Medical Emergencies. Natural Disasters. Political Unrest...
As much as we don’t like to think about it, all of these issues could affect your academic institution’s traveling population. As your students, faculty, and staff navigate the world, you’re constantly asking yourself if there’s even more you could be doing to ensure that they — and you — are prepared for the unexpected.
So what would you do if a crisis struck today?
Is your global community prepared to react? Are your institution's constituents, assets, and reputation protected?
The good news is...
There are tools, planning, and implementation strategies you can use to ensure their travels are not only academically rewarding, but mindful of your health, safety, and
duty of care concerns.
Introducing Searchlight!
With these specific concerns in mind, we collaborated with students and academic administrators so we could bring you
Searchlight – a powerful and interactive travel risk management platform suited to meet the unique needs of Academic Mobility.
Searchlight combines four key components into an intuitive single-source solution:
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Customized Online Resource Center
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The Global-View Dashboard
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Automated Advisory Alerts
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Comprehensive Worldwide Provider Database
Why are these comprehensive travel risk management tools so important to someone like you? Consider these scenarios:
- A 9.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, where you have a several groups of students. What are your next steps?
- You have a group of faculty and staff doing research work in Jerusalem, and political riots have broken out in their area. How do you know if they’re safe and whether they need political evacuation?
- You’ve heard there is a rare strain of flu sweeping through Mexico, near one of your study abroad programs. If someone is affected, how do you ensure that they receive the travel assistance that they need?
Searchlight not only prepares your constituents before their trips with destination-specific information and resources, but will also help you quickly and efficiently locate, communicate with, and assist your constituents when—and where—they need it the most.
To learn more about
Searchlight and how you can help safeguard your constituents – and your institution – from travel-related disasters, download:
Searchlight: An Introduction.
After you’ve read it, post your comments here.
We’d love to hear from you!
The following is a guest blog post from our friend and well-known travel expert, Rudy Maxa.
You’re driving along a highway in Italy and a car pulls up beside side you beeping and pointing to your rear tire. The concerned-looking driver’s gestures suggest you pull over to the side of the road.
Don’t do it.
You’re walking across a lovely bridge in Paris and a stranger comes up to you holding a gold ring and asking if you’ve just dropped it. No, you say, and the stranger looks puzzled and asks what you think the two of you should do with the potentially valuable ring.
Walk away.
A friendly local approaches you on the street in Istanbul and asks if he can offer any sightseeing advice. And then he asks where you’re from, and it turns out he has a cousin who goes to school near your hometown.
Don’t waste your time.
Your taxi driver in Bangkok tells he knows a jewelry store where you can find incredible bargains on gold and gems.
Be very firm when you say, “No, thank you.”
All of the above scenarios are—to greater and lesser degrees—cons being played on tourists every day, all over the world.
That guy urging you to pull over to the side of the highway may well rob you.
The Parisian with the gold ring wants to engage you in a conversation that will wind up costing you money when he convinced you it’s solid gold and sells it to you at a deep “discount.”
The chatty local in Istanbul really wants to take you to his carpet store.
Accept the invitation of the Thai taxi driver, and you may wind up with a phony piece of jewelry worth a fraction of what you paid.
It’s well known that we often leave our common sense at home when we travel. Especially abroad where the language differences and the desire to appear pleasant lead us to engage in situations we’d walk away from in our hometown.
There are dozens of other cons, including the “money exchange” during which someone on the street offers you an inflated rate of exchange for your money. After much shuffling back and forth, you’ll find you’ve been swindled.
There are fake police who might stop you on your street and demand to search your wallet for counterfeit money.
There are cons who will ask you to take their picture with their camera, then fumble the camera when you hand it back to them and try to extort money to replace their “broken” camera.
Store cashiers pretending to talk on a cell phone when you hand them your credit card may really be photographing your card.
I know about scams. My television crew had their bank accounts looted of more than $20,000 in South Africa because of a card reader inserted in a gas station’s ATM. I was surrounded by men one winter morning in a St. Petersburg market (way back when that city was still “Leningrad”) and felt several pairs of hands frisking my coat pockets for valuables as they pressed around me. (They got my small camera but not my money.) And everyone knows the vintage pickpocket scam that begins when a stranger “accidentally” spills something on you to distract you as his partner lifts your wallet, passport, or watch.
Here are my recommendations for avoiding getting taken while on the road:
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Never pull over to the side of a road unless it’s in a busy parking lot, gas station, toll booth area, or police station.
