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-   -   preparing for emergencies overseas (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1687149-preparing-emergencies-overseas.html)

Box5 Jun 13, 2015 2:42 pm


Originally Posted by techman41973 (Post 24958683)
I'm looking for general guidance on preparing for emergencies for international travel.

1. I've been told to always keep with me the telephone # of the U.S embassy and state department.

3. Its probably best to take a 2nd ATM and 2nd credit card as a backup, but where should I store my backup cards?

7 Ask my Dr. for an antibiotic prescription before leaving in case I get sick

Is there anything else I should prepare?

If you do #1 and need to do it, #3 might not be too useful. Instead, cash and gold coins are more useful in combat than a credit card.

#7 shows how non-medical people should not try to practice medicine. If there were a one pill cures any disease, there would be no need for hospitals and doctors. It might be better to carry an aspirin in case you have a heart attack. If I have unusual stomach pains, I do not know how to determine if I have appendicitis, stomach flu, food poisoning, heart attack, intestinal blockage. I suppose I could post a question online and see if I get an answer.

LtKernelPanic Jun 13, 2015 9:21 pm


Originally Posted by techman41973 (Post 24958683)
I'm looking for general guidance on preparing for emergencies for international travel.

1. I've been told to always keep with me the telephone # of the U.S embassy and state department.
2. I've been told to keep photocopies of my drivers license and passport. Other than my wallet, what other locations should I keep a copy?
3. Its probably best to take a 2nd ATM and 2nd credit card as a backup, but where should I store my backup cards?
4. In case of theft, is it a good idea to keep some spare cash in my shoe or are those money belts a better option?
5. Keep a record of international telephone numbers of my credit cards in case I have to report them lost or stolen.
6. make sure I'm covered under my medical insurance when I'm overseas
7 Ask my Dr. for an antibiotic prescription before leaving in case I get sick

Is there anything else I should prepare?

#1 is a good idea to have in case your passport is lost or stolen. Make sure you have the emergency number for the local consulate (if there's one where you're be) and the embassy.

#2 is also a good idea in case your passport is lost or stolen. I have scanned copies of my passport data page and the front and back of my passport card, GE card, DL, debit card, and credit cards I use for travel stored as an encrypted file on several of my devices and online. I also printed out two copies of them one of which is stored in my safe with a certified copy of my birth certificate and the other I gave to my mom who lives close by. Is it overkill? Most likely but if the worst happens she has instant access to copies of all my important travel documents. If for some reason she needs the birth certificate she can get it from my safe or all else fails from the courthouse downtown.

#5 is also a good idea although you can easily find them online too.

#6 is probably the most important. Some countries require proof of insurance to be admitted.

#7. No. Just no. That's the reason drug resistant "super bugs" have been forming. Carrying some OTC stuff for common ailments is a much better idea. Juts make sure what you're taking with you is legal where you're going.

Peregrine415 Jun 14, 2015 8:44 pm

Unless I'm driving, I leave my valid driver's license in a hotel safe (and other valuables) and carry an expired one in my wallet.

It might also pay to know who won last season's World Series or Super Bowl. It got ABC news reporter Ken Kashiwara airlifted out of South Vietnam in 1975 when he climbed the walls of the US embassy in Saigon and shouted "The Dodgers won the pennant" to a marine guard.

LondonElite Jun 15, 2015 3:08 am


Originally Posted by techman41973 (Post 24958683)
I'm looking for general guidance on preparing for emergencies for international travel.

1. I've been told to always keep with me the telephone # of the U.S embassy and state department.
2. I've been told to keep photocopies of my drivers license and passport. Other than my wallet, what other locations should I keep a copy?
3. Its probably best to take a 2nd ATM and 2nd credit card as a backup, but where should I store my backup cards?
4. In case of theft, is it a good idea to keep some spare cash in my shoe or are those money belts a better option?
5. Keep a record of international telephone numbers of my credit cards in case I have to report them lost or stolen.
6. make sure I'm covered under my medical insurance when I'm overseas
7 Ask my Dr. for an antibiotic prescription before leaving in case I get sick

Is there anything else I should prepare?

I'd like to come back to the first response you received...

Where are you travelling to? For anywhere in Europe, North America, much of South America, much of Asia, and all of Oceania most of this is overkill, as you are just about as likely to be robbed/mugged/scammed as you would be in the US. Take sensible precautions, but don't let irrational fears destroy the fun of travelling.

techman41973 Jun 22, 2015 8:28 pm

Appreciate all the great advice.
The only concern I still have is leaving a spare credit card or cash in my hotel room. Even in US hotels, items from luggage and even hotel safes are commonly stolen by hotel staff. I'm sure in many 3rd world countries, this is even a bigger problem. It may not be a problem in asia or europe.

burbuja0512 Jun 24, 2015 7:08 am


Originally Posted by techman41973 (Post 25012286)
Appreciate all the great advice.
The only concern I still have is leaving a spare credit card or cash in my hotel room. Even in US hotels, items from luggage and even hotel safes are commonly stolen by hotel staff. I'm sure in many 3rd world countries, this is even a bigger problem. It may not be a problem in asia or europe.

Where in Asia? If you're going to Japan, you could leave your credit card and thousands of dollars in cash out in the open in your room and you're fine. Parts of SE Asia or India, not so much.

Traveling in Europe is like traveling in the US, except with better medical care in some countries. Exercise caution like you would in any US city and don't sweat it. Do you have an AMEX? I believe they can assist best in case of an emergency.

For the record, I got really sick once in Germany and was treated free of charge. Not sure how this works in other countries but it was truly the best medical service I have ever had.

About the antibiotics.. really? If you're sick enough to need them, you should just suck it up and see a local doctor. They have docs even in developing nations and they're often very cheap.

Badenoch Jun 24, 2015 7:46 am


Originally Posted by techman41973 (Post 25012286)
Appreciate all the great advice.
The only concern I still have is leaving a spare credit card or cash in my hotel room. Even in US hotels, items from luggage and even hotel safes are commonly stolen by hotel staff. I'm sure in many 3rd world countries, this is even a bigger problem. It may not be a problem in asia or europe.

Nowhere in the world is absolutely risk free but items are not "commonly stolen" from hotel safes by staff. It does happen but it not common.

And even if it does happen credit and debit cards can be replaced and I wouldn't leave so much cash in a hotel safe that I couldn't comfortably absorb the costs.

Box5 Jun 24, 2015 8:50 am

Wikipedia Lies
 

Originally Posted by Peregrine415 (Post 24970712)
It might also pay to know who won last season's World Series or Super Bowl. It got ABC news reporter Ken Kashiwara airlifted out of South Vietnam in 1975 when he climbed the walls of the US embassy in Saigon and shouted "The Dodgers won the pennant" to a marine guard.

This is a typical kind of Wikipedia lie and inaccuracy. Wikipedia, the internet "encylopedia" that anyone can put made up stuff, just like NBC News Brian Williams. :D

ABC News Ken Kashiwahara actually said that he was prepared to shout that phrase in order to identify himself as an American but did not have to because a marine guard pulled him over the fence before he could do so.

Bogey90 Jun 27, 2015 12:22 pm

1. Do you know the four digit PINs for all of your debit/credit cards?

2. Go to the web sites or call and notify your card issuers that you will you will be in another country.


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