travel. Ann of Emerg Med 1991 June;20(6):623

The “Others” Category!

INJURY PREVENTION

• Avoid Traveling at night

• Avoid Motorcycles and small, less protective vehicles

Injury Prevention (Cont’d)

• Avoid riding in the back of trucks

• Use seatbelts and child/infant seats as appropriate


• Look both ways before you cross the street (70% of all motor vehicle fatalities are pedestrians

• If you must stop on a road or highway, pull at least 10 feet off the roadway


• Don’t change a tire on a hill

• Don’t store fuel in the passenger compartment of a vehicle


• Avoid alcohol consumption when driving, swimming or other activities that require quick reflexes

• Use personal floatation devices and other PPE as appropriate


• Avoid unscheduled flights in general aviation aircraft

• Avoid close contact with wildlife

Injury Prevention

• Use insect repellent and netting as appropriate

• Eat well and get plenty of rest

Injury Prevention

• Maintain good personal hygiene

• Travel in groups or pairs

Thunderstorms

• Thunderstorms create several hazards. The first is lighting. In addition, they may also bring high winds, rain and hail. Finally there is the potential for massive downpours that may cause flash flooding either locally or miles downstream.

Rain• Downpours are common. • Rain may obscure your vision and

contribute to becoming disoriented. • Heavy rain may contribute to flash

flooding, either locally or downstream. • Wet/muddy roads and trails make travel

difficult. Fording of small streams and rivers are not recommended when it is raining.

• Water levels quickly fall after the rain has stopped.

• ensitive equipment should be protected from water.

• The risk of hypothermia is increased due to water chill.

• Climbers, backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts unable to seek shelter and dry clothing are most susceptible.

Lightning• If struck, it may cause burns,

musculoskeletal injuries, nerve damage and/or death.

• In addition, there have been reports where lightening strikes on aircraft and the resultant failure of the avionics have been implicated in crashes.

• When lightening strikes vegetation it may cause steam explosions in the limbs and trunk of the tree.

• This often causes splintered wood and debris to spread out in the immediate vicinity with great force.

• In addition, strikes may cause dry grass and chaparral to catch fire.

Precautions• Watch for thunderheads forming in the late afternoon• If thunderheads are present, get below the tree line • If you can’t get below the tree line, seek shelter in a bolder field, cave

or other natural cover that is not located on a peak or ridge. If you are bivouacked in a tent, stay where you are. Do not seek shelter under a single tree, outcrop of rocks, etc.

• If in a boat, make to port as soon as practical, if necessary maneuver around the base of the thunderhead

• If possible seek shelter in a vehicle, building or other manmade structure until the storm passes

• Consult the local weather report as part of your travel plans

NOTE: Lightning will strike the same place twice, three, four times….

Hail• Hail occurs as a result of rain

moving with updrafts in the thunderhead, until the frozen particles become so heavy they fall.

• This process may be repeated several times before the hail reaches the ground.

• Each time it moves up and down, the hail becomes larger.

• Hail the size of baseballs has been reported.

• Hail has been known to cause injury and serious damage to exposed climbers, backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts and equipment.

Winds• Winds may gust over 60 mph for

short periods of time with violent updrafts and downdrafts.

• Vision can be obscured by blowing snow, rain and/or dust that may contribute to becoming disoriented.

• Safe navigation of small watercraft is made more difficult.

• Unsecured equipment, tents, etc. are at risk for becoming damaged or lost.

• The risk of hypothermia is increased due to wind chill. Climbers, backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts unable to seek shelter are most susceptible.

Rain/Flash Floods• Flooding is typically a seasonal event and

is often predictable. • This is more true of some geographical

locations than others. The greatest danger from flooding is being stranded until the waters recede.

• However, if you are camping on a flood plain, in a narrow canyon, river running, canyoning, fording small streams and rivers, you maybe at increased risk for being swept away.

• It is for this reason that consideration of the local as well as the regional weather forecast be an integral part of your travel planning. to a fun and safe trip.

• Have a back up plan in the event the unexpected occurs.

Precautions• Keep your eyes and ears on weather occurring upstream/river• Watch for changes in water color, levels, debris, and current• If you encounter unexpected changes, evacuate the area immediately• If you are unable to evacuate, go to high ground (get above the last

flood line using old debris lines as a guide), notify the local emergency services if possible and wait for the waters to recede.

