What to do in an emergency while travelling

• Give your family and friends access to your holiday details. If anything happens, they’ll know where you are and you’ll save everyone some stress.
• Register your trip details with Smartraveller. It’s not just so you can be located if there’s an emergency, but also if you have a family emergency back home and you need to be informed. The information you give is protected by privacy laws, so take the time to register.

• Travel insurance may cover for the unexpected costs of an overseas emergency like hospital expenses, the cost of buying medication and the cost of additional accommodation and travel if you’re not able to return home due to a natural disaster.
• Your travel insurer may also assist with organising for a family member to be with you if you’re seriously ill overseas, and even evacuate you home if they deem it necessary.* And if you’re too sick to return home as originally planned, your travel insurer may even be able to extend your policy free of charge until you can. 

• It’s important to be prepared and have the proper cover - check that your travel insurance covers for:
  • Medical emergencies: Medical costs in some countries including the USA and Japan can be very high. Having medical cover may save you a lot of money should the unexpected happen and you’re hospitalised.*
  • Cancellation: if the flight to your destination is cancelled, or if you’re in an accident before you’re even able to leave for your holiday, you may be able to claim for the costs associated with that cancellation. This includes any accommodation and tours you’ve already booked.*
  • Travel delays: if you’re unable to return home because your booked transport is cancelled or delayed, you can claim for additional expenses like accommodation and meals.*
  • Missed connections: if there’s an alternative way that you can take to get home, you may be able to claim for the costs of taking that different route.*

*Benefit subject to the terms and conditions of the Product Disclosure Statement.

• Check and subscribe to Smartraveller– the government issues travel warnings for every country so that you can plan appropriately. Avoid travelling to destinations that have a ‘Do Not Travel’ or ‘Reconsider Your Need To Travel’ warning issued. To find out more about the Australian Government travel advisories read our Travel Warnings guide.
• Carry your ID (passport) and the contact details of the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate, medical centres and hospitals. Remember that the emergency contact number in other countries may not be 000.
• Keep in the loop with social media and watch the news. Even if you’ve bought travel insurance, knowing what’s happening at your destination can help you to change your plans and minimise disruption ahead of time.
• Familiarise yourself with what to do in the event of a natural disaster like an earthquake or cyclone, particularly if you’re travelling to a region prone to natural disasters.

For more information on what you need to do to prepare for your holiday, read Fast Cover’s Top 30 Tips To Prepare For Your Trip.

• Go to the nearest doctor or hospital if you’re injured as soon as you can. If you’re not able to do so yourself, ask for help.
• If you’re the victim of a crime, report the incident to the police as soon as you’re able to.
• In the event of a natural disaster, civil protest or unrest, move to a safe location and follow the instructions of emergency services, the police or local authorities.
• Contact the Australian Embassy or Consulate and request assistance. They won’t pay any of your expenses, but they can put you in contact with translators, lawyers and the police if required. They’ll also be able to get in contact with your family if you’re not able to.
• Contact your travel insurance assistance team, they may be able to help and advise you.
• When you’re able to, call your family to let them know where you are and that you’re safe.

Keep all receipts and any documentation like police and doctor’s reports and restaurant, accommodation and transport receipts. It’ll be harder to get the receipts and documentation once you return home, and you may need them if you need to lodge a claim.

There’s no time frame for when you should put a claim in. However it does help to submit one as soon as you can, because if you leave it any longer you may lose the receipts and documentation which you’ll need to substantiate your claim.

Unexpected emergencies can happen to anyone and millions of travellers go overseas every year without incident. So get that map out and organise your next holiday experience!