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Simply say no to ANY offer to introduce you to someone who can offer you a great deal on ANYTHING. Or to anyone who offers to change your money or split the funds in a wallet just “found” on the street.
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Don’t open your hotel door to “room inspectors” who will filch a valuable or two as they pretend to check the quality of housekeeping. (Hint: They work in pairs.)
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Don’t use an ATM machine if anyone is standing around you or if there’s an unusual protuberance in the card slot. Watch out for small cameras meant to record you as you enter a PIN.
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Avoid beggars who approach you. And make sure your valuables are hidden on your person when you’re in crowded places such as markets, public events, or subway stations. Thieves are wise to fanny packs and money belts. Check out a line of stylish clothing from www.CleverTravelingCompanion.com that has zippered pockets in impossible-to-reach places. And keep $20 or $30 and an expired credit card in your pocket. If you are ever held up, you’ll have something to offer up.
Finally, make sure you have a travel assistance membership (single trip or annual) with On Call International in case any of these scenarios happen to you. On Call is just a phone call away and can provide medical, security and travel assistance services anywhere, anytime you’re 50 miles or more from home.
Travel Safely!
- Rudy
What to expect when you are eagerly awaiting the birth of your child is always a hot topic of conversation for moms to be. Whether you’re traveling for a “babymoon” with your partner or hitting the road for business, you’re not alone. Many expectant moms don’t let pregnancy stop them from taking a trip.
That’s why we put together a few easy to follow tips to ensure safety for traveling moms to be.
Consult Your Doctor: No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy, it is important to let your doctor know if you’re taking a trip. Whether traveling by train, plane, or simply in the car, any trip can cause stress and affect your body and mind, so it’s always recommended to check in with your doctor first. This is especially important if you’re traveling to a location where you may need to be vigilant about vaccinations, food and water safety, or other health and safety considerations. If you are being followed for high risk pregnancy (including teenage mothers, women over 35, women pregnant with multiples, mothers with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, other chronic heart/lung kidney conditions, pre-eclampsia, prior pre-mature labor) limit your air travel to before 32 weeks gestation.- Pack Smart: Make sure you have plenty of water and healthy snacks. Staying hydrated and keeping your blood sugar steady are important now more than ever. Flight and train delays mean you may be left on the runway or at the gate unexpectedly, leaving your food and beverage options limited. In the early weeks, you might notice you’re more susceptible to motion sickness as a result of morning sickness, so a few crackers could be a lifesaver! Be mindful of your travel destination, and if you are going to a foreign country, think of how foods are prepared. Fresh foods are more susceptible to germs, while baking or boiling food kills them. You might even appreciate having some backup food in case your only choices include unpasteurized dairy or food that is otherwise questionable in safety.
- Stay Active: When traveling, especially when taking a long flight, it is important to get up from your seat and walk up and down the aisles, preventing blood clots from forming. Always bring a water bottle with you to prevent dehydration and weakness. Comfort is key –bring comfortable walking shoes and clothes and pack lightly to put minimal strain on your back.
- Do Your Research: You’re probably checking every pregnancy,
parenting and baby website out there, and those sites can be a wealth of information about traveling while pregnant. Sites like parents.com and babycenter.com are great resources. It’s also a good idea to find a local doctor or pharmacy in your destination just in case. Be sure to check with your airline, as well, regarding any specific guidelines they may have for their pregnant travelers. Be aware that most airlines have restrictions on women traveling after week 36. Check your health insurance, travel insurance and travel assistance documentation for limitations, exclusions and other important-to-know information bout what’s covered (and not covered) for expectant travelers.
- Leave the Worrying to Us: Whether you are traveling 50 or 5,000 miles from home, purchasing a travel assistance membership from On Call International before you leave will help eliminate your worries. Mothers to be can purchase a single-trip, annual membership or family membership at www.oncallinternational.com/enroll. All memberships include medical and travel assistance services like a 24-hour nurse helpline, medical monitoring, worldwide medical referrals, 24/7 emergency travel arrangements, legal assistance and more.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, business travelers make up approximately 20 percent of all travelers and there are 6.32 million Americans living overseas, in more than 160 countries. While life on the road can sometimes seem appealing from racking up frequent flier miles to overnights at popular hotels, true road warriors know that business travel can be strenuous, stressful and exhausting. This is especially true if an employee becomes seriously ill or has an unfortunate accident while living abroad or traveling for business. Who can they call for help, and who is responsible for ensuring their safety? Thus lies the “duty of care” question, and the answer, in most cases, is that employers are legally liable if an employee is traveling for business and they need assistance or an evacuation for medical or security reasons.