• Don a personal flotation device if possible• If a rescue is to be performed, let the professionals do it. If this is not

possible, remember the old rescue axiom “first you throw, then you row, and then you go”

• Entering the water should only be considered by a members of a rescue team who have been trained and are proficient in swift water/flood rescue

Tornadoes• These severe weather disturbances

are most common in the United State from Texas through Oklahoma, Arkansas and beyond (tornado alley).

• More people are killed by tornadoes every year than all of the earthquakes in the United States since the famous 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, California.

• Unlike earthquakes they have some predictability and the opportunity for a warning to be sounded in the affected area.

• When the community’s tornado alert is activated (siren), or a National Weather Tornado Warning is placed on the radio or television, you should seek shelter.

Precautions

• Avoid areas of severe weather, travel at a right angle to the storm track

• If you are unable to avoid the area of severe weather, seek shelter

• Storm shelter is best. If you are unable to get into a storm shelter, barricade yourself in an interior room without any windows and a door that locks.

• Cover yourself with a blanket/mattress to prevent injury from flying debris (bathtub works well not a shower)

• If in a car, park underneath an overpass, exit the vehicle and wedge yourself beneath the overpass supports. If this is not possible, consider parking the car and seek shelter in a culvert.

Hurricane• These severe weather disturbances

are also seasonal, and are limited to lower latitude.

• Consequently, The State of Florida, the Atlantic Seaboard of the United States, the Gulf States, Mexico and countries in the Caribbean are primarily affected.

• In Asia they are called Typhoons. The start out as tropical storms but then begin to rotate.

• As they rotate faster an eye develops. Once the winds are in excess of 70 mph they become a hurricane with potential to cause serious damage and result in many deaths.

• Most deaths occur as the result of flooding in low lying coastal areas by the storm surge.

Precautions

• Avoid areas of severe weather, evacuate when told• If you are unable to avoid the area of severe weather, seek

shelter• Storm shelter is best. If you are unable to get into a storm

shelter, barricade yourself in an interior room that does not have any windows and a door that locks.

• Cover yourself with a blanket/mattress to prevent injury from flying debris (bathtub works well not a shower)

• If in a car, park underneath an overpass, next to a building or other structure to protect the vehicle from flying debris

Hurricane Storm Damage

Floating Market

ILLNESS PREVENTION-SAFE WATER AND FOOD

• Only drink or brush your teeth with water that has been boiled or chemically disinfected (Globaline®, Potable-Aqua®)

• It is safer to drink hot beverages made with boiled water, canned or bottled carbonated beverages, beer, and wine

• Avoid ice or drinking from a container that was not known to be clean and dry

ILLNESS PREVENTION-SAFE WATER AND FOOD

(Cont’d)• Foods should be selected with care• Food that has been cooked and is still hot is

generally safe• Fruits you peel yourself, it is generally safe• Avoid salads, uncooked vegetables and fruit,

unpasteurized milk and mil products, raw meat, shellfish, and reef fish (toxicity)

Medication Issues

DOCUMENTATION FOR MEDICATIONS

• If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should have a letter from your doctor describing your condition, including information on any prescription medications

• Make a list of all your medications including the generic names

• Leave all medications in their original containers!

Regents at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

INFORMATION ABOUT PHYSICIANS AND

HOSPITALS

• If you have any allergies, reactions to certain medicines, or other unique medical problem

• U.S. embassies and consulates usually keep a list of physicians and hospitals in their area

INFORMATION ABOUT PHYSICIANS AND

HOSPITALS (Cont’d)

• Major credit card companies also can provide the names of local doctors and hospitals

• For detailed information about physicians abroad , the authoritative reference is“The Directory of Medical Specialists” available at most libraries

Immunizations

IMMUNIZATIONS

• Under international health regulations adopted by WHO, a country may require international certificates of vaccination against yellow fever and cholera.

