Expect the unexpected

Prepare for emer- gencies

Make sure you have emergency contact information for family and for your medical insurance. Also, find out what assistance your home countries government can offer you (or your family at home) in cases of emergency, and how you (and your family) go about acquiring this assistance.

For Canadians, the Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade maintains a 24-hour emergency service. Services are available for Canadians overseas who may encounter such problems as illness, accidents or death, evacuation, financial difficulties, child abduction or custody issues, kidnapping, missing persons, arrest/detention, and lost or stolen passports. Assistance is also available for family and friends in Canada seeking help and support for persons overseas. These services are managed from Ottawa. Consular officers in the Department's Emergency Operations Centre work closely with officials located around the world. If an emergency occurs while travelling abroad, call the nearest Canadian mission or make a collect call to Ottawa at (613) 996-8885.

If you find yourself in a hotspot; in an area of the world where trouble breaks out, you can contact your home countries government for information. The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs has a 24-hour, toll-free number with regularly updated information from around the world. You can speak to an official at 1-800-267-6788, call 1-800-575-2500 to have information faxed to you, or receive weekly e-mails by signing up on-line at www.voyage.gc.ca (follow the Country Travel Reports link and then the Travel Bulletin link). In the United States, the U.S. State Department has an information hotline at (202) 647-5225.

Photocopy your documents

Finally, to ensure maximum security, photocopy all your documents (tickets, passport, insurance policy, immunization certificates, visas etc.) and record any important numbers (like your calling card, emergency phone numbers, student ID number, traveller's cheque numbers etc.) so that you have a second copy of everything should you suffer a robbery. Store the copies in your bag away from the originals. You may also want to leave a third copy of certain documents (especially your insurance policy and flight information) with someone at home.

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