Here are our top seven tips for employers whose employees travel for business purposes or live abroad on expatriate assignments:
1) Be prepared. Whether you have three employees or 30,000, it is always imperative to be prepared. With more than 100,000 Americans residing in China, Dominican Republic, Greece, Israel & West Bank, Mexico or the Philippines, companies are quickly realizing the precarious position they could be in if they have not pre-planned for medical or security situations, which are bound to happen with any population of traveling employees. It would only take one international emergency medical evacuation, which can cost more than $100,000 for travelers from business hubs in Dubai, UAE to New York, or China to Texas, to make a company realize that they are financially better off making appropriate arrangements in advance.
2) Minimize the risk. There is substantial risk that can adversely affect an employee and the company if a seamless travel assistance plan is not in place. If involved an emergency medical or security situation, a delay in response can be disastrous to an employee, the family and the company. Having an emergency response plan in place leaves the difficult task of getting people home to professionals who are experts in dealing with these catastrophic situations, such as a political revolt or natural disaster.
3) Don’t forget the families. It is just as vital to make sure the families (spouses and children) traveling or living abroad with the employee are covered as well. An employee could become totally ineffective if something happened to a family member on assignment with the employee and they don’t have coverage. In fact, most expatriate assignments fail (roughly 40 percent) not due to the expat, but to an underlying health issue of their spouses and children that cannot be effectively managed in their counties of assignment.
4) “Time off” is really “time on.” When the employee and his or her family are engaging in any “leisure” activity, it’s just as important to continue coverage because they are away on behalf of the company. The company has placed them in a spot for increased risk, so it’s vital for the company to take care of the employee and the family while on assignment, from the time they leave until the time they return home.
5) Support & screening. According to Expatriate Preparation, the average cost to a company in the first year of a single expat contract is anything upwards of US$250 000 and the cost of a failed expat contract is about three times the employee’s annual package. With proper support and screening (pre-deployment and while on assignment) businesses can help mitigate this financial loss.
6) Legal woes. ExpatHealth.org states that many multi-national employers that fail to meet their duty of care obligations toward expat employees – whether intentionally or accidentally, could land in court, translating to expensive lawsuits or even criminal charges. Several countries have developed duty-of-care legislation, most recently, Australia and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, failure to uphold duty-of-care obligations can result in civil and criminal liabilities for individuals, not just companies. In Germany for example, liabilities for sickness and health-related costs actually extend to family members who visit the expatriate in various host countries.
7) Safety first. No matter where your employees may travel, it’s important to make sure they are covered. Companies should take advantage of corporate solutions such as securing services from a travel, medical, and security emergency assistance company like On Call International to help eliminate any worries for employees while traveling.
New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Why not make an easy change that will improve your safety and well-being on your travels this year - all without breaking the bank? From the political crisis in Egypt, to the natural disasters in Japan and Southeast Asia, 2011 showed us that planning ahead is crucial to making sure a trip goes smoothly. If you’re a road warrior or a frequent flier, purchasing travel assistance in 2012 may be the most sensible way to make 2012 your healthiest and safest year yet!
Below, we share 12 reasons you'll want to consider travel assistance this year!
1. Travel insurance and assistance are not the same. While travel insurance covers monetary losses that may occur during a trip, many do not actually help get you to safety should something go wrong during your trip. Travel assistance not only covers the cost of emergency services like medical evacuation, but also aids in getting you home safely.
2. We all like to have choices, especially when our health is involved. Travel assistance from On Call aides in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation to the hospital of the member's choice, regardless of whether you can receive care locally.
3. The world is constantly changing. From natural disasters to political unrest, it’s difficult to predict what might derail your travel plans. With travel assistance, you can travel the globe with peace-of-mind.
4. Travel disasters don’t just happen abroad. Flat tires and flight cancellations are just a few events that can happen without even leaving the country. With travel assistance from On Call International, coverage begins anywhere 50 miles away from your home.
5. We’re not all linguists. Travel incidents do not always happen in countries where you know the language. Should an emergency occur, travel assistance can provide you with an interpreter.