• Check with physician/travel clinic regarding current immunization status and the need for additional immunizations and/or prophylaxis

IMMUNIZATIONS (Cont’d)

• “Health Information for International Travel 1999-2000”

• A comprehensive guide to vaccinations recommended or required for international travel

• cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook.htm

HEALTH INSURANCE

• Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care can be costly for travelers who are injured or who become seriously ill overseas

• Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for hospital or medical services outside the United States

HEALTH INSURANCE (Cont’d)

• Most medical insurance plans limit coverage to the United States

• There are short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers

• Read “Medical Information for Americans Travelling Abroad”

• travel.state.gov/medical.html

Medical Evacuation

MEDICAL EVACUATION

• Although some health insurance companies may pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for medical evacuation back to the United States ($10,000 or more)

• Consider purchasing supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation

TRAVEL INSURANCE

• Highly recommended by tour operators and travel agents

• Usually promises to cover you for cancellation or interruption of your trip

• May cover emergency medical care• Reimburse you for lost or stolen luggage• Review the plan carefully!

Old Quarter-Casablanca

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Financial and Shopping Tips”

• Currency-Banks usually offer the best exchange rates, learn and obey currency laws!

• Mail small items-items mailed home are not eligible for your $400 exemption, ask about insurance, $400

• Value Added Tax (VAT)-VAT refund is only for items that you can ship or carry with you

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Beware When Making the

Following Purchases”• Wildlife souvenirs-elephant ivory, sea

turtles, crocodile leather, fur from endangered cats, etc.

• Glazed ceramics-LEAD DANGER!!!• Antiques-clarify if artifact or art is a

reproduction or original, if original, export permits are usually required

Legal Issues

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Legal Issues”

• Obey foreign laws• Avoid areas of unrest and disturbance• Deal only with authorized outlets when

exchanging money or buying airline tickets and traveler’s checks

• Do not deliver a package for anyone, unless you know the person well and you are certain

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Legal Aid”

• If arrested, ask the authorities to notify a consular officer at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate

• Will advise you of your rights according to local law

• Will notify your family and friends• Will provide you with a list of local

attorneys to represent your interests

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on the Streets”

• Be aware of your surroundings. The most likely places you will be victimized include crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and marginal areas of cities

• Don’t use shortcuts, narrow alleys or poorly lit streets.

• Avoid traveling at night

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on the Streets” (Cont’d)• Avoid public demonstrations and other civil

disturbances• Keep a low profile and avoid loud

conversations or arguments.• Don’t discuss travel plans or other personal

matters with strangers• Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers who

approach you, offering bargains or to be your guide

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on the Streets” (Cont’d)•Beware of pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will

-jostle you,

-ask you for directions or the time,

-point to something spilled on your clothing

-or distract you by creating a disturbance

-a child or even a women carrying a baby can be a pickpocket

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on the Streets” (Cont’d)• Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across

your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse snatchers

• Wear hip packs in front of body when in crowds

• Consider storing passport and other important documents and money beneath your shirt or coat in a concealed pouch

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on the Streets” (Cont’d)• Try to seem purposeful when you move

about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you are going. When possible, ask directions from individuals in authority

• Know how to use the pay telephone and have the proper change or token on hand

• Learn a few phrases in the local language so you can signal your need for help, the police or a doctor

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety in Your Hotel”

• Keep your hotel door locked at all times• Meet visitors in the lobby• Use the hotel safe to store important

documents, money and valuables• Let someone know what you are doing and

when to expect your return• If alone, do not enter an elevator if there is a

suspicious-looking person inside

Public Transportation

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety on Public Transportation”

•Taxis-only take taxis clearly identified with official marking

•Trains-Well organized, systematic robbery of passengers on trains along popular tourist routes is a serious problem (at night)

•If you see your way blocked by a stranger and another person is very close to you from behind, move away. This can happen in the corridor of the train on the platform/station


•Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Criminals have been known to drug food or drink offered to passengers

•When possible, lock your compartment. If it cannot be locked, take turns sleeping in shifts with your traveling companions. If you must sleep unprotected, tie down your luggage, strap your valuables to you and sleep on top them as much as possible


• The same type of criminal activity found on trains can be found on public buses on popular tourist routes

Gridlock in Mexico City

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Safety When You Drive”

• When you choose a car, don’t go for the exotic, choose a type commonly available locally

• Where possible, ask that marking that identify it as a rental car be removed

• Make certain it is in good repair• Choose a car with electric door locks and

power windows, features that give you better control of access to the car


• An air conditioner, when available, is also a safety feature, allowing you to drive with the windows closed.

• Keep car doors locked at all times. Wear seat belt, use booster seats and child car seats

• As much as possible, avoid driving a t night• Don’t leave valuables in the car


• Don’t park your car on the street overnight. If the hotel or municipality does not have a garage or other secure area , select a well-lit area

• Never pick up hitchhikers• Don’t get out of your car if there are

suspicious looking individuals nearby. Drive away

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Patterns of Crime Against

Motorists”• Victimization of motorists have been refined

to an art in some parts of the world• Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations,

parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway

• Criminals use ingenious ploys.

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Patterns of Crime Against

Motorists”• Criminals may masquerade as good

Samaritans, offering help for tires that they claim are flat or that they have made flat

• Other criminals get your attention with abuse, either trying to drive you off the road, or causing an “accident” by rear-ending you

• Others just smash your window at traffic lights

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“How to Handle Money Safely”

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash• Do not flash large amounts of money• Make sure credit/ATM cards are returned

after each transaction • Deal only with authorized agents when you

exchange money, buy airline tickets or purchase souvenirs

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Lost/Stolen Possessions”

• Report the loss immediately to the local police*

• Keep a copy of the report for insurance purposes

• Then notify agents for the travelers checks, airline tickets, credit card companies

• Passport lost or stolen-contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“How to Avoid Legal Difficulties”

• Obey local laws and customs• Drug violations• Possession of firearms• Photography• Use of portable radios• Purchasing antiques

Terrorism

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Protection Against Terrorism”

• Avoid travel to unsafe areas where there is a record of kidnapping and/or terrorist attacks

• Terrorists are looking for easily accessible targets who follow predictable patterns

• Schedule direct flights if possible and avoid stops in high-risk airports or areas

• Be aware of what you discuss with strangers or what may be overheard by others


• Try to minimize the time spent in the public area of an airport, which is a less protected area. Move quickly from the check-in counter to the secured areas. On arrival, leave the airport as soon as possible

• As much as possible, avoid luggage tags, dress and behavior which may identify you as an American


• Keep an eye out suspicious abandoned packages or briefcases

• Avoid obvious terrorist targets such as places where Americans and Westerners are known to congregate

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Travel to High-Risk Areas”

• Discuss with your family or friends what they should do in the event of an emergency

• Register with the U.S. embassy or consulate upon arrival

• Remain friendly but be cautious about discussing personal matters, your itinerary or program


• Leave no personal or business papers in your hotel room

• Watch for people following your or “loiterers” observing your comings and goings

• Keep a mental note of safe havens such as police stations, hotels, hospitals, etc.


• Let someone know what your travel plans are. Keep them informed if you change your plans.

• Avoid predictable times and routes of travel and report any suspicious activity

• Select your own cabs at random• It possible, travel in groups


• Refuse unexpected packages• Formulate a plan in advance if civil

disturbances, explosions or gunfire occurs• Check for loose wires or other suspicious

activity around your car• Be sure that you car’s fuel tank is at least 3/4

full and in good operating condition


• Drive with car windows closed in crowded streets. Bombs can be thrown through open windows

• If you are ever in a situation where somebody starts shooting, drop to the floor or get down as low as possible. Don’t move until you are sure the danger has passed. If possible get behind a solid object. If you must move, crawl on your stomach

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Hijacking/Hostage Situations”

• U.S. government’s policy is not to negotiate with terrorists

• The most dangerous phases of a hijacking/hostage situation are the beginning and at the end

• It is extremely important that you remain calm and alert to opportunities to escape or survive the event

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Hijacking/Hostage Situations”• Avoid resistance and sudden threatening

movements-unless you are certain of success• Make a concerted effort to relax, prepare

yourself mentally and physically for the possibility of a long ordeal

• Try to remain inconspicuous, avoid eye contact and the appearance of observing your captors actions

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Hijacking/Hostage Situations”• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Consume little

food or drink• Consciously put yourself in a mode of

passive cooperation. Talk normally. Do not complain, avoid belligerency, and comply with all orders and instructions

