Wellabroad.com Blog

In addition to preparing yourself for your trip, it is important to also prepare your friends and family at home for a possible emergency. Ask a family member or friend to be your contact person while you are traveling. Before you leave: Make arrangements to check in at regular intervals during your trip with this contact person. Leave them a copy of your passport, as well as details of your travel plans and how to contact you. Leave them a copy of your prescription for any medicines that you are taking and the contact information for your doctor. If there is an emergency at home, or if a family member is worried about a traveler’s welfare, they can ask the embassy or consulate for help. You can also register with the U.S. Department of State for free. Registration allows you to record information about your trip so that an American consular officer can contact and assist you in an emergency. Registration is very helpful if you find yourself in a situation where there is unexpected civil unrest or a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or hurricane. Remember, a consular officer cannot assist you if they do not know where you are.