6. Last-minute travel is becoming the norm. Spontaneous trips shouldn’t leave your safety at risk. Travel assistance is available for comprehensive annual coverage, not for just one trip.
7. Home is where the heart is. Should an emergency happen back home, travel assistance can offer immediate help with travel arrangements for a member, companion and family to get where they need to be.
8. We all appreciate a second opinion. Should you start feeling ill while away, On Call International offers a 24/7 Nurse Helpline to help guide you on your way to feeling better.
9. Your health isn’t the only thing that can get you into trouble. If you find yourself in a legal situation, travel assistance can provide legal assistance, including a free attorney consultation and bail bond assistance.
10. It’s the small things that count. Forgetting your ID is troublesome at home, but could be much worse abroad. Travel assistance can help you in the process of replacing lost travel documents such as your passport.
11. Sometimes one pair of eyes isn’t enough. If your luggage gets delayed, travel assistance can track the luggage while you enjoy your destination.
12. Travel assistance might be the most affordable way to stay safe while traveling. With annual membership starting at just $225, On Call International makes travel peace-of-mind one of the most affordable ways to start the New Year on the right foot.
Where will you be heading on your vacations in 2012? After a tough 2011, it might have been expected that leisure travel would be one of the areas experiencing cutbacks. Instead, experts predicting the top travel trends for 2012 report that expenditure on vacations is going to remain buoyant.
Maybe it's all that bad financial news that has convinced you that you really need that vacation. Who worries about the Dow when they are sitting by the pool with a cocktail? The economy may be riding through turbulent times, but it seems that the vacation is one of those essentials that we just can't give up. Figures from a survey on the Trip Advisor website suggest that 31% of Americans will spend the same amount on vacations as in 2011, while 49% expect to spend more.
Chances are you will be heading for a beach. Vacations by the sea are still the most popular with 44% of Americans. Beach vacations outside the US still tend to take travelers down Mexico way or to the Caribbean, with Europe more popular amongst travelers looking for culture.
Top travel trends for 2012 include an increase in vacations devoted to the arts and heritage, with a substantially increased demand for this kind of vacation. Also on the rise are cruises. The increasing variety of short cruises and cultural cruises on offer are proving popular with travelers across the age-ranges.
The popularity of hiking and outdoors activities seems to have hit a plateau for 2012, although there are signs that, if you are anything like your fellow travelers, you will be looking for more independence on your vacations, particularly in your choice of accommodation. There is a small but discernible trend away from hotels and towards self-catering or bed-and-breakfast establishments.
The most popular overseas cities for 2012 are the familiar trio of Paris, London and Rome. That choice looks a little like a potential standoff between romance and sport. London's visitor figures are bound to be boosted by the 2012 Olympics, while Paris and Rome remain great favorites for honeymooners and cultural tourists.
One of the most conspicuous top travel trends for 2012 will be the widespread use of cellphones or mobile devices to help make vacations run smoothly. Increasing numbers of you are relying on iPhone apps, GPS, Google Earth and similar technology to improve your vacation experience. The days of asking around for a restaurant recommendation are disappearing, replaced by the instant web search.
We also think that more and more travelers will be focusing on health and safety in the coming year. With a spike in Dengue Fever and some destinations such as Egypt experiencing political turmoil, travelers are increasingly starting to plan for the unexpected during their travels. Travel assistance memberships are growing in popularlity.
What are your vacation plans for the upcoming year?
Last week, our medical director Dr. Bob Wheeler discussed tips to prevent the flu. But, what happens if you take all the right measures and you get the flu anyway? Or, if you just haven't had time to get your flu shot yet and you get sick? Getting sick isn't fun no matter what, but if you get sick while on the road, it can throw a serious wrench in your plans. Dr. Wheeler's latest video offers tips on what to do if you get the flu on your trip.
Hopefully you won't get sick away from home, but don't forget to pack your On Call medical and travel assistance membership just in case.
We wish you safe and healthy travels!
Cold and flu season is well under way, and getting sick can put a damper on holiday travel plans. We recently sat down with our medical director, Dr. Bob Wheeler, to learn ways to prevent the flu.
Next week, Dr. Wheeler will share tips on what to do if you end up with the flu while traveling. Stay tuned!
Safe travels!
Related articles:
Seven Quick & Easy Tips to Prevent the Flu
What To Do If You Get the Flu While Traveling
*This post was guest written by former On Call International Assistance Coordinator Hayley MackayDecember already! It’s a month full of snow and ice (depending on where you live), good food and the holidays. The average American family is taking time off to visit friends and family. The bags are packed, the dog is kenneled, you’ve purchased your
travel assistance (just to be on the safe side) and you’re on your way to start your perfect trip. Unfortunately life is anything but perfect, maybe your luggage (with gifts!) doesn’t arrive with you, maybe your flight has a weather delay causing you to miss the start of the festivities, maybe you stumble and injure your ankle on a sidewalk curb. Suddenly your perfect vacation gets a wrench thrown in it. Although you hoped never to use it, you pull out your travel assistance card and call your emergency travel assistance company,
On Call International. Once our phone rings, we put on our superman suits and come to your rescue. Every day, Assistance Coordinators at On Call come to the aid of travelers who have experienced anything from delayed baggage to a full-blown medical evacuation. Assistance Coordinators are available 24/7 for any sort of assistance a traveler may need, in any country.
Evelyn helps a traveler experiencing a medical emergency
Our job as Assistance Coordinators is work with travelers to make their difficult situations just a little bit easier. We pride ourselves on keeping touch with our travelers each day to monitor their situation and keep them updated at all times. The travelers already feel isolated and out of their element when an emergency occurs; we empathize and try to make them feel a little more comfortable with a familiar voice, or as the international travelers often comment, a “familiar accent.” One of our specialties is
medical evacuation. Many travelers tend to forget their travel assistance offers this great benefit. After obtaining the necessary medical information, our seasoned Medical Director makes a recommendation for travel appropriate for the traveler’s sickness or injury. The Assistance Coordinators immediately begin making arrangements to get the wayward travelers home, whether it is a medical evacuation via a commercial flight, or with a nurse escort or by even by air ambulance. Assistance Coordinators are sensitive to any financial constraints the traveler may experience, and we work with the traveler to help keep out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum, if there are any at all.
Travel assistance comes in many different forms; Assistance Coordinators are trained to meet these requests creatively and efficiently. It is not uncommon go from speaking with a student in need of a sound hospital recommendation in Firenze, Italy, to a family who needs to set up ground transportation to catch up with their tour in Shanghai, China. Assistance Coordinators have access to resources a regular travel agent would not, and we have partnerships with affiliates across the world, too.
So have no fear, World Traveler! Go on and start your journey. We’ll be here to catch you if you fall.
The thought of Thanksgiving and the holidays conjures up so many wonderful ideas - turkey roasting, falling leaves or snow, spending time with family and friends. These days, though, many of us are spread out across the country or even across the world. That means we may be spending time before the holidays traveling to be with our loved ones, and we all know that holiday travel isn't always as easy as (pumpkin) pie. With that in mind, we're sharing a few tips to help make your holiday travel a bit easier so you can arrive in a festive rather than frazzled mood:
- Allow extra time not only after you get to the airport, but also to get to the airport. To make sure you have plenty of time despite heavy traffic and slow security lines, be there at least two hours early. If you live in a busy metropolitan area, be sure to account for congested roads in your travel time.
- Put your essentials in your carry-on. This includes an ample supply of necessary medications. Increased volume at the airports means a higher likelihood for delayed or lost luggage, which means you should have a change of clothes, valuables, and required medication with you at all times.
- Remember TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid rules apply to gifts, too. Tasty items like jams and jellies, salsas, sauces, syrups and dips are all subject to the 3-1-1 rule, as are those fancy bath oils, perfumes and other beauty items we often give as gifts. Even snow globes are subject to this rule! Either check these items or ship them ahead.
- Do not wrap any gifts traveling with you, as they may be inspected at security check points. Either leave gifts unwrapped and accessible, or ship them to your destination ahead of you.
- Do as much in advance, online, as possible. Print your boarding passes at home and sign up for text alerts or download your airline’s app, if they have one, so you can easily monitor your flight status and plan for any delays.
- Gas up the night before you travel; no one leaves enough time for buying gas on the way to the airport.
- Be nice to your TSA agent, gate agent, and flight attendants. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated, and will result in delays and possibly missed flights. Not to mention, they put up with a lot of volume and cranky travelers this time of year, so a little bit of courtesy will be appreciated.
We hope these tips will help you navigate the harried holiday travel season with comfort and ease. Want more tips and a handy pre-travel checklist? Download our full holiday travel tips and checklist before you leave!
Safe travels, and happy holidays!