• If questioned, keep your answers short. Don’t volunteer information or make unnecessary overtures

WHILE YOU ARE OVERSEAS“Hijacking/Hostage Situations”• Maintain your sense of personal dignity• Establish a rapport with your captors• Establish a daily program of mental and

physical activity• Eat what they give you, even if it does not

look appetizing• Think positively

Help from U.S. Consuls Abroad

HELP FROM U.S. CONSULS ABROAD

• When to register with the U.S. embassy or consulate

• Registration at the U.S. embassy or consulate makes your presence and whereabouts known

• If traveling with an escorted tour to areas experiencing or other problems, find out if registration is being done for you

WHAT U.S. CONSULS CAN DO FOR YOU

• In the case of destitution• Marriage abroad• Birth abroad• Adoption abroad• International child custody disputes• Death abroad• Other services

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY

• If your family needs to reach you because of an emergency at home or because they are worried about your welfare. They should call the State Department’s Overseas Citizen Services at (202) 647-5225

• The consular officers in the country you are visiting will attempt to locate you, pass on urgent messages, and report back to your family

WHEN YOU RETURN

• Confirm your return reservation at least twice, and at least 72 hours in advance

• Airport departure tax-make certain you have enough money so you can get on the plane

• Immigration and Customs-have your paperwork ready

• Be prepared to pay duty on items purchased overseas

REFERENCES

• Your Trip Abroad, Department of State Publication 10542, April 1998,

• The World Travel and Tourism Statistics Year Book, vol 37. Madrid, World Tourism Organization, 1975 and 1983

• Baker TD, Hargarten SW, Gupthill KS: The Uncounted Dead--American Civilians Dying Overseas. Public Health Rep 1992 Mar-Apr;107(2):155-9

• Baker TD, Hargarten SW,Guptill KS: Overseas Fatalities of United States Citizen Travelers: An Analysis of Deaths Related to International Travel. Ann of Emerg Med 1991 June;20(6):622-6

• Hargarten SW, Baker SP: Fatalities in the Peace Corps. JAMA 1985;10:1326-1329

• Gupthill KS, Hargarten SW, Baker TD: American Travel Deaths in Mexico: Causes and Prevention Strategies. West J Med 1991;154:169-171

• Food and Water Precautions and Travelers’ Diarrhea Prevention, Travelers’ Health Home Page, Centers for Disease Control, December 8, 2000

GOVERNMENT OVERSEAS TRAVEL RESOURCES

• U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, travel.state.gov

CDC RESOURCES:Updated Information

• CDC Health Information for International Travel 1-999-2000, DHHS, Atlanta, GA

• cdc.gov/travel• CDC Regional & Disease-specific

documents• cdc.gov/travel/diseases

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.org

• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) http://www.paho.org

• International Society of Travel Medicine http://www.istm.org

• American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene http://www.astmh.org

TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS

• American Automobile Association

aaa.com• Better Business Bureau• bbb.com• American Society of Travel Agents at

703-739-2782

SUGGESTED READING

• YOUR TRIP ABROAD, Department of State Publication 10542, April 1998, travel.state.gov/yourtripabroad.html

• BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK, most recent edition

• Fleming June, Staying Found, 5th Ed, The Mountaineers

• Letham Lawrence, GPS Made Easy, 2nd Ed The Mountaineers

SUGGESTED READING

• Graydon, Don, The Freedom of the Hills, 1997

• W.G. May, Mountain Search and Rescue,1st Ed, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group Inc.

• Ultimate Adventure, May 2000, National Geographic

SUGGESTED READING

• YOUR TRIP ABROAD, Department of State Publication 10542, April 1998, travel.state.gov/yourtripabroad.html

• BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK, most recent edition

• Fleming June, Staying Found, 5th Ed, The Mountaineers

• Letham Lawrence, GPS Made Easy, 2nd Ed The Mountaineers

SUGGESTED READING

• Graydon, Don, The Freedom of the Hills, 1997

• W.G. May, Mountain Search and Rescue,1st Ed, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group Inc.

• Ultimate Adventure, May 2000, National Geographic

“Travel Planning and Emergency Preparedness for the Adventure Traveler” Philip D. White, Fire